The institution, called Ocean Space and housed in a newly-restored historic church, will host workshops and lectures and “will also showcase the digital archive of oceanic projects organized in the last seven years by TBA21-Academy, a department of Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary (TBA21).” — The New York Times
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Jazz Singer And Actress Nancy Wilson Dead At 81
“Ms. Wilson resisted the label of ‘jazz singer’ for much of her career, although jazz was the form to which she returned time and again and in which she had her greatest critical and popular success. She considered herself above all ‘a song stylist,’ she once told The Washington Post. ‘That’s my essence,’ she said, ‘to weave words, to be dramatic.'” — The Washington Post
A Weekend Retreat That Combines Capoeira And Sustainable Farming
Travel writer Seth Kugel visits Permangolinha, a retreat in the Brazilian state of Bahia where visitors — disciples, really — study the martial arts-based movement form with Mestre Cobra Mansa (Master Tame Snake) and work on his permaculture farm. — The New York Times
Detroit Symphony’s Woes Seem To Be Over: Budget Is Balanced, Ticket Sales Steady
Continuing its recovery from the crises of a few years ago, the DSO announced its sixth balanced budget in a row. Box office revenue rose by 1%, the popular neighborhood concerts were renewed for five more years, and the “Live from Orchestra Hall” webcasts were seen by 400,000 people. — Detroit News
St. Paul Chamber Orchestra In 2017-18: Small Surplus, Attendance Very Slightly Down, Young Listeners Up
“About 10 percent more young people caught an SPCO concert than the year before, according to a new annual report. Those young concertgoers are a big focus for the nonprofit: Since 2016, the chamber orchestra has lured school and college students with free tickets. The number of unique households attending, too, hit a record high in the fiscal year ending in 2018.” — The Star Tribune (Minneapolis)
End Of An Era: Denver Public Library Will Stop Charging Fines On Overdue Books
Starting Jan.1, Denver Public Library will be eliminating fees for overdue materials to help reduce barriers for low-income patrons. Library administrators are even letting most customers’ existing overdue fines slide to get them back in the door, according to a Wednesday news release from the library. That’s $474,000 owed right now by 85,000 people. – Denver Post
Women Are Leading The Arab Gulf’s Surging Art Scene
To the women themselves, gender is almost a non-issue. The Art Newspaper spoke to three female directors who are shaping the future of museums in the Gulf about their efforts to build creative communities, embrace inclusivity in the workplace and reveal the relevance—beyond the beauty—of Islamic art. – The Art Newspaper
This Year’s Additions To The Rock Hall Of Fame
Since 1986, the Hall has added 323 inductees to its rolls; they include 220 performers, 33 “early influencers” (a category largely composed of rock and roll’s African-American founding mothers and fathers, such as Lead Belly, Robert Johnson and Sister Rosetta Tharpe) and 34 non-performers (generally music-industry executives, but also songwriters, producers and instrument makers). – NPR
Uh Oh: Now We Have To Worry About Provenance Of AI Art?
In the fallout of the Christie’s sale it emerged that the AI was actually the work of another artist, Robbie Barrat. He had programmed it, trained it on works from Wikiart and used it to generate very similar portraits, before he posted the code online with an open-source licence, so others could use it freely. So not only is the Obvious portrait not attributable to the AI – it’s not even really attributable to Obvious. – BBC
Why Beauty Pageants Still Have A Hold On The Popular Imagination
Pageants still tend to fascinate. The very word suggests why: The ceremony and accoutrements of beauty contests play a powerful role in the national imagination, with their sashes and their tiaras and their inevitable rows of machine-stitched sequins. The ratings for Miss America have fallen consistently since its heyday, but 4.3 million viewers still tuned in to ABC to watch Nia Franklin triumph at this year’s ceremony in September. The pageant, despite everything, still catches the eye, a shiny, contoured, rose-clutching cultural behemoth. – The Atlantic