The new schedule of matinees on Saturday and Sunday means that the Met sometimes mounts four different productions in the 48 hours between Friday and Sunday evening — a truly herculean task that the company performs on a scale that is unusual, if not unique, in the world. – The New York Times
Author: Douglas McLennan
Twyla Tharp’s Message: Keep Moving!
“The figures are still shocking in terms of people who don’t exercise or who are not aware of the reality that diet is actually extremely important,” she said. “If you want to have a future, you’ve got to provide for that now.” – The New York Times
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
The Early American Temples To Democracy Were Only Possible Because Of… Slave Labor
The uplifting symbolic content of civic buildings such as the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond or the University of Virginia in Charlottesville came at the expense of human freedom, as slave labor was responsible for both. How could Jefferson countenance the use of slaves in the construction of a democratic architecture? The obvious answer: money. Much could be saved with enslaved labor, and more could be made by owners who rented slaves out. – Metropolis
Future Fair Proposes A Revenue Share Model For Art Fairs. But Will It Work?
Inclusion in fairs can be make-or-break for galleries, especially smaller ones. But it feels as though the balance of power is shifting back to exhibitors. This might well be overdue when it comes to the larger fairs, but it puts the organisers of smaller events in a difficult spot in a survival-of-the-fittest world. – The Art Newspaper
At The Center Of Theatre That Works: The Stage Manager
In a field known for big egos and explosive emotions, stage managers combine calm, nimbleness and competence that balances left- and right-brain attributes. They have to have an eye for detail, drillmaster-like discipline, psychological finesse and artistic flair. In short, nothing gets off the ground without them. – The Star-Tribune (Mpls)
Eastman School Orchestra Tours China – But China Says S. Korean Students Can’t Come. Eastman Agrees To Go Anyway
Since 2016, China has blocked South Korean artists from performing. “We were suddenly caught right in the middle of this. It was really a challenging decision to make,” said dean Jamal Rossi. “Do we continue the tour without the valued colleagues or do we still go forward?” – 13WHAM
Is It Still Art If It’s Big-Data Driven?
“I’m generally skeptical of the “big is bad” school of hipster antitrust, particularly if there’s no documented consumer harm from growing bigness. But I also worry that the rise of data-driven creativity could crowd out the traditional kind — and make it harder to find voices and visions we don’t already know.” – Washington Post
Where Is Leonardo’s Other “Prettier” Mona Lisa?
“The second painting that Leonardo aficionados will miss is what many believe is an earlier version of the “Mona Lisa,” which shows a much younger—and dare we say—prettier version of Lisa Gherardini del Giocondo, the wife of Francesco del Giocondo, who commissioned the work in the early 1500s.” – The Daily Beast
The Music Inside Us: How The Brain Hallucinates
“As a composer and researcher in cognition and music, I have been thinking about my mother’s hallucinations and what they might tell us about the nature and role of music today. Neurological research has shown that vivid musical hallucinations are more than metaphorical.” – Nautilus