On Cézanne and Apples

February 3, 2023

Good morning. ⛅ Today, Mebrak Tareke writes about the destruction of cultural heritage in Tigray amid a brutal war between Ethiopia's government and rebel forces. The guns are down for now under a fragile truce, but the war of narratives, and a dreadful humanitarian crisis, continue.

In other news, an artist is selling “Fuck Carl Andre” merch at a flea market this weekend, suggesting — like many others have — that Andre had a hand in the death of his former wife, artist Ana Mendieta. Also, Rhea Nayyar interviews Chris Newell (Passamaquoddy) about his job as Indigenous Inclusion Coordinator at the Portland Museum of Art.

Reading Michael Glover is always a pleasure, so I suggest you check out his writing today about Cézanne and apples. Lastly, this week's Required Reading will bring you up to speed on the latest news about ChatGPT. People are worried that this AI software might replace writers. I'm more worried about those who already write like ChatGPT.

— Hakim Bishara, Senior Editor

What Is Happening in Tigray?

Scores of cultural heritage sites are in ruins amid a fragile truce and an ongoing war of narratives. | Mebrak Tareke

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WHAT'S HAPPENING

T-shirt and hat designed by Christine Egaña Navin (courtesy Project Art Distribution)

Proceeds from “FUCK CARL ANDRE” apparel go towards a Latina-led organization helping survivors of domestic and sexual abuse in NYC.

Advocates are raising concerns over the Bureau of Land Management’s proposal to expand the roadway intersecting Nine Mile Canyon.

Imprisoned Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi has declared a hunger strike until he is released from Iran's notorious Evin prison.

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ART ON OUR RADAR

Cézanne Saw the Nobility of an Apple

The French painter felt he had to rise to the challenge of one question above all things else: What exactly is it to be a modern artist? | Michael Glover

Susan Philipsz Evokes the Holocaust Through Absence

Philipsz's haunting sound and video artworks serve as a poignant witness to the lives and artistry of victims of the Holocaust. | Annabel Keenan

Phillip K. Smith III Shows His True Colors

The artist’s site-specific museum exhibition Three Parallels glows with choreographed colored light. | Erin Joyce

MORE ON HYPERALLERGIC

What Does an “Indigenous Inclusion Coordinator” Do?

Passamaquoddy citizen Chris Newell is imparting his knowledge of the Wabanaki Confederacy to advise on the Portland Museum of Art’s expansion. | Rhea Nayyar

Required Reading

This week, AP Style Twitter goes wild, the "enshittification" of TikTok, and did people actually come flooding back to New York City after COVID? | Hrag Vartanian and Lakshmi Rivera Amin

Opportunities in February 2023

From residencies, fellowships, and workshops to grants, open calls, and commissions, our monthly list of opportunities for artists, writers, and art workers.

TRANSITIONS

Jenny Moore was appointed founding director of Tinworks Art.

Brandon Ndife is now represented by Greene Naftali.

Daniel Nevers joined the Artists’ Legacy Foundation’s board of directors.

Loretta Yarlow will leave her position as director of the University Museum of Contemporary Art at UMass Amherst.

AWARDS & ACCOLADES

Ebony G. Patterson is the winner of the High Museum of Art’s 2023 David C. Driskell Prize.

Dominique White was awarded the 2022 Foundwork Artist Prize.

Artists Anna Perach, Junghun Kim, and Chris Zhongtian Yuan were named to Foundwork’s Short List.

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Your Concise New York Art Guide for February 2023

Ruth Asawa, Without End

Did Air Pollution Inspire Impressionism?

Life-Size Hercules Statue Unearthed From Roman Sewer

Oops! NYC Train Station Gets Georgia O’Keeffe’s Name Wrong