July 30, 2021 • View in browser
This week, the US is expected to return a stunning 17,000 stolen artifacts to Iraq, including the 3,500-year-old “Gilgamesh Dream Tablet.” In other fascinating reads, Billy Anania breaks down how the watermelon became a symbol of resistance for Palestinians, and danilo machado looks at Rindon Johnson's winding works at the SculptureCenter. Happy weekend,
— Elisa Wouk Almino, Senior Editor
How Watermelon Became a Symbol of Palestinian Resistance
A new tradition is emerging online, uniting Palestinians worldwide and drawing influence from the 20th-century motif. | Billy Anania
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Busch-Reisinger Museum’s New Instagram Account Redefines the Boundaries of Its Collection
@busch_hall provides a virtual space to reimagine German art and identity through the lens of Harvard’s Busch-Reisinger Museum, which has been reinventing itself since 1903. Learn more.
LATEST NEWS
The "Gilgamesh Dream Tablet", previously held at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, DC
The “Gilgamesh Dream Tablet” is among the 17,000 stolen artifacts expected to return to Iraq this week.
Two rediscovered Fragonard paintings have been acquired by the French state and will enter the holdings of the Musée Fabre.
ART & FILM
Rindon Johnson Ruminates on the Expansiveness of Identity
Johnson’s winding works prompt as many questions as they provide answers, percolating with repetition, address, and alternates. | danilo machado
Funny, Generous, and Honest: MFA Work From UC Riverside and USC Roski
A roundup of work by graduating MFA students this summer. | Matt Stromberg
Are Hybrid Film Festivals Actually Accessible?
If hybrid festivals continue the way they do, the in-person experience will be held at a premium while the online content is given to the masses. | Grace Han
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The Era of the Visionary Museum Director Is Over ... or It Should Be
Murals Watch Over Jerusalem Neighborhood, a Silent Protest Against Displacement
A Dazzling Corrective to the White-washing of Ancient Rome
Japan’s Offbeat Olympics Opening Ceremony
How Many Latinx Women Artists Have Had Solo Shows At MoMA PS1?
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FROM THE ARCHIVE
Weaving Together the Story of a Forgotten Pop Artist and Her Rugs
In the annals of overlooked artists, Dorothy Grebenak is an extreme case. | Glenn Adamson
IN OUR STORE
"Slant" Tea Towel x Sam Francis
This bold and energetic linen tea towel features “Slant” by California-born Abstract Expressionist painter Sam Francis.
For more items inspired by one of the 20th century’s leading interpreters of light and color, check out our Sam Francis collection!
