“We need to account for the fact that we chase after disgust. Our attraction to disgust is hardly modern. The grotesque fascinated painters from the Renaissance to Goya, with his visages of Saturn, and Francis Bacon, with his distorted portraits.” – Nautilus
This Could Be The Berkeley Public Library’s Most Treasured Collection
“The Berkeley Tool Lending Library is one of the Bay Area’s great public gifts, a free-to-use service for Berkeley residents looking for anything from saws to ladders to a hard-to-find screwdriver. You’d think a repository of free tools, some very expensive, would disappear frequently, but supervising librarian Dan Beringhele says theft is rare. It’s just that beloved.” – San Francisco Chronicle
Artist (And Scrotum-Nailing, Bank-Burning Refugee) Pyotr Pavlensky Arrested For Leaking Sexts Of Paris Mayoral Candidate
When the ever-provocative protest artist put online sexual images and messages sent to a woman by former Macron aide Benjamin Griveaux, thus driving him from the race for mayor of Paris, Pavlensky was violating France’s revenge-porn law, which carries penalties of up to two years in prison and a €60,000 fine. Pavlensky, who is in France on political asylum from his native Russia, and his girlfriend (the alleged recipient of Griveaux’s sexts) are being held by police. – Deutsche Welle
At Least 80 American Cities Are Shrinking. Here’s How They’re Planning For It
Some cities have turned to “rightsizing”, or shifting their focus from returning to their historical peak and instead toward improving life for the remaining residents. Sometimes that means turning to drastic measures, such as eliminating services to largely empty neighborhoods or demolishing thousands of buildings. – The Guardian
Remember The Stolen-Klimt-Hidden-All-These-Years-In-A-Museum-Wall Story?
Weird, right? While the painting is definitely authentic, police are still trying to puzzle out the odd story of how it ended up there and who really did it. It’s complicated. – The Daily Beast
A Theatre Director Rates The Presidential Candidates On their Performance Style
“Maybe it’s an occupational hazard, but I tend to view politicians, and especially the current crop of contenders for the Democratic nomination, through the lens of performance. As a director I’ve watched thousands of actors audition; it’s a truism in the field that you can tell whether or not someone is of interest within the first 60 seconds.” – ArtsFuse
The Oscar Bump Was Real This Week For ‘Parasite’
Well, debate over, at least for films with subtitles: “The twisted South Korean thriller collected $5.5 million over the weekend, an exceptional 234% increase in ticket sales and the biggest post-Oscar boost for a best picture winner in the past decade.” (And that’s not including the massive overseas bump as well.) – Variety
The Royal Shakespeare Company Hires Its First Spanish Actor
David Luque, a 47-year-old actor from Madrid, has been working steadily in theatre for decades, starting when he was a student using the EU’s programs to study in Germany. But really, right as Brexit hits? He says, “The RSC is in an opening moment, breaking old schemes to try to reflect on the stage the diversity. … It may seem paradoxical at this time when Brexit has just taken place, although perhaps it is precisely the reaction of the art world.” – El País (Spain)
Adding Back In The Workers That Art About Los Angeles So Often Forgets
For instance, David Hockney’s “splash” paintings created an idea of Los Angeles that was cool and secluded. Artist Ramiro Gomez imagines what was going on behind the scenes in No Splash – and other scenes of “cool” LA. “He creates these paintings more as questions than as heavy, social statements, using the words ‘subtle anger’ to explain his motivation. ‘I try to stay away from didactic work,’ he says. ‘I leave that to the activists. I’m trying to find the middle ground.'” – The Guardian (UK)
What Philly Must Do To Preserve Its Jazz Legacy
A ton of Philadelphia jazz history – including John Coltrane’s house – is in danger of disappearing. Property neglect, loss of institutional memory, gentrification by Temple University and unprotected development threaten several foundational spots in the city – but steps could be taken, were there someone to take them. – The Philadelphia Inquirer
Inside The Sad, Sudden, Dramatic Demise Of The Marciano Art Foundation
Was it a dispute between art workers and ultra rich owners, a lack of attendance – or so much more? The shut-down “raises questions about the public benefit of private museums run by wealthy art collectors as foundations. Such establishments, often viewed by skeptics as vanity projects or tax shelters, have mushroomed in recent years.” – Los Angeles Times
The Young Star Of ‘Queen Of Katwe,’ Nikita Pearl Waligwa, Has Died At 15
Waligwa was diagnosed with a brain tumor the same year she starred in the movie with David Oyelowo and Lupita Nyong’o. Oyelowo wrote on Instagram, “We mourn the loss of our beautiful Nikita Pearl Waligwa. … She was a ball of light in @queenofkatwemovie and in life. Her battle with a brain tumor was humbling to witness. Her light will live on.” – The Hollywood Reporter