Hugo McCloud, 44, offers a recent case study of one path from obscurity to recognition. In just over a decade, he had gone from fabricating metal fountains in Northern California to this month opening his fifth show at the prestigious Sean Kelly Gallery in New York. - The New York Times
A federal judge has denied the motion to dismiss a massive copyright lawsuit targeting over a 1,000 reggaeton songs from such globally recognized acts as Bad Bunny and J Balvin. - Variety
"The bikes — completely white, including tires, spokes and pedals — serve as stark memorials, both an alert to passers-by that a cyclist was killed and a reminder of the dangerous conditions cyclists face.” - The New York Times
“I am staring in horror at something on my phone or laptop, and no matter how many other people are also staring in horror at that thing, somewhere, many of us are sitting alone. We look, and we look, and then there’s another thing, and another." - Reactor Magazine
One artist lost hundreds of paintings in a loft fire before the city made laws about loft safety; another says it’s not easy because “there is no super” when something goes wrong. But others say their lofts are like a “parallel universe” compared to the rampant greed they see beyond their window. - The Guardian (UK)
Take Minneapolis, for instance. “What separates Minneapolis’s library from the rest is their intensive approach to serving people who are homeless and frequent the library” and that includes books, safe places to sleep, snacks, and more. - MPR
“I am here on my knees begging the publishing industry not only to publish books for younger teenagers, but to create a new publishing category that encompasses that unrecognized in-between age.” - School Library Journal
One nonbinary Black actor who played Belle says, “I was really encouraged to do my own interpretation, ... and I got to have a say in my costumes—like, I wasn’t in a blue dress, I was in a blue jumpsuit, and wore red Doc Martens boots.” - American Theatre
“In the past decade, Daniel Oriahi has made over 25 movies. But the filmmaker hit a new career breakthrough when the Tribeca Festival accepted his latest, The Weekend.” - The New York Times
Karla Sofía Gascón, who is trans, filed a complaint against Marion Maréchal, granddaughter of National Front founder Jean-Marie Le Pen, who posted on Twitter/X: "So a man has won best actress. Progress for the left means the erasure of women and mothers.” - Agence France-Presse (The Guardian UK)
Paperback, audiobook, hardcover, or e-book: Which wins as least bad for the environment? Tough call, and a complicated one. Even "certain fonts can be more climate-friendly by using less ink and less paper.” - NPR
After being kicked out when he was 15 for saying he wanted to be an artist, “the young Aboudia pressed on and enrolled in art school. Due to a lack of financial support, he slept in his classroom after the other students went home for the day.” - BBC
“Every month this year has included new headline-making layoffs at big game companies, while smaller studios without the name recognition have faded away quietly or gone on some kind of ‘hiatus.’” That’s not great for community, or new, creative games. - Wired
One mother of two autistic children said, “I’m hoping that what we see here shows that you can do anything, especially in the arts, to make it accessible for all.” - CBC
