“Whether we look at political, economic or military capital, one thing is clear. Heritage is a top-down idea – it is defined and used by the most powerful members of society, rather than by society as a whole. Cultural heritage tells people – it does not ask them – what they should care about. How can we change this?” – Aeon
Author: Douglas McLennan
Where Everybody Knows Your Name: The Art Of The Regular Patron
“No matter the establishment — cafe, trattoria, dive bar, coffeehouse, doughnut shop, pharmacy, even — those who make themselves permanent fixtures almost all say the same thing about what makes a regular. When they walk in, the people behind the counter know who they are.” – The New York Times
Artist Peter Max Has Dementia. Those Around Him Saw Opportunity To Profit Big
“For five years and counting — the latest lawsuit came Friday — the artist’s family, friends and associates have been trading lurid courtroom allegations of kidnapping, hired goons, attempted murder by Brazil nut, and schemes to wring even more money out of what was already one of the most profitable art franchises in modern times. From Shun Lee to the high seas, the twilight years of Mr. Max’s life have produced a pursuit of art-auction profits and a trail of misfortune as surreal as his trippiest works.” – The New York Times
Legacy: IM Pei’s Remarkable Concert Hall
Scott Cantrell: “Thirty years later, week after week, I still marvel at the acoustics of my favorite modern symphony hall — maybe my favorite of any age. The sound seems a physical, tactile presence in the room; one senses it moving around, expanding and exploring and inhabiting spaces both seen and unseen.” – Dallas News
LA’s Bunker Hill Is Now Home To Cultural Icons. But What About The Neighborhood That Used To Be There?
What does it mean to “revitalize” something that we had a hand in extinguishing? Bunker Hill was a vital neighborhood that was dismembered by city, state and federal policies, then reassembled into corporate superblocks by private developers. – Los Angeles Times
Why Do Artists Get Exploited? (Hey – Work For Free!) New Study Explores The Causes
On one hand, passion for one’s work can lead to greater satisfaction. But the researchers’ new paper in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, “Understanding Contemporary Forms of Exploitation: Attributions of Passion Serve to Legitimize the Poor Treatment of Workers,” lays bare the unique ways passionate workers can be taken advantage of in a culture that encourages us to find our life’s calling at work. – KQED
Founding Director Of The National Museum of African American History Is Named New Smithsonian Secretary
Considered a giant in the museum field, Lonnie Bunch, 66, becomes the 14th secretary of the quasi-federal institution, responsible for a $1.5 billion annual budget that supports 19 museums, nine research centers and the National Zoo. He is the first Smithsonian director to ascend to the secretary’s post in 74 years and starts his new job June 16. – Washington Post
Can A Big Orchestra Learn From A California Orchestra A Fraction Of Its Size?
The tiny California Symphony is 1/25th the size of the Pittsburgh Symphony. But the smaller orchestra has seen the size of its audience and its support explode in the past few years. The growth is based on research and data. So what could an orchestra like the Pittsburgh Symphony learn from the success? – Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Canadian And Syrian Dance Companies Denied Visas To Perform In US
What’s particularly frustrating for international festival presenters is the idea of treating artists like immigrants and that they are not seen as the economic motors they are. After all, these people are not taking jobs; they’re coming for a limited amount of time and have no history of being dangerous. – San Francisco Classical Voice
Don’t Push: Generalists Versus Specialists – One Leads To The Other
In online forums, well-meaning parents agonize over what instrument to pick for a child, because she is too young to pick for herself and will fall irredeemably behind if she waits. But studies on the development of musicians have found that, like athletes, the most promising often have a period of sampling and lightly structured play before finding the instrument and genre that suits them. – The New York Times