A few weeks ago, the group said in an open letter that Jews were not sufficiently represented onstage – or offstage, in production teams – in the theatre in Britain, criticism sparked by a production of The Falsettos. What to do about it? Well, the group, now named the Jewish Artists’ Collective, “will draft a best-practice proposal for the industry and open a conversation with both Jewish and non-Jewish artists.” – The Stage (UK)
Author: ArtsJournal2
Nothing Says ‘This Movie Needs Your Attention’ Like A Mass Walkout
The latest in a long line of cinema that makes critics and others walk out in the middle of a film? The Painted Bird, a new adaptation of the Jerzy Kozinski novel. “Cinema seats don’t tend to flip back anymore, but it sounds as if the drama within the auditorium was impressive enough without those percussive thuds.” – The Irish Times
What’s Up With British Pathé Newsreels’ Terrifying Puppets?
Er, what were you doing, British Pathé? “At the height of the Blitz, the British government made the bold decision to communicate Nazi air raid safety tips to the population the only way they knew how: the art of ventriloquism.” – Slate
How Awkwafina Went From Her Trash-Talk Viral Video About Genitalia To Serious Starring Roles In Hollywood
Nora Lum – that is, Awkwafina – is everywhere in Hollywood now, including some new Disney properties. But she got her start through fangirling actress Lucy Liu – the only visible Asian American woman in Hollywood when Awkwafina was young. (Oh, and she also got her start as a self-taught trumpet player, that traditional path to acting stardom, going to LaGuardia High School in Manhattan.) – The Guardian (UK)
The Habits Of Highly Effective Writers
It’s clear that aspiring writers should get up early, write every day, write only when they feel like it, write in the afternoon, write longhand, definitely use a laptop, never get distracted, allow themselves to fool around on the internet for certain periods of time, have a space of their own, work at coffee shops, and so much more. – The New York Times
Lin-Manuel Miranda Gives The Minnesota State Fair, And Its Unique Art, Some Attention
What does the state fair’s Crop Art exhibit have for the New York-based actor/singer/writer/famous person? Well, a blue-ribbon winning seed art portrait, of course. – The Pioneer Press (St. Paul)
Ella Fitzgerald Is Influencing A Whole New Generation Of Musicians
Millennial Latinx musicians say that Fitzgerald’s influence lives far beyond her own time. Colombian neo-soul artist Mabiland: “I had no idea a woman could sing like that. … To hear that voice and understand the power of someone who could put her soul into her voice like that — for me, that is Ella.” – NPR
The Wall That Broke An Art Handler’s Back (And A Lot Of Other Dangers)
“The gallery wall that broke Michael Pajón’s body crashed into the art handler with the force of a grand piano. He remembers the precise moment when the movable partition collapsed upon him, puncturing his ribs and snapping his leg backward.” If you haven’t been reading Hyperallergic’s entire “The Danger Epidemic in Art Handling” series, consider starting with this one and working your way through. – Hyperallergic
Are Galleries Finally Welcoming People With Disabilities?
After a massive online protest of the Tate Modern in the recent weeks (“It’s an older work,” the museum first protested when met with the facts that one of its 2002 – so old, who knew people used wheelchairs 17 years ago, ahem – pieces didn’t have a ramp for wheelchair users) – it’s clear that places like the Wellcome Collection stand out from the crowd, and are pushing other galleries and museums to consider their accessibility as well. – The Guardian (UK)
Whale Songs Are Getting Deeper
Truly they are, and it’s probably because of humans. But in what way? “In a study last year that analyzed more than 1 million individual recordings of whale calls, scale shifts were found across species, and among populations that don’t necessarily interact with one another. Which is to say, whatever has triggered the change doesn’t seem to have a specific geographic origin.” – The Atlantic