PEOPLE

Canadian Jazz Icon Oliver Jones, 91

The Little Burgundy legend received numerous honours in his illustrious career. Among his accolades are numerous Juno and Félix awards. Jones was also appointed an officer of the Order of Canada in 1993 and awarded the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award in 2005. - Montreal Gazette

Author Annie Dillard Is Dead At 81

“With the publication of Pilgrim at Tinker Creek in 1974, Ms. Dillard, just 28, was recognized as a major new voice in American letters. … In the years to come, she would publish essays, meditations on religion, poems, a theory of literature, two novels, journalism, (and) a best-selling autobiography.” - The New York Times

Once-Prominent French Artist Claude Lévêque To Stand Trial For Sexual Assault Of Minors

“More specifically, Lévêque is charged with sexual assault involving violence, coercion, threat, or surprise, as well as indecent assault on a minor under the age of 15 by a person in a position of authority. … The victims are listed as being between eight and 18 years old (at) the time.” - ARTnews

Fashion Designer Bob Mackie, 87

Prolific costume designer Bob Mackie, whose dynamic sparkling and fringed creations dressed pop culture superstars such as Cher, Diana Ross, Dolly Parton, Beyoncé and Miley Cyrus, has died. - Los Angeles Times

The Art Of Being Jeff Koons

Koons the pop culture figure is often at odds with Koons the artist, causing some deep ambivalence among the art establishment. He’s at once an esoteric conceptualist and a marketing genius rivaled only by Andy Warhol and Salvador Dalí. - The New York Times

Jonathan Cooper, One Of The Rare Fine Violin-Makers In The US, Has Died At 76

Cooper was “a luthier who crafted violins of such supple tone and exquisite range that they allowed players to bridge the gap between classical and American fiddle instrumentation, making him a favorite of musicians like Mark O’Connor and Alison Krauss.” - The New York Times

Jay Maisel, Photographer Of Miles Davis And So Many More, Dies At 95

“While not necessarily his best photograph — he wished it had been sharper — the Davis picture became part of a portfolio of remarkable depth.” - The New York Times

Mexico’s First Female Professional Sculptor, Geles Cabrera, Has Died At 100

“When Cabrera began her long career, few other women in Mexico were taken seriously as artists, and sculpture was something that only men were expected to do. While she enjoyed some early recognition, … major institutions only started noticing her pioneering work much later in her life.” - ARTnews

55-Year-Old Tenor Dies Onstage Mid-Performance

Joaquín Ledesma Marquina, a singer and choral conductor who was at the heart of a growing vocal music scene in the city of Querétaro, was giving a concert at the Centro de las Artes there when he suffered a heart attack. - OperaWire

Lonnie Bunch’s Smithsonian Legacy

Through a combination of principled stances and deft political skills, he has kept the sprawling institution on mission and aligned with its public. - The Atlantic

Choreographer Richard Alston, Pivotal Figure In British Contemporary Dance, Has Died At 77

“He played a leading role in developing the independent dance scene through the 1970s and early ‘80s, before going on to direct Ballet Rambert for six years from 1986, and then the Richard Alston Dance Company from 1994 to 2020.” - The Guardian

Cate Blanchett, Herbert Blomstedt, Jenny Holzer, Daniel Libeskind, Andy Goldsworthy Win 2026 Praemium Imperiale

This year’s laurates of the ¥15 million (approximately $95,000) prize, awarded by the Japan Art Association in the categories of painting, sculpture, architecture, theatre/film, and music, are visual artists Holzer and Goldsworthy, architect Libeskind, actress Blanchett, and 99-year-old conductor Herbert Blomstedt, who was still working until earlier this year. - Artforum

The Dance-Pop Singer That Argentines Treat As A Saint, Complete With Prayers, Shrines And Miracles

Miriam Alejandra Bianchi, known by the stage name Gilda, died 30 years ago in a highway collision, and she’s since become one of Argentina’s many folk saints, not officially recognized by the Vatican but venerated by ordinary people nevertheless. Gilda’s wrecked tour bus has even become a pilgrimage site. - AP

What We Didn’t Understand About Yayoi Kusama

When she died last month, 37 years later, Ms. Kusama — in her life and her art — was obscured, paradoxically, by too much fame. - The New York Times

When You’re Suddenly Very Famous, Fairly Young, Things Can Be Difficult

At least that was the experience of Maisie Williams - Arya Stark, to all of the many, many, many Game of Thrones watchers out there. - The Guardian (UK)

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