December 7, 2022
Good morning. 🌧️ "Is a solo exhibition ever truly solo?" wonders Joelle E. Mendoza (JEM) in her review today of the work of artist Maria Maea. Foregrounding the diasporic experiences and histories behind her practice, Maea already knows the answer to this question. It's something to think about on this good Wednesday.
Today in the news, a millennium-old mural is rediscovered in Peru, a new hockey arena threatens an artist community in Arizona, and a viral AI app that generates digital selfies in a range of artistic styles raises ethical concerns. I recommend reading our staff reporter Rhea Nayyar's explainer on this dubious app, made by the company Lensa.
Other stories today include a London show curated by Ai Weiwei with works by incarcerated people and patients in secure mental health units, William Kentridge in Wisconsin, and more. May this be a truly good Wednesday.
— Hakim Bishara, Senior Editor
Read This Before You Jump on the Lensa "Magic Avatar" Trend
Lensa AI’s digital avatars have captivated users, but some say the app is stealing from artists and reflects racial stereotypes. | Rhea Nayyar
SPONSORED
Call for Applications: Charles Gaines MFA Fellowship at CalArts
The program, along with recently announced visiting critics, will provide long term funding, promote access, and safeguard experimentation for future students of color. Learn more.
WHAT'S HAPPENING
Archaeologist Sâm Ghavami and his team (all photos Sâm Ghavami)
A team of archaeologists rediscovers a “long-lost” ninth-century mural on the northern coast of Peru.
Artists and culture workers question how a new hockey arena will alter Tempe, Arizona’s arts landscape, including museums and alternative spaces.
SPONSORED
NXTHVN 2023–2024 Fellowship Applications Now Open
Up to seven artists and two curators will be selected for this paid 10-month intensive, mentorship-driven program in New Haven. Learn more.
LATEST IN ART
For William Kentridge, Art and Life Animate One Another
In an exhibition that consists of mostly small-scale black and white works on paper, viewer engagement almost magically awakens the sleepy room. | Debra Brehmer
SPONSORED
Sculpture Space Opens Applications for 2024 Artist Residencies
Hrag Vartanian, Hyperallergic’s editor-in-chief, is one of the guest jurors reviewing applications for the two-month residency in Utica, New York. Deadline: January 15, 2023. Learn more.
When a Solo Exhibition Is Created by a Community
Maria Maea’s All in Time continues an intergenerational conversation and exemplifies the artist’s process, not simply the finished pieces. | Joelle E. Mendoza
What Freedom Looks Like for Incarcerated Artists
Koestler Arts works with incarcerated people and patients in secure mental health units, aiming to improve their lives through creativity. | Naomi Polonsky
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