He took the helm of the Guggenheim in 2008, following the resignation of firebrand director Tom Krens. Only the fifth leader in the institution’s history, Armstrong inherited Krens’s ambitious expansion plans, which had seen the Bilbao outpost open in 1997 and the inking of a deal with Abu Dhabi. - Artnet
There’s a preponderance of copaganda and superheroes saving the day and a category of narrative best described as wealth-aganda — stories focused on the interior lives of the rich, from the aspirational to the ridiculous to the unscrupulous. - Chicago Tribune
It’s an irony that arguably the most radical movement in European thought should have been appropriated by the conservative forces of the market, but it’s also predictable. - Aeon
It only operated from 1933-1957 in North Carolina's Swannanoa Valley, and its great impact was through its summer program. But to see how important Black Mountain College was, you need only look at the astounding list of those who taught and studied there. - T — The New York Times Style Magazine
Oxford's Institute for Digital Archaeology has lidar-scanned some of the sculptures at the British Museum; its robot is now chiseling copies of them from Carrara marble; those copies would go to London as the originals returned to Athens. Not everyone is on board with this plan. - The New York Times
The longer that this new “business model” is allowed to operate, the harder it will be to change. I often think about how 25 years ago the introduction of the DVD became a cautionary lesson in when you choose to fight. - Deadline
Jesse Green surveys the unpaid and underpaid work that has always been part of making theater in the US, especially early in a career — and the likelihood that instituting fair pay practices could mean that the field contracts, with fewer jobs and fewer shows. - The New York Times
The founder of the organization Whistleblower Aid says that the museum has "broken IRS rules, Michigan state laws; they've broken their employment policies, their own board policies, their own conflict of interest policies, their own whistleblower policies" and should not have its 10-year American Alliance of Museums accreditation renewed. - Artnet
"Accustomed to being seen as dedicated public servants in their communities, (they) have found themselves … labeled pedophiles on social media, called out by local politicians and reported to law enforcement officials." - The New York Times
Experimental psychology and data science would be used to develop clearer (and sometimes counterintuitive) recommendations for improving users’ lives. Bestselling books were written in this genre. - Hedgehog Review
"His work, weaned on modernism, liberated by postmodernism and forever revisiting the classics, cared little about aesthetic ideology but was deeply rooted in history. Whatever comes after Brook, it (won't be as) linked to the breakthroughs that defined theater directing as an art form (in itself)." - Yahoo! (Los Angeles Times)
In a world flooded with such new devices, it is not at all surprising to find that many people now are not even aware of any aspiration to self-knowledge beyond what may be revealed by the AppleWatch or the Fitbit. - Unherd
“Platform co-ops offer a more democratic and equitable alternative to traditional companies, and they have the potential to create good jobs, boost local economies, and increase resilience in the face of future shocks.” - Wired
The survey compared responses by older adults to those under 55, and while there were definitely differences, the interests of the two groups often aligned quite closely. - Artnet
The underlying logic of brain-rot, a messy mutual entanglement between brain and culture, endures. In particular, the idea that lower, popular forms of culture might dangerously intermingle with the physical structures of the brain is remarkably persistent. - Psyche
"I’m sure the Met is thought of as a conservative institution in some quarters, I believe this is no time to be conservative. I don’t think we are thought of as conservative any longer. I think over the period of time that I’ve been here, things have changed dramatically." - Van
"For me, at least, fandom has started to feel like a phenomenon akin to cryptocurrency or economic populism—a history-shaping force that we’d be foolish to ignore." - The New Yorker
Stephen Marche: "The love story below is my attempt to develop an idealized love story out of all the love stories that I have admired. ... "Autotuned Love Story" certainly isn't mine. ... It's the love story of the machines interacting with all the love stories I have loved." - Literary Hub
You don’t know it’s art by looking at it. You know it’s art because galleries want to show it, dealers want to sell it, collectors want to buy it, museums want to exhibit it, and critics can explain it. When the parts are in synch, you have a market. - The New Yorker
Magic and mystery are what make jokes funny and creativity so tantalizing. Revealing how a magic trick is done or giving away a punchline will not win you any friends. So, as much as we profess interest in divining the “secret” to creative thinking, we’re also wary. - Washington Post
