Having reviewed the Morgan Library & Museum’s extensive 2010 renovation, I didn’t expect to be writing about another major Morgan re-do any time soon. – Lee Rosenbaum
Blog
Should We Bother Restoring Old Castles And Palaces?
Castles, in particular, were instruments of war and occupying or levelling them was the goal of invading armies. In many cases, the castles were then taken over by the victors and re-purposed, but many were dismantled, particularly when the structure could no longer repel attacks by cannon. – The Art Newspaper
Why Karl Lagerfeld Was A Giant
Lagerfeld made the leap from fashion-industry stalwart to pop-culture icon when he was appointed creative director of Chanel, showing his first couture collection in January 1983. It’s a sign of his transformative influence that few remember that Chanel was in genteel decline at the time, adrift since the death of its eponymous founder in 1971. Lagerfeld gave the ailing Parisian label an adrenaline shot to the heart, cunningly remixing the house’s classic looks for a younger, more international clientele. – The Atlantic
Google Translate Is Actually Wittgenstein In Action
“Google employees have previously acknowledged that Wittgenstein’s theories gave them a breakthrough in making their translation services more effective, but somehow, this key connection between philosophy of language and artificial intelligence has long gone under-celebrated and overlooked.” Here’s an explanation. – Quartz
Why Scientists Are Looking For DNA Inside Old Books
These objects can fill in gaps in the written record, revealing new aspects of historical production and trade. How much beeswax came from North Africa, for example? Or how did cattle plague make its way through Europe? With ample genetic data, you might reconstruct a more complete picture of life hundreds of years in the past. – The Atlantic
‘Be More Chill’ And The Family That’s Been With It All Along
The sleeper-hit musical’s composer and lyricist, Joe Iconis, has kept around him a group of performers (who call themselves the Family) who’ve all been waiting for their big breaks together — and now that Iconis’s show is taking off, he’s keeping Family members on board, resisting every request to replace one of them with, say, a TV star. – The New York Times
Abbott Labs Sues Over Fake Found In Its Corporate Collection
The bigger question remains how fakes ended up in Abbot’s collection, and the original works resold on the market. If the company and law enforcement are right and the works were switched during conservation, the operation suggests a knowledge of the art world. – The Art Newspaper
Louisville Orchestra Names Its Next CEO
Robert Massey comes to Louisville from the Jacksonville Symphony and previously held executive positions at Orchestra Iowa and the Washington Bach Consort. – Insider Louisville
Watching Two New York City Ballet Dancers Get Ready To Star In ‘Sleeping Beauty’ For The First Time
Anthony Huxley (the Prince): “For me [the difficult thing] always is the acting and being a presence onstage … because I’m not a natural projector with my face.”
Indiana Woodward (Aurora): “The suitors are all rooting for you. They’re all like [whispers]: ‘You can do it. You can do it.’ I’m like, ‘Help.'” – The New York Times
How Barber’s ‘Adagio For Strings’ Went From National Mourning Music To Dance Club Hit
It was played at the funerals of Einstein and FDR; TV and radio stations played it after JFK was shot; it’s been used to signify sadness in numerous films; orchestras added it to their concerts after 9/11. Then the electronica DJs got hold of it, and the remixes went over surprisingly well on the dance floor. – NPR