Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer is nearly 100. “His flowing forms made a modernist statement of Brasilia, the government center that rose from the empty plains of central Brazil. He also helped design the United Nations headquarters in New York City, insisting on the grand curves of its General Assembly building. Now, as he nears his 100th birthday on Dec. 15, Niemeyer has a desk full of projects in his penthouse office overlooking Copacabana Beach.”
Tag: 10.30.07
The Future Of Music – Vinyl?
Talk to almost anyone in the music business’ vital indie and DJ scenes and you’ll encounter a uniformly optimistic picture of the vinyl market. “The size and presence of the artwork, the division into sides, the better sound quality, above all the involvement and work the listener has to put in, all make it the format of choice for people who really care about music.”
FCC Ready To Ban Apartment Cable TV Contracts
The regulatory agency wants to end exclusive apartment building contracts that allow cable companies to be the exclusive providers in buildings. “The FCC needed to do something to offset a 93% increase in cable rates during the last decade. Although rates for other telecommunications services, such as long-distance calling and cellphones, have dropped since Congress and the FCC loosened regulations in 1996, cable rates have gone in the other direction.”
Harper Lee To Get US’s Top Civilian Honor
President George Bush will present her with the Medal of Freedom. “Her only novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, which was a plea for racial tolerance, won the Pulitzer Prize in 1961. The award will be presented to Lee during a ceremony at the White House on 5 November.”
Graffiti Art Gains Traction In London
“London is enjoying a rash of exhibitions by artists who draw their inspiration from popular street culture, and salerooms are planning to increase the exposure they get in major auctions. Described variously as street, urban or graffiti artists, few have had a traditional fine-art education and most have their roots in graphic design or are simply self-taught… But the artists and galleries that represent them are cocking a snook at the establishment because they have caught the imagination of the public, collectors and investors alike.”
Scotland’s Next Great Playwright
Playwright Morna Pearson is considered a rising star in the UK, and some see her as a beacon of hope for original Scottish voices in the performing arts. “Pearson will be announced tonight as the winner of this year’s prestigious Meyer-Whitworth award for new writing for her debut professional play, Distracted… Significantly, rather than naming any playwrights as influences, Pearson mentions comedy subversives such as Chris Morris and Steve Coogan.”