This year the Academy Awards has nominated 10 films for best picture. Every other category has a maximum of 5 nominees like in year’s past, but this year’s expanded list of nominees hearkens back to the early days when a new industry decided to publicize what they do by having an awards ceremony. Who will win this year’s best picture Oscar? I’m pulling for Up, but I know that’s about as likely as a balloon-carried house….
The Day Without Art (DWA) first began on December 1, 1989– World AIDS Day– to highlight multiple landscapes of loss because of AIDS. Unfortunately, the worldwide AIDS crisis continues to wage on. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, each day, features a work of art for visitors to experience on their website. Today, that piece of artwork was a black rectangle. As they museum explains, “In observance of Day Without Art, an international program to mark AIDS Awareness Day, today’s daily artwork will not appear.” On this World AIDS Day, imagine what your life would be without art. And consider what you can do to help the victims of this cruel disease.
A master of the minimal, Irving Penn has passed away. His photographs of the celebrity and artistic elite are legendary. His gifts to us, immeasurable.
As we approach the annual Family Day weekend at Columbia, be sure to consult the schedule so that you don’t miss any of the fun with friends, family, and alumni of the College.
I just finished watching a fascinating episode of Bill Moyers’ Journal with Cornel West, Serene Young, and Gary Dorrien. I was intrigued, fascinated, energized, and fortified by their discussion on this moment in America’s future in faith.
A wealth of resources, including video of the show, are available from PBS.
I was first introduced to Pina Bausch’s work in graduate school, with video from her Café Muller. Bausch died suddenly this week after just being diagnosed with cancer. The dance world has lost a treasure, certainly. But so too, has the entire aesthetic realm.
When I saw the film version of Dreamgirls I had chills as Jennifer Hudson sang “And I am Telling You.” I can’t even imagine what it was like to have seen the original run with Jennifer Holliday in that role. When I found this gem, I had just a taste. Officially chill-inducing!
One of the most pleasureable parts of teaching Performance is the ability to study and enjoy the multi-disciplinary artists that fuse art and theater. Robert Delford Brown was one such artist. The world of art is a tiny bit more muted with his loss. The New York Times obituary pays terrific tribute and includes some of his most wonderful works in the gallery.
