Matthew Westphal – Page 1874 – ArtsJournal Wayback

A Bad End To A Good Year At Belgium’s La Monnaie

“Two things, both unexpected and both potentially threatening, happened to the theater, which is one of Europe’s best run and most innovative opera companies.”

Dancer With Severe Autism Says Ballet Saved His Life

“The stage is the one place Philip Martin-Nelson feels right at home. But it wasn’t always that way. Diagnosed with the most severe form of autism, Philip was unable to speak, make eye contact, or even allow someone to touch him for the first three years of his life.” (includes video)

Yes, Virginia, We Can Resist Utilitarian Rationality: The Philosophical Case For Believing In Santa Claus

Why did Francis P. Church, in his famous editorial responding to young Virginia O’Hanlon, “argue for making the leap to Santa belief, rather than standing pat with Santa agnosticism?” Eric Kaplan writes that “it’s worth restating his point about the benefits of a belief in Santa in more modern, prosaic terms.”

Forget Santa – We Should Really Believe In La Befana

“There’s nothing wrong with Saint Nick, per se. But it’s all a bit much, and we can do better.” Betsy Woodruff suggests we all celebrate a witch who drinks wine and eats sausage instead of milk and cookies.

Are International Museum Franchises Really A Good Idea?

“The biggest question hovering over satellite museums is the most basic: why would sophisticated cities with their own rich cultural heritage and traditions feel the need to establish institutions that foreigners think they need?” A point-counterpoint forum between art journalist (and ArtsJournal blogger) Lee Rosenbaum and art historian and gallery director Maymanah Farhat.

Director Of Hartford’s Wadsworth Atheneum To Retire

“It’s something I’ve been thinking about for a while,” said Susan L. Talbott, who will step down this fall. “I’m 65. I’ve had a great career and I really like the idea of leaving on a high note, when the [museum’s $33 million] renovation is complete.”

England’s Public Library System Needs Urgent Overhaul, Says Panel

“William Sieghart’s Independent Library Report for England, published today, urges ‘a reinvigoration of the library network’, calling on Westminster to provide funding so local authorities can roll out Wi-Fi to every public library in England as part of a new national digital resource.”

For Ushers’ Safety, La Scala Performances To Start Five Minutes Late

It was said to be the only reliably punctual thing in all of Italy: performances at Milan’s opera house start precisely at the scheduled curtain time, with no latecomers admitted until the first interval. That has now changed, and La Scala’s superintendent says it’s to protect his staff from physical harm.

Catalan Caca At Christmastime (It’s Traditional)

Yes, it’s true: Since the 1700s, creches in Catalonia have included, amidst the Virgin Mother, the Holy Child in the manger, and the shepherds, the caganer, a figure discreetly answering nature’s call. It’s a good luck charm, and over the years the traditional peasant farmer caganer has been joined by figurines of everyone from Napoleon to Beethoven to Vladimir Putin to Captain America.

Author: Matthew Westphal