The sculpture of Priscilla Chan, wife to Mark Zuckerberg, is so obviously self-referential and AI-influenced that it’s hard to discuss critically. But “is this what most sculpture, or indeed most art, will look like in the future? Given the endless possibilities of AI, is this where we’re all headed?” - Washington Post
Over its thousand-year history, wayang kulit has been at once high art and popular entertainment; both exemplified and parodied elites and common folks, invaders from other islands and European colonizers; transmitted rulers' messages while undercutting them; embodied the old ways and incorporated pop culture. - Tablet
Here's what was and wasn't in the video that DBDT bosses claim is the reason they fired all the company's dancers, how the sackings actually happened, whether the dancers' allegations that DBDT is union-busting are credible, and the conditions that made company members want to unionize in the first place. - Dallas Observer
"Since (CEO Mena Mark) Hanna took over, nearly all of the nonprofit’s established artistic and business leaders have been replaced. And in recent months the board has seen an exodus, especially since chairwoman Alicia Mullen Gregory was ousted from her leadership position in July." - The Post and Courier (Charleston)
The existential threat to the radio business model comes as listeners abandon terrestrial broadcasts in favor of on-demand podcasts and streaming services, part of a larger digital reckoning that has forced widespread layoffs across some of the nation’s largest media companies. - CNN
"In pursuit of ever larger audiences, Shen Yun has treated many of its performers as an expendable commodity. … It has routinely discouraged them from seeking medical care when their bodies have broken down, and commanded their obedience to grueling rehearsal and tour schedules through relentless emotional abuse and manipulation." - The New York Times
Oddly enough, we’re seeing an increasingly samey musical landscape, in which taste has become trapped in a feedback loop of the algorithm’s making. - The Guardian
They argued that by signing up for a free 30-day trial of Disney+ in 2019, and again when purchasing the theme park tickets in 2023 through his Disney+ account, Piccolo agreed to the streamer’s terms of service, which includes that “all disputes” with “The Walt Disney Company be settled out of court via arbitration. - Deadline
Despite raising $500,000 in emergency funds, Aurora Theatre in Berkeley “has shed five full-time workers, including one co-managing director and its entire marketing and development teams.” - San Francisco Chronicle (MSN)
"Despite its budget deficits and a well-publicized falling out with acclaimed conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen, the San Francisco Symphony is moving forward with plans for a full makeover of Davies Symphony Hall." (Which is to say, it submitted drawings to the city planning department before a deadline.) - San Francisco Chronicle (MSN)
He had a career both before and after as a musical-theater star, but from 1966 to 1981, he was emcee/straight man on one of the most beloved game shows in American TV history, a cross between tic-tac-toe and Laugh-In, with gifted comedians and the occasional major star as panelists. - The Washington Post (MSN)
That is to say, in Chile, artists use murals to communicate ideas. One longtime political muralist says, “In the streets, anonymity is important. … It’s the message that is interpreted by the viewer that I care about.” - The Guardian (UK)
"Heavy rain and gale-force winds caused leakage to come through the roof of the structure. Part of the ceiling and several walls sustained water damage, and three of the paintings themselves were affected. The extent of the damage, and the cost of repairs, are still being determined." - Artnet
"(She) conveyed bewitching allure and wrenching vulnerability on-screen — notably in A Woman Under the Influence and many other movies directed by her husband, John Cassavetes. … Over seven decades, she worked sparingly in mainstream fare but managed to attract a cascade of superlatives." - The Washington Post (MSN)
“The Olympics is probably the most competitive sports photography environment on earth. It’s the best photographers who shoot sports all come together. You’ve got to bring your best ideas, your best form, and try and stand out.” - Artnet
Everything in-person is paused for fundraising. “The Bessies will not hold its customary annual awards ceremony, party, or press conference, … the awards' selection and nomination process will continue. Artists nominated for 2024 Bessies will be announced publicly next year.” Uh, OK? - Playbill
For one thing, they’re carbon sinks. “Preserving them would really be saving carbon … little nuggets of carbon that you would be saving and reusing. It’s the most environmentally friendly thing.” - NPR
At the American Players Theater, about an hour west of Madison, they do around nine mostly classic plays (no musicals) each season, running in repertory, with no microphones in a 1,075-seat amphitheater. Audiences love it, with many people returning season after season. - The New York Times
Company management posted on Instagram on Monday that last Friday's abrupt mass sacking happened because "a video surfaced that violated their contractual terms and our standards of artistic excellence." The union, AGMA, is not at all convinced and has issued a rare "do not work" order for DBDT. - KERA (Dallas)
