It’s only been 137 years since the builders, who had no permit, apparently, broke ground for the massive, and massively complex, masterpiece cathedral. Will it be finished by the year the work permit runs out – 2026? Maybe! “Barcelona official Janet Sanz said the agreement between the city and the foundation had put an end to ‘a historical anomaly in our city.'” – The Guardian (UK) (Associated Press)
Blog
Laura Linney On ‘Tales Of The City,’ And Leaving Georgia, And Its Retrograde New Laws, Behind
Re the return of Tales of the City for a Netflix generation, she says, “I hope that it does what the arts do, which is it makes you feel less alone.” And re the show Ozarks, which films in Georgia: “I don’t want to ever stop working in Georgia. But if this law goes forward … I think we’ll have to leave. Because if you don’t stand up for this, then what do you stand up for? What does it take?” – The New York Times
Anthony Davis Builds Operas From Headlines
“The words ‘Trump’ and ‘opera’ occurring in the same sentence might seem far-fetched, but for composer Anthony Davis, whose latest work, The Central Park Five, has its world premiere at Long Beach Opera on June 15, inserting a Trump figure was, in fact, integral to the story. Based on the notorious case of a quintet of African-American teenagers falsely accused and convicted of rape and assault after a 1989 attack on a white jogger — one in which presidential hopeful Donald Trump played an infamous role — the opera tops off a series of so-called ‘ripped-from-the-headlines’ works that Davis has composed in his decades-long career.” – San Francisco Classical Voice
Shifting The Opera Gaze
“Women in opera need to be not only acknowledged for their work, their passion and dedication to the artform, but placed front and centre, asked for their opinion, introduced as a driving force in the industry. The championing of the representation of women in opera, inviting women in, making space, and creating opportunities, enriches the opera ecology exponentially. Women in all facets of the opera creative industry – composers, directors, designers, conductors, singers, writers, producers – need to be recognised, supported and seen.” – Limelight (Australia)
The Hand Of Native American Women, Visible At Last
“The role of women art-makers in Native communities has gone widely ignored. Now a bold museum show [at the Minneapolis Institute of Art], by and for these women, is shining a light on 1,000 years of their art.” – The New York Times
Major Generational Change At Paul Taylor Dance
They have been the face of the company for years — or, rather, the faces. Mr. Taylor picked his dancers for their individuality, both in looks and in spirit. And now they’re moving on… – The New York Times
Anyone Can Write A Book. Doesn’t Mean Their Book Is True…
“People trust books. When they read books by experts, they often assume that they’re as serious, and as carefully verified, as scientific papers — or at least that there’s some vetting in place. But often, that faith is misplaced. There are no good mechanisms to make sure books are accurate, and that’s a problem.” – Vox
Why Is Public Funding For The Arts So Problematic?
After 70 years, most people still don’t live within easy reach – in any sense – of the artistic riches enabled by Arts Council funding. After 70 years, most artists still earn very little for their creative work. Changing both situations involves redistribution, and that necessarily has losers as well as winners. One criticism that can be fairly made of Arts Council England is that it has not used the increases it gained in the past 25 years to change the underlying principles or pattern of its support. – Parliament of Dreams
Should You Watch Ron Howard’s New Pavarotti BioPic?
Phil Kennicott: “The best thing about Ron Howard’s polished new documentary, “Pavarotti,” is its compassion for the man, who emerges frail but not hollow, merely human and not the pathetic clown he so often seemed in his last decade.” – Washington Post
Why Play Is Evolutionarily Important (And How It Helps You)
When mammals stalk, hunt, and escape, they find themselves in ever-new situations and environments. Marc Bekoff, a researcher at the University of Colorado and a lifelong student of animal behavior, argues that play broadens an animal’s behavioral repertoire, giving them the flexibility to adapt to changing circumstances. – Nautilus