I had a serious shock this week, as I received news that my beloved aunt Zabel in Aleppo, Syria, pass
| I had a serious shock this week, as I received news that my beloved aunt Zabel in Aleppo, Syria, passed away from Covid. It was a reminder that the disease continues to be a global phenomenon and the death toll continues to be very serious with 4,000 to 7,000 deaths a day. Please stay safe and encourage others to do the same. This disease continues to deeply impact our families and communities in ways we could’ve never predicted. Sending love to everyone who has grappled with or continues to battle this terrible disease.Now, the news.The removal of a mural in Philadelphia creates an opportunity, Kentucky finally decides on its first statue of a woman, discussing the fear of TikTok by governments, Sundance Institute helps 39 arts organizations, and more.– Hrag Vartanian, editor-in-chief | |
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| New Monuments Rise as Old Ones Fall |
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| | Projections from the Cleanse event in the Italian Market, July 11, 2020, video by Michelle Ortiz (Photo by Lori Waselchuk) |
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| Today, we look at two interesting cases that are responding to the times. In Philadelphia, after 20 years, a mural that honored the former mayor Frank Rizzo was removed, and now a group of artists and community members are reimagining and repurposing the site for a summer of events and projects. Rachel Heidenry writes:Murals often arrive with social movements. Unlike statues, their existence is fleeting, if not intentionally temporary. And while murals can be documented, they can rarely be stored. Their relevance is determined by the individuals who walk past them — whether for 25 years or for one important evening. As [muralist Michelle Angela] Ortiz shared, “The importance of murals is the coming together of a community in the moment. And that moment is also monumental.”While, in Kentucky, the state has finally decided to honor a woman with a statue (the first!) and selected educator Nettie Depp. (Depp is actually a distant relative of Kentucky-born actor Johnny Depp, who is her great-great-nephew!) |
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| It’s no secret that arts organizations are in trouble, so it’s nice to celebrate that the Sundance Institute has gifted $400,000 in total to a diverse group of film organizations and collectives. Hurray!Btw, if you’re looking for funding and other opportunities, we compile them every month into a handy list. Here’s this month’s list. |
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| What’s So Scary About TikTok? |
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| Now, for something really cute 😏 a dog and crow are friends: |
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