Understanding language as something defined by public use—rather than private intention—helps us grasp how simply scraping text from around the web and finding patterns in the way words fit together can form the basis for passably imitating a human. - Prospect
Lofty and pragmatic in equal measure, these leaders are reconstituting Los Angeles’ theater culture, fighting for the survival of nonprofit theater in America and shaping the future possibility of the art form, here and beyond. - Los Angeles Times
Well, so we hope. “Almost 90 years after the house’s completion, conservators are still working on stabilising Wright’s experimental design — including endemic leaking problems unrelated to the waterfall. The latest in these conservation efforts, a three-year, $7m project to repair and protect the house, is scheduled for completion in April.” - The Art Newspaper
A security guard found the man damaging colorful glass plant sculptures around 11 p.m. in an outdoor area on the museum’s grounds, according to a police blotter post. - Seattle Times
“Josiah Enriquez (Pojoaque and Isleta pueblos, Navajo Nation) has been distinguishing himself on what is widely considered to be the most prominent stage in competitive hoop dancing — the Heard Museum’s annual World Championship Hoop Dance Contest in Phoenix — winning his third consecutive world title in February.” - Santa Fe New Mexican
He wrote more than two dozen novels, from The ICPRESS File (1962) through Billion-Dollar Brain and the trilogies Berlin Game/Mexico Set/London Match (1980s) and Faith/Hope/Charity (1990s). He also wrote historical nonfiction, including a book about JFK’s assassination and Fighter: The True Story of the Battle of Britain. - AP
After the financial hit the organizers took in 2020 and 2021, they sold a controlling interest to Penske Media — which, after last year’s event, fired the chief programming officer and other staffers, losing a lot of institutional knowledge. Now many observers are wondering if SXSW can survive at all. - Texas Monthly
“(The) chart is set to launch later this year in the UK, offering a monthly rundown of the most popular titles on (the) social media platform. The ranking will combine verified retail sales data with social media engagement. … The charts were first trialled in Germany and are being expanded to the UK.” - The Guardian
“’Playwrights Horizons regrets that Mr. Lynch felt excluded because of his race,’ the theater said in the six-sentence statement issued by both parties. The statement did not specify whether the theater paid any money to Mr. Lynch, but said (the parties) 'have agreed to resolve the matter out of court.’” - The New York Times
The 1990 theft of 13 artworks, collectively worth over $500 million, from Boston’s Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum has never been solved. Former FBI agent Geoffrey Kelly says the “whodunit” part of the crime is solved and he has a probable motive, but that probably nobody now alive knows the artworks’ whereabouts. - CBS News
For its entire history, Britain’s public broadcaster has had to have its charter renewed by Parliament every ten years; in effect, the BBC must renegotiate its existence every decade. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has promised “to future-proof this vital institution … (against) the ongoing, exhausting culture wars.” - The Guardian
“It’s one of the most mythic icons in American letters — and now the most valuable. The 120-foot-long scroll on which Jack Kerouac hammered out the 1957 Beat Generation classic On the Road has realized an astounding $12.1 million at auction, setting a record for a literary manuscript.” - Artnet
In the letter, the senators note that the GSA has posted 46 buildings that have been identified for “accelerated disposal,” a process that expedites the sale of the properties, which are home to numerous artworks. - ARTnews
Indhu Rubasingham remembers the long lines when she brought Bollywood legend Shabana Azmi to the NT in 2000. “You can put people on this stage and that means something to different communities. It is like a beacon, and it opens its doors for different audiences depending on what you put on the stage.” - Variety
