The Finnish eccentric, known for his long white hair and beard, rotund figure and quirky personality, composed 371 symphonies, most single-movement works with colorful titles. While he guest-conducted widely when younger, in later years he kept most of his work on the podium within Finland but attracted devoted followers via recordings. - Gramophone
"Only a few weeks after the death of Project 1619 founder and President Calvin Pearson, his successor — William Wiggins — has also died. … He had assumed the title of the organization’s president after Pearson’s death in early September." The board says the organization's future existence is secure. - The Virginian-Pilot
The unit seized from museums and collectors 11 works by Egon Schiele; most were surrendered when agents proved the pieces had been looted by Nazis. But the Art Institute has gone to court, arguing that the Manhattan DA's unit not only is wrong about provenance but lacks jurisdiction. - The New York Times
Documents filed earlier this month indicate that, in 2020-21, agents at the airport impounded a vase, jars, figurines, and other items dating from roughly 2,500 to 5,000 years ago. Collectors had evidently purchased the items via eBay. - ARTnews
"A slow-burning literary success who won multiple awards in (Asia) and Europe, Han is the first Asian woman and the first South Korean writer to win the Nobel literature prize." - AP
The Sherman High School's production became a subject of nationwide controversy after a transgender boy was removed from the cast, his fellow students protested, and the district called it all off. An independent report says that the now-former superintendent was upset about "same-sex kissing" onstage. - The Dallas Morning News (MSN)
"It’s a strange thing to have a walk-on role in the fifth act of a great man’s life. Lewis was exactly fifty years and one month older than I was. Twenty-two when I first entered the small Irving Place office." - Literary Hub
While the court’s decision to uphold MONA’s right to maintain a women-only space is significant, it’s Kaechele’s performative celebration outside the courthouse that deserves particular attention. Her statement that ‘the verdict demonstrates a simple truth: women are better than men’ exemplifies the fine line between provocative art and potentially divisive rhetoric. - ArtsHub
In pricey, increasingly corporate Seattle, the Fellowship venue represents a conspicuously unlucrative exercise. Its modest 48-seat layout and limited wine and beer bar give way to the room’s centerpiece: a Kawai grand piano. There are no tables. There is no greenroom. Tickets run a recommended donation of $20, regardless of who’s performing. - The New York Times
"I think the simple answer is because the work is about people. It’s not about dance. Dance and music are tools (to get to) something that matters much more, which is human experience. In the end we’re having a visceral experience for an-hour-and-a-half and feeling like we went through something.” - The Guardian
The creatives from Winnipeg’s Show and Tell Agency are relatively safe, especially compared with Michael Bay’s bonkers original “Got Milk?” commercial. But there’s a wholesome, even urgent, spirit to this campaign. - Winnipeg Free Press
"When it comes to finding and delighting audiences, I have found the Trend Busters fall into two participation philosophies: a Go Broad approach and a Go Deep approach." - NEA
Close reading even such an unserious set of prompts and images offers clues about the scaffolding behind these operations, as well as broader insights into the clumsy, grab-bag way humans tend to deploy language when attempting to describe an image. - The Guardian
"The Hollywood Reporter spoke with (director Ali) Abbasi and (producer and distributor James) Shani to discuss The Apprentice‘s counter-intuitive approach to the world’s most divisive real estate developer — and the behind-the-scenes story of how they raced against the clock to ensure the movie would be widely seen." - The Hollywood Reporter
