“In L’Hospitalet, near Barcelona, a priest let a bunch of graffiti artists go to town on his church. Specifically, on the dome ceiling above the main altar. … ‘Even though the press is scandalized by graffiti artists,’ he said, ‘for me graffiti is just another artistic technique’.” (And it doesn’t look like Keith Haring.)
Author: Matthew Westphal
Russians And Their Meteorite Jokes
“It took no more than a couple of hours for the meteorite in Chelyabinsk Region to generate a wave of gags and Internet memes. … In particular, the Russian-speaking Twitter community outdid itself. Dozens of accounts were opened on behalf of the meteorite itself.”
Philadelphia Orchestra To Make First Major-Label Recording In 16 Years (And On DG, No Less)
“Just as conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin suggested a year ago, the Philadelphia Orchestra will follow him onto the prestigious Deutsche Grammophon recording label this spring, though so far only one disc is assured.”
Union Threatens Strike Against UK’s Largest Theatre Group
“Union BECTU has warned that it will ballot its members who work for [Ambassador Theatre Group] if the group does not address concerns over its proposals to move staff from weekly to monthly pay. BECTU, whose members work in both front of house and backstage roles for the operator, claims the move … will have a negative impact on employees.”
After Two-Year Renovation, Birmingham Rep To Reopen For Centennial
“2013 is a pivotal year. As well as the centenary celebrations, Roxana Silbert has just taken up her post as artistic director, ahead of the Rep’s move back to its current home in Centenary Square, which has been undergoing major redevelopment … [including] a new 300-seat studio theatre, two giant rehearsal rooms and lots of swanky new loos.”
Villella’s Successor Reveals Plans For Miami City Ballet
“While preserving the Balanchine legacy at Miami City Ballet, [Lourdes] Lopez also wants to introduce new choreographers and dances, particularly those that appeal to Miami’s multicultural audiences.” She also plans an extensive collaboration with Morphoses, which she co-founded with Christopher Wheeldon in 2007, that may involve moving the company from New York to Miami.
Bid To End EU’s Cross-Border Double-Taxation Of Performers
“Currently, performers can be taxed in the foreign country they are working in, as well as their country of residence, due to a global treaty aimed at preventing tax evasion. The Performing Arts Employers Associations League Europe (PEARLE) wants to put a stop to this double taxation, claiming it is a ‘major hindrance’ for the arts sector.”
Malian Musicians Fight Back Against Islamist Rebels Who Tried To Silence Them
“To the musicians from Mali here, the attempt by terrorists associated with al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) to suppress music in their country’s north goes beyond politics and religion: It’s an offense to the soul of the nation, where music is more than entertainment, it’s essential to life.”
Being Ann Richards
Actress Holland Taylor talks about spending four years researching, writing and starring in a one-woman show about the late Texas governor. Says Cecile Richards of Taylor, “And now she is practically part of the family. I think she knows more about my mother than I do.”
Let’s Get Pissed: The Upside Of Anger
“Today, we tend to think of it as a destructive emotion that can wreck relationships and blight careers. Indeed, the field of anger management is awash with theories on how best to control or suppress excess anger. But anger, it now seems, is not all bad. In fact, we might do well to cultivate our anger in some situations.”