Art in the American Outback: News Roundup

THE NORTHEAST

Curbing exodus of graduates
Maine gets creative competing in the 21st-century, knowledge-based economy: "Any resident who earns an associate or bachelor's degree in Maine and then lives, works and pays taxes in the state is eligible for a maximum tax credit of $2,100 per year, or a total of $8,400 for the four years of schooling. And there's this twist: The new law that takes effect in January allows employers to make the loan payments for graduates they employ and claim the tax credit."
(Thanks to John Kostrzewa of the Providence Journal [Rhode Island])

Street shooter: Pioneering photographer Marty Cooper turns her camera on a struggling Baltimore neighborhood
"When Martha Cooper first spied the green and white of the empty sidewalk chairs, matching the trim on the Fulton Avenue rowhouse, the photographer had one reaction: She vowed to come back and meet the person responsible. On a block in Southwest Baltimore lined with empty homes, she knew, a splash of paint is a promising sign of street life. Marty Cooper's presence itself speaks to the street's stealthy vitality. A New York-based photographer, Cooper, 64, became a hip-hop pioneer by documenting graffiti and break dancers. Now, the traveler who has passed through dozens of countries and communities has returned to her hometown to chronicle 'a neighborhood over time.'"
(Thanks to Stephanie Shapiro, Baltimore Sun)

A moving summer experience: Jacob's Pillow is a stellar showcase for the best in dance
"Jacob's Pillow has always been a unique environment. With its bucolic setting and its celebrated history, being at Jacob's Pillow is as close to dance heaven as one can get. That environment has evolved for 75 years, starting in 1931, when dancer, teacher, choreographer and modern-dance pioneer Ted Shawn purchased an abandoned farm... Since then, Jacob's Pillow has been a summer retreat that showcases some of the world's leading figures of dance and movement."
(Thanks to Frank Rizzo of the Hartford Courant [Conn.])

THE SOUTH

Laughter's the Best Medicine?
For aspiring stand-up comics, it's more like heroin. I should know: I haven't been able to stop.
(Thanks to Andrea Grimes of the Dallas Observer)

Music licensing companies come calling for royalties
Coffee shops, bars, and other establishments that provide a venue for live music are questioning whether they will be able to continue as licensing companies hunt down royalties.
(Thanks to John A. Torres of Florida Today)

Growing up Goth
Take an insider's look at the Gothic culture as a lifestyle.
(Thanks to Erika Bolin of the Metro Spirit in Augusta, Ga.)