Author: Matthew Westphal

The One Bookstore In Venice That Figured Out How To Handle Floods Couldn’t Handle This One

“Keeping a large collection of books in a canal city prone to flooding was always a dangerous idea, which is why Venice’s Libreria Acqua Alta (High Water Bookshop) had decided to store its books inside bathtubs, waterproof bins, and even a full-sized gondola. But … this measure wasn’t enough to save the countless books, magazines and other items crammed inside the famous bookstore when the worst floods in half a century hit Venice this week.” – The Local (Italy)

Turns Out Barack Obama, On Top Of Everything Else, Is An Excellent Editor

Adam Frankel, a former member of Obama’s speechwriting team: “‘Something about this draft just doesn’t feel right.’ That, or something like it, is probably the most frequent feedback a speechwriter ever receives, and it is typically accompanied by precisely zero suggestions on what to do about it. I never heard Obama utter those words. In fact, I was always struck by the precision of his edits. If a certain sentence or structure had problems, he’d tell us exactly how to fix them.” – Literary Hub

Melina Matsoukas’s Unflinching Eye

“Provocative subject matter isn’t foreign to [the director of Queen & Slim], who was raised in the Bronx by a Cuban mother and a Jewish Greek father, whom she describes as ‘freedom fighters.’ She’s the visionary behind a number of cultural touchstones from the past decade … [and in] an industry that lacks opportunities for female directors, Matsoukas is one of the few with a major-studio release this year. Perhaps most notable is her talent for capturing the inextricable beauty and brutality of life for black Americans, and the necessity of exuberance in the face of hardship.” – The Atlantic

World’s First Vagina Museum Is Now Open

“The [London] museum exists thanks to a public fundraising drive, with more than 1,000 people collectively donating almost £50,000. The director, Florence Schechter, says her motivation behind setting up the space was simple. ‘I discovered there was a penis museum in Iceland but no vagina equivalent anywhere else so I decided to make one,’ she says. When asked more about her motivation, she adds with a smile: ‘I just love the vag. I am a bisexual woman.'” – The Guardian

Opera San Antonio Names New General Director And Its First-Ever Music Director

“E. Loren Meeker was announced Friday as the company’s general and artistic director, and Francesco Milioto will become music director. Meeker replaces both Adam Diegel, who departed as artistic director in 2018, and executive director Liz Tullis, who also relinquished her role in 2018. Milioto will be the company’s first music director.” – The Rivard Report (San Antonio)

George Soros Funds Program To Return African Art And Artifacts To Africa

“Last November, French President Emmanuel Macron commissioned a report recommending the repatriation of looted African cultural objects from France’s public collections, spurring a national debate. But one year later, no objects have been returned to the areas from which they were taken. Now, an organization is stepping in to facilitate the process. The Open Society Foundations, an international grant-making organization founded by billionaire George Soros, has launched a four year, $15 million initiative to aid in restitution efforts.” – artnet

Director Of Venue Gets Death Threats After Resigning In Protest

Lorna Fulton, head of Middlesbrough Town Hall, declined to book comedian Roy Chubby Brown because she thought local audiences might find his act offensive and his 2015 performance sold poorly. The mayor of the northern English city insisted that Fulton reverse herself and hire Brown, saying that her reluctance was “typical middle class prejudice against a blue collar act.” Fulton resigned — and received death threats. – Arts Professional

Italy’s Art Police Bust Antiquities Trafficking Ring

“The Command for the Protection of Cultural Heritage, a branch of the Italian carabinieri responsible for combatting art and antiquities crimes, believe the suspects are members of an criminal gang operating in Calabria that trafficked ancient items, such as antique jars, jewellery and vases from the 4th and 2nd century BC and worth millions of euros. … [Agents searched] houses and buildings in four countries, including Britain, and arrested 23 people.” – The Guardian

Propwatch: the jukebox in ‘Master Harold … and the boys’

Dozens of records, stacked and ready for selection. Before the walkman, spotify and sodcasting, they let you decide your own mood music. Public yet personal, sweetly selfish – the jukebox flourished in the 1950s, the decade in which Master Harold … and the boys is set. A box of delights, a cabinet of chrome and light and your favourite melodies. – David Jays