Week In Review: February 17
Bringing Art Back to the Olympics
Over at Huffington Post blogger Jon Packer has made a case for art to be restored to the Olympics. The short article touches on the fascinating history of art and the Olympics, including the fact that medals used to be awarded in the areas of painting, sculpture, music, and literature. Parker goes on to speak about the immense health and social benefits associated with art, and argues that there are therefore ample cultural, societal, and fiscal grounds for art to play a more central role in the international event.
Art Destroyed in the Name of Art
Maximo Caminero was charged with criminal mischief after he shattered a $1 million vase at Miami’s Perez Art Museum in protest the establishment’s lack of support to local artists. The vase belonged to an exhibit from Chinese artist Ai Weiwei who, in his past, has also smashed a valuable vase in the name of art. Weiwei’s reaction to the damage? He wasn’t impressed.
Vancouver Art Gallery Receives Photography Donation
Canadian photographer Edward Burtynsky has generously donated 34 of his famed photographs to the Vancouver Art Gallery. These works, spanning three decades and taken from eight different series from 1983 to 2013, will be part of an upcoming exhibition, set to open on March 1.
Maggie Estep Dies, Age 50
The poet and novelist instrumental in popularizing slam poetry has passed away of a heart attack. Known for her fearless stage presence, Estep first came to fame through regular appearances on MTV in the early Nineties. She also performed in large-scale stage events including Lollapalooza, Woodstock, and the Free Your Mind spoken-word tour.
In this video from 2010, Maggie is seen reciting a poem titled Emotional Idiot on HBO’s Def Jam Poetry.
A New Way to Fuel Creativity
According to new research from Harvard Business School researcher Francesa Gino, deceitful actions can actually enhance creativity. As Gino says, “By acting dishonestly, people become more creative, which allows them to come up with more creative justifications for their immoral behavior, and therefore more likely to behave dishonestly.”
Categories: MPMG