How My Public Art Provokes Controversy Among Conservatives

**Title: “Phoenix Ladder: A Monument to Resilience in the Bronx”** In a world wracked by sociopolitical upheaval, Shellyne Rodriguez’s “Phoenix Ladder: Monument to the People of the Bronx” stands as a beacon of hope and defiance. Created amid a cacophony of social movements questioning the very structures of American colonialism, this piece is not just an artwork but a call […]

Ireland Establishes Permanent Basic Income Program for Artists

The Irish government has announced a significant step forward in supporting its artistic community by launching a recurring basic income program for artists. This initiative follows a successful three-year pilot program and will provide 2,000 artists with an unrestricted weekly stipend of €325 over three years. Annually, this amounts to roughly €16,900 per artist. The program, beginning application acceptance in […]

Art Events Disrupted Due to Snowfall

— **New York Newsletter Highlights: Art, Culture, and Snowy Adventures** **By Lisa Yin Zhang, Associate Editor** This week in New York City, the unexpected reign of a fierce blizzard brought the city to its knees, pausing its relentless pace beneath nearly two feet of snow. Residents heeded Mayor Mamdani’s travel embargo, announced with a startling alarm that temporarily united the […]

The Decline of Democratic Practices in Iberia

**Art Review: Inquietud. Libertad y Democracia at La Casa Encendida, Madrid** The exhibition “Inquietud. Libertad y Democracia” at Madrid’s La Casa Encendida offers a profound exploration of democracy and freedom through the lens of Spanish and Portuguese artistic expressions. Curated by Paulo Mendes and Sandra Vieira Jürgens, this exhibition features over 50 artists and nearly 80 diverse works, ranging from […]

The Iconic Representation of Racism in American History

Title: “Art Interruptions and Cultural Narratives: A Weekly Digest” In New York, a recent blizzard has temporarily shuttered museums, reminding residents of the relentless winter and amplifying the city’s gritty resilience. Meanwhile, a thought-provoking book by Matthew Davis about Mount Rushmore revisits the monument’s complex history, highlighting its connections to race and ideology. This narrative aligns with national reflection as […]

Exploring the History and Significance of a Mountain Through Biography

### Exploring the Biography of Mount Rushmore: A Symbol of Nationhood and Controversy Mount Rushmore is more than a monumental sculpture. Known traditionally by the Lakota Sioux as Tȟuŋkášila Šákpe or Six Grandfathers, this mountain holds deep cultural and historical significance. Author Matthew Davis’s “A Biography of a Mountain: The Making and Meaning of Mount Rushmore” provides an immersive exploration […]

Examining the Gradual Erosion of Mount Rushmore’s Exterior

Gutzon Borglum, an American sculptor known for his monumental works, played a pivotal role in the creation of Mount Rushmore, a colossal sculpture carved into the granite face of the Black Hills in South Dakota. Born to Danish immigrants in 1867, Borglum’s artistic journey was marked by ambition and controversy. On May 31, 1932, Borglum, alongside a superintendent, inspected the […]