“At a Litquake tribute to Tobias Wolff, writer Stephen Elliott described a link between fiction writing and political bent: ‘Literary fiction is character driven, and to write good characters you have to have empathy, and if you have empathy, you’re a liberal.'”
Tag: 10.10.08
Design Challenge: A Beautiful, Muscular Bike Rack
“There’s no single reason why bicycle commuting has gone into high gear, though spiraling gas prices, concern about greenhouse-gas emissions, and an appreciation of messenger cool are surely contributing to the crowded bike lanes.” But parking for bikes in Philadelphia has not kept pace, and existing racks are aesthetically and practically displeasing. “The time has come to build a better bike rack.”
Poets As Paid Professionals
“Everyone is talking about the creative economy, but the first-ever Massachusetts Poetry Festival is doing something about it. … The festival is a celebration of poetry for its own sake, but could also be a tool to expand and capitalize on a precious cultural asset.” That includes thinking about professional development for poets.
In South L.A., A Black Theatre Takes Root
The Ebony Repertory Theatre opens its first production tonight in South Los Angeles, an area that “has lacked a significant theater presence for more than a decade.” Company founder/producer Wren T. Brown says he “wanted to ensure that the so-called minority community had a place to go see theater where the standards are high and not compromised.”
Giving Up For The Greater Good
Desperate times bring dire questions. “Should arts groups be willing to call it their mission to preserve the arts community as a whole, even if that means merging with another — or in the extreme, shutting down altogether?”
The Standout On The Stirling Prize Shortlist
The Royal Institute of British Architects’ Stirling prize is handed out tomorrow, and it ought to go to Pritzker winner Zaha Hadid for her Austrian ski station, Colin Amery argues. “It is notoriously hard to predict the Stirling’s result, though on grounds of aesthetic adventurousness Hadid wins hands down.”
Singapore, Where The Art Market Hasn’t Tanked
“Paintings and sculptures by emerging artists from Indonesia and other Southeast Asian countries have defied slowing auction demand for top Chinese and Western works as global financial markets tumble and the prospect of a U.S. recession increase. Sellers at three art events this weekend in Singapore — a fair and two auctions — are hoping that sentiment will hold.”
Spacey Topples Ayckbourn (Whoops)
“Kevin Spacey flung his arms open to hug the frail playwright Alan Ayckbourn after his show ‘The Norman Conquests’ in London. Instead, he knocked over the 69-year-old Ayckbourn, who walks with a stick.”
News You Can Use: Tips On Arts Bargains In NYC
“Fortunately for anyone who wants to maintain a busy cultural calendar but hears the call of frugality — and for those of us who pinch pennies regardless — New York is … the home of the bargain ticket, with an array of discounts, promotions and freebies for everything from poetry readings downtown to the glamour of opera at Lincoln Center.”