Congressional staff reported on some of the calls they were getting. “We’re getting a lot of calls from high schoolers asking what a Congressman is. Yes really,” wrote Taylor Hulsey, communications director for Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL). - Deadline
Even as his fame grew, Haring remained dedicated to grass-roots activism: designing posters for anti-nuke rallies, anti-apartheid protests, safe sex promotions, and events for a myriad of LGBTQ causes. - ArtsFuse
Part of the official reason for the elimination of flamboyant academic styles such as these was that they tended to be off-putting to new entrants to the profession, and in particular to women. - Unherd
Pianos made in the 18th and 19th century were simpler, lighter and smaller than modern instruments, with narrower keys and lighter strings. The result is they play more softly than modern pianos. - AP
The original production featured 64 arias, stripped of their original context and set against a collage of other materials in ways that could be harmonious or not; no two performances are the same. And navigating that forest can be a challenge. - The New York Times
"Painted as if it were a framed artwork on a yellow wall, the fresco depicts the Greek mythological tale of Phrixus and Helle with vibrant pigments and crisp dimensions that have been preserved beneath volcanic ash since 79 CE, after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius." - Hyperallergic
Even though he’s not ready to surrender the staff-lined paper and pencil with which he’s written his scores, Williams, 92, is also the oldest person to be nominated for an Oscar. Ask Williams what the 54 nominations mean to him, and he says, “Well, I’ve lost 49 of ’em, or something like that.” - Variety
After two years dark, the Kharkiv National Opera and Ballet company has built an underground bunker with a complete auditorium in it.Says general director Ihor Toulouzov, "We want to bring life back to Kharkiv, including cultural life. Demand for any kind of cultural event here is really high." - BBC
The chancellor has given Britain’s creative industries a boost, including £26.4m to help the National Theatre upgrade its stages and tax relief to encourage film-makers to shoot more movies in the UK. - The Guardian
Meaning since back in the 1930s and '40s, when Schoenberg and Stravinsky were there and musicians got lots of work playing movie soundtracks. Jim Farber surveys that history, from the Monday Evening Concerts (launched in 1939) through the Ojai Music Festival (founded 1947) to Jacaranda (launched in 2003 and closed last month). - San Francisco Classical Voice
“What separates natural from artificial forces? Does natural intelligence end where I think something to myself, silently, alone? How about using a notebook or calling a friend for advice?” - The Baffler
Allstora claims to offer 10 million titles, among which are Mein Kampf and books by such anti-LGBTQ campaigners as former actor Kirk Cameron. Lady Bunny calls Allstora "rainbow capitalism," and the owner of one lesbian bookstore says it's "a dropshipping operation with a kind of veneer of progressivity over it." - Vulture
Faculty senate of the Cleveland Institute of Music voted overwhelmingly in favor of a motion of no-confidence in its president, Paul Hogle, and provost, Scott Harrison, citing reputational damage to the school, underqualified leadership, the institution’s growing deficit, and concerns about loss of accreditation, among other grievances. - Van
"The 78-year-old billionaire ... has been found guilty of money laundering and tax fraud, following a years-long saga seeking his prosecution." He was fined €1 million in addition to the back taxes he owes, authorities have seized €3.4 million in assets, and he will serve two years under house arrest. - Artnet
"The ATDF non-profit organization will downsize yet retain its 501c3 status as a nonprofit organization to produce projects and programs in the future. Tap City, the annual New York City Tap Festival which would have celebrated its 24th year, will also be canceled this year." - Dance Informa
