Aug 20, 2020 • View in browser

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

New Monuments Rise as Old Ones Fall

Projections from the Cleanse event in the Italian Market, July 11, 2020, video by Michelle Ortiz (Photo by Lori Waselchuk)

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!)

Kentucky Will Raise Its First Statue Honoring a Woman, Nettie Depp

In 1913, Depp became the first woman to be elected as Superintendent of Barren County School. Her complicated legacy will be honored with a monument next August.

Hakim Bishara

Sundance Helps Out

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.

What’s So Scary About TikTok?

An Xiao Mina joins me on the podcast to talk about the weird obsession with TikTok by governments around the world. President Trump has threatened to ban it, while Egypt has sentenced two women to jail for their TikTok videos, and the company itself has banned users who post things that displease China.

We discuss this and more, including the passing of Greek poet Dinos Christianopoulos, who is best known for the line, “They Tried to Bury Us, They Didn’t Know We Were Seeds.”

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