Arts
The Arts
Washington State Names Its First Native American Poet Laureate
The author of two poetry books and a member of the Lhaq’temish (Lummi) Nation, Priest is the sixth poet and first Native person to be selected for the two-year term, a program of the Washington State Arts Commission and Humanities Washington. Continue Reading Washington State Names Its First Native American Poet Laureate
Filmmakers Call Out PBS For A Lack Of Diversity, Over-Reliance On Ken Burns
Nearly 140 documentary filmmakers have signed onto a letter given to PBS executives, suggesting the service may provide an unfair level of support to white creators, facing a “systemic failure to fulfill (its) mandate for a diversity of voices.” Continue Reading Filmmakers Call Out PBS For A Lack Of Diversity, Over-Reliance On Ken Burns
Tina Turner’s Life Explored In New Documentary
Near the end of HBO’s new documentary, Tina, the movie implies the legendary singer has made a decision: after this film rolls out, Tina Turner just might be done appearing in public and talking about her life. It’s an odd message, coming from a woman whose life story and experiences have inspired at least four books, an Oscar-nominated biopic, a Broadway musical and, now, this new film. Continue Reading Tina Turner’s Life Explored In New Documentary
Comedian Eddie Izzard Switches To Screenwriting And Acting For ‘Six Minutes To Midnight’
Eddie Izzard, the wildly-admired and inventive comic, was in a museum in the British resort town of Bexhill-on-Sea, where she spent much time as a child, when historians showed her an old badge from the Augusta Victoria school for girls in the 1930’s. There was a Union Jack on the crest — and a Nazi swastika. Continue Reading Comedian Eddie Izzard Switches To Screenwriting And Acting For ‘Six Minutes To Midnight’
Farcical ‘Life Of The Mind’ Skewers Academic Life And Adjunct ‘Hell’
The Life of the Mind is about endings that dribble to a close, the inexorable erosion of dreams, the slow leak of youthful buoyancy. It’s about being young-ish at a time in history when it feels like many things might be fading away, including the natural world. The great accomplishment of Smallwood’s taut novel is that while it is, indeed, about all those grim subjects, it’s also one of the wittiest, most deliciously farcical novels I’ve read in a long time. Continue Reading Farcical ‘Life Of The Mind’ Skewers Academic Life And Adjunct ‘Hell’
Children’s Author Beverly Cleary, Creator Of Ramona Quimby, Dies At 104
Children’s author Beverly Cleary died Thursday in Carmel, Calif., her publisher HarperCollins said. She was 104 years old. Cleary was the creator of some of the most authentic characters in children’s literature — Henry Huggins, Ralph S. Mouse and the irascible Ramona Quimby. Continue Reading Children’s Author Beverly Cleary, Creator Of Ramona Quimby, Dies At 104
Illustrators Build A Bridge For Young Readers, Says Artist James Ransome
Artist James Ransome is a huge Parliament-Funkadelic fan. So much so, that one of their tunes provided the soundtrack when Ransome accepted the Society of Illustrators’ Gold Award during a virtual ceremony on Thursday. Continue Reading Illustrators Build A Bridge For Young Readers, Says Artist James Ransome
FILM REVIEW: In ‘The Father,’ Anthony Hopkins’ Mind Is Playing Tricks On Him — And On You
There have been many fine films over the past several years about characters struggling with the onset of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, like Away From Her, Still Alice and the recent Colin Firth/Stanley Tucci drama Supernova. But few of them have gone as deeply and unnervingly into the recesses of a deteriorating mind as The Father, a powerful new chamber drama built around a mesmerizing lead performance from Anthony Hopkins. Continue Reading FILM REVIEW: In ‘The Father,’ Anthony Hopkins’ Mind Is Playing Tricks On Him — And On You
James Levine, Former Met Conductor Fired After Abuse Allegations, Dies At 77
James Levine, the immensely accomplished conductor who wielded power and influence in the classical world, and whose singular tenure at the Metropolitan Opera ended in a flurry of accusations of sexual abuse, died on March 9 in Palm Springs, Calif. His physician of 17 years, Dr. Len Horovitz, confirmed his death to NPR, saying that Levine died of natural causes. He was 77 years old. Continue Reading James Levine, Former Met Conductor Fired After Abuse Allegations, Dies At 77
BOOK REVIEW: Story Collection Puts A Ghostly Spin On Digital ‘Reality’
In John Lanchester’s collection, Reality and Other Stories, the supernatural manifests itself through cell phones, social media, computers, reality tv shows, and smart houses. “Signal,” the opening story, was originally published in The New Yorker and it’s a standout: an eerie homage to Henry James’s The Turn of the Screw. Continue Reading BOOK REVIEW: Story Collection Puts A Ghostly Spin On Digital ‘Reality’
5 Lesser-Known, Late-In-Life Works By Frida Kahlo Now On View In Dallas
What more is there to say about Frida Kahlo? She died in 1954 at age 47. By now she’s a cottage industry. Her face (that unibrow, the red lips, the scores of self portraits) reproduced on mugs, matchbooks, pandemic masks, of course tote bags. Continue Reading 5 Lesser-Known, Late-In-Life Works By Frida Kahlo Now On View In Dallas
BOOK REVIEW: ‘Once Upon A Quinceañera’ Has Fairy Tale Charm
Once Upon a Quinceañera opens in Miami, the summer after Carmen Aguilar’s senior year. Due to an incomplete internship credit, Carmen has yet to graduate high school. So she’s working for an event company called Dreams Come True, where she dresses up as a singing, dancing Disney Princess for birthday parties. She’s at one of these parties (dressed as Belle) with her best friend Waverly (dressed as Cinderella), when a Beast shows up who is not Carmen’s usual partner. Continue Reading BOOK REVIEW: ‘Once Upon A Quinceañera’ Has Fairy Tale Charm
