“Thomas Jefferson, Architect: Palladian Models, Democratic Principles and the Conflict of Ideals … at the Chrysler Museum, in Norfolk, Va., is one example of how some museums are working to incorporate the impact of slavery in exhibitions and permanent collections in a way not commonly done even a decade ago. … Other museums are also grappling with how they can rework or revise their collections, even in small ways, to acknowledge the role of slavery in the art itself or people represented by the art.” – The New York Times
Tag: 10.23.19
An Art Program in Los Angeles Proposes Ways to Address Homelessness
“The Goethe-Institut has partnered with the Los Angeles Poverty Department in organizing Worlds of Homelessness, a weeklong interdisciplinary series of events featuring artists, architects, advocates, and performers.” – Hyperallergic
Square Dancing: Should It Be The American National Folk Dance?
“That question took us on a journey from Appalachian front porches, to dance classes across our nation, to the halls of Congress, and finally a Kansas City convention center. And along the way, we uncovered a secret history of square dancing that made us see how much of our national identity we could stuff into that square, and what it means for a dance to be of the people, by the people, and for the people.” (audio) – Radiolab
Oxford University Student Union Votes To Abolish Clapping In Favor Of “Jazz Hands”
“British Sign Language clapping is used by the National Union of Students since loud noises, including whooping and traditional applause, are argued to present an access issue for some disabled students who have anxiety disorders, sensory sensitivity, and/or those who use hearing impairment aids.” – Oxford Student Union
Expanding MoMA, Expanding Art
James Russell: “MoMA has long built its origin story of Euro-American Modernism around its great holdings, but that story no longer consists of a single, mainly male, heroic narrative. Instead, the visitor discovers many stories braided together that now include many riveting works by women and people of color. These choices better recognize modernism (small m) as a global cultural and social force that at its best is democratizing and inclusive.” – CityLab
20 Comedy Sketches That Helped Define The Last 20 Years
“The past two decades have been especially defining for the medium. The Internet, social media, politics, social mores, and public discourse on race and gender have altered dramatically; sketch comedy has not only reflected that, but has also helped propel those changes forward.” – Washington Post
Ingo Maurer, Who Raised Design Of Light Bulbs To An Art, Dead At 87
“‘Bad light makes you unhappy,’ Maurer once said. He repeatedly proclaimed his love for the light bulb, which became his trademark. While other designers saw it as something to keep hidden under the lampshade, Maurer centered his designs on the bulb itself.” – Deutsche Welle
YouTube’s Content Moderation System Is Wiping Out Evidence Of War Crimes In Syria, Say Advocates
Yes, it’s a tricky issue: the video platform, along with Facebook, is facing pressure from many sides to remove violent and extremist content; review and removal by humans is slow (and traumatizing for those doing the work), but algorithms are a blunt instrument. In a Video Op-Ed, Syrian activist and archivist Hadi Al Khatib argues that those algorithms are erasing documentation of violence that will be important to history and, potentially, to pursuing justice. – The New York Times
Museums Reject “Dirty” Money? How About We Nationalize Them?
It would be easy to say that all money under capitalism is corrupt so what can we possibly do? Well, I do know one thing we could do. We could nationalize the art museums. – The Guardian
Artist Manager Jasper Parrott On Managing Artists In The Digital Age
“Finding performances online is a very impoverished view of the inspirational value of making live art. Art should be live. I know this myself because I’ve grown up throughout the whole period. I actually very seldom listen to music online or on recordings because, to me, the essence of the whole experience, the core value of creative activity, is a live experience. Therefore, the more of that you have, the more that is sustainable and the more that society believes in that whole principle, the better the society is. That’s my personal conviction.” – Van