In the late 1970s, artists were settling, illegally, in vacated factory space in the Lower Manhattan neighborhood. Marson, an architect and developer, spotted a provision in zoning regulations that could render the lofts legal — and he spent years fighting the city to make that provision stick. - The New York Times
On display at one of the art festival's venues is a facsimile of a 1988 brochure about the PLO; inside the brochure are drawings by Syrian artist Burhan Karkoutly which depict Israeli soldiers as robots with Stars of David on their helmets. - Artnet
If we can tear ourselves away from the hype and hysteria that passes for online culture, and stretch out our historico-philosophical telescopes, there really are some interesting things about the broader range of communicating through networks. - 3 Quarks Daily
A win for the government would not appear to bode well for Simon & Schuster. Penguin Random House is already a giant and will be just fine either way. But S&S finds itself in a tricky position that belies its mojo over the past two years. - Vanity Fair
“What we are calling for is an active ‘Parthenon partnership’ with our friends and colleagues in Greece. I firmly believe there is space for a really dynamic and positive conversation within which new ways of working together can be found.” - The Guardian
It turns out that when a multilingual person wants to speak, the languages they know can be active at the same time, even if only one gets used. These languages can interfere with each other, for example intruding into speech just when you don't expect them. - BBC
Over the years, he said, studio executives have rejected his pitches for stories, telling Leguizamo — who is of Colombian descent — that Latino people apparently don’t want to see “feel-good movies,” he said. - Los Angeles Times
The amphitheater at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center was built as the summer home of the company, which, not so long ago, had a four-week season there every year. But in 2022, SPAC's first full season since the pandemic began, City Ballet has only five nights. - Times Union (Albany, NY)
Bin Salman finds himself confronting a classic strongman’s dilemma: He has gotten the team he deserves, a staff that’s too well-paid to give it to him straight. Here’s a free tip: If you want people to be able to walk places, the third dimension is your friend. - Slate
"Not even two months after taking office, Yoon Suk-yeol has made a huge investment in the country's culture: a $3.7 billion fund for film, TV, art, and other cultural projects, as well as plans to transform a historic presidential home into Korea's answer to France's Palace of Versailles." - Artnet
The prize honors a book-length work of imaginative fiction with $25,000. The nine shortlisted books will be considered by a panel of five jurors. The winner will be announced later this year on October 21st, 2022, Ursula K. Le Guin’s birthday. - Electric Literature
"(We) want to change the temperature of the debate ... (and) find a way forward around cultural exchange of a level, intensity and dynamism which has not been conceived hitherto. There are many wonderful things we'd be delighted to borrow and lend. It is what we do." - The Guardian (PA Media)
"I’ve learned over time to always come back and attach to the mission and to the power of music. That has allowed me to be in a way that is less self-conscious.” - Forbes
Linear Elamite is a set of characters that was used in and around the ancient city of Susa (in modern-day Iran) around 4,000 years ago, and it's one of only a few surviving ancient writing systems that scholars still can't decipher at all — until now. (Maybe.) - Smithsonian Magazine
