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☆ Barry Humphries, Australian comedian best known for alter-ego Dame Edna Everage, dies
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-22 | by ( Helen Regan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The Australian comedian Barry Humphries, best known for his drag character Dame Edna Everage, has died aged 89. Born in Melbourne, Australia in 1934, Humphries created the character of housewife Edna Everage in 1955 as a social satire. Before Edna made it big, Humphries appeared in numerous West End productions including “Oliver” and “Maggie Way” in the 1960s. Throughout the 1970s, 80s and 90s, Humphries landed a series of TV talk shows, specials and films, as Dame Edna and his other alter-egos Les Patterson and Sandy Stone, among them The Dame Edna Experience in 1987. As well as performing on television, Humphries was a prolific author Marianna Massey/WireImage/Getty ImagesIn 2000, Humphries won a Special Tony Award for his Broadway show “Dame Edna, The Royal Tour”, officially breaking into the US market.

☆ Saadiyat: The 'island of happiness' just off Abu Dhabi
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( Chris Dwyer | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Jon Arnold Images Ltd/Alamy Stock PhotoWhile Abu Dhabi itself is home to bombastic contemporary architecture, Saadiyat – an easy 20-minute drive from downtown and Abu Dhabi International Airport – is a natural wonderland, edged by small sand dunes. Elevated boardwalks protect them from beachgoers – part of a conservation project led by Jumeirah at Saadiyat Island Resort and its inhouse marine biologist. Department of Culture and Tourism Abu DhabiOpen year-round, Saadiyat Beach Golf Club is home to a Gary Player signature 18-hole golf course. Luc Castel/Getty ImagesInaugurated in 2017, The Louvre Abu Dhabi is France’s largest cultural project abroad. Louvre Abu Dhabi isn’t the only highbrow place on Saadiyat – behind the dunes there are two world-class educational institutions, too.

[1/4] Sudanese cartoonist Khalid Albaih works at his home as a TV news broadcast shows images from Sudan, in Oslo, Norway April 20, 2023. "Art is needed in times like this because it is important to show people art is about hope, art is about showing there is a different way to talk about things," Albaih told Reuters. "Art is continuous resistance. Art is our way to continue fighting." Reporting by Gwladys Fouche in Oslo Editing by Peter GraffOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Why this rusting industrial city could be Greece’s next tourism hotspot
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Elinda Labropoulou | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

For 2023, it’s been given the title as a Cultural Capital of Europe – a title it shares with Timisoara in Romania and Veszprem in Hungary. Sergio Tsitakis / Design Farm ProductionsFor the occasion, the city’s magnificent archaeological site has been overhauled, improving its accessibility. Being a Cultural Capital has helped dozens of cities that have previously held the title to foster urban regeneration and find a spot on the travel radar. Among upcoming highlights this summer is a play, “Ma,” by Italian director and playwright Romeo Castellucci, a performance specially created to be staged in Eleusis’ archaeological site. And with the majority of international flights landing in Athens, Eleusis is perfectly located as an easy-to-reach destination.

☆ Seeking a Fresh Start in Connecticut: In a House or a Condo?
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Lisa Prevost | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

Mr. Chiu, an internationally acclaimed pianist, often performed for their guests in the large, round music room. “Now there are a lot of organizations bringing together the arts, so we don’t need to maintain a separate venue,” said Ms. Esposito, 63, a corporate innovations consultant and an artist. Mr. Chiu, 58, also spends about a week every month in Pittsburgh, where he is a professor of piano at Carnegie Mellon University. “We spent a lot of time looking at and bidding on houses that were right on or near the water,” Ms. Esposito said. “We are looking at this long term,” Ms. Esposito said.

☆ Factbox: Little known facts about King Charles: One-time jockey and hedgelayer
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

LONDON, April 18 (Reuters) - King Charles will be crowned next month at London's Westminster Abbey, following in a tradition that dates back some 1,000 years. Here are some little known facts about the monarch:FIRST REGAL SCHOOLBOYCharles is the first monarch to have gone to school, as all his predecessors were educated by private tutors. As part of his education, he spent two terms at Geelong Church of England Grammar School in Melbourne, Australia. SPORTYAs a young prince, Charles loved skiing, surfing, and scuba diving. MUSIC AND ARTS LOVERCAMBERLEY, ENGLAND - APRIL 14: King Charles III inspects the 200th Sovereign's parade at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst on April 14, 2023 in Camberley, England.

☆ Ahmad Jamal, Jazz Pianist With a Measured Approach, Dies at 92
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-16 | by ( Eric Grode | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Ahmad Jamal, whose measured, spare piano style was an inspiration to generations of jazz musicians, died on Sunday at his home in Ashley Falls, Mass. The cause was prostate cancer, his daughter, Sumayah Jamal, said. That approach stood in marked contrast to the challengingly complex music known as bebop, which was sweeping the jazz world when Mr. Jamal began his career as a teenager in the mid-1940s. Bebop pianists, following the lead of Bud Powell, became known for their virtuosic flurries of notes. Mr. Jamal chose a different path, which proved equally influential.

☆ Ukrainian pianist seeks victory on cultural front at contest in Switzerland
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-15 | by ( Gabrielle Tétrault-Farber | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] Roman Lopatunskyi, 29 years old pianist from Kyiv, poses after an interview with Reuters amid his participation in the Horowitz Competition in Geneva, Switzerland, April 14, 2023. REUTERS/Cecile MantovaniGENEVA, April 15 (Reuters) - Before arriving in Geneva for a renowned piano competition, Ukrainian pianist Roman Lopatynskyi rehearsed in the dark and played concerts by candlelight as air raid sirens resounded across his native Kyiv. As a male of military age, Lopatynskyi requires permission to leave the country for competitions and concerts abroad. said Lopatynskyi, who finished first in the intermediate category in the 2010 edition of the Horowitz competition. In the first months of the war, Lopatynskyi raised funds to support his country by holding recitals on YouTube.

☆ This 20-minute daily practice makes kids 'better problem solvers,' says Johns Hopkins child development expert
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( Aditi Shrikant | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

There are lots of daily tasks — eating vegetables, doing homework, brushing teeth — that kids might not understand, or care, are beneficial. Though, there is one less-talked-about activity that is crucial for child development: engaging with and creating art. "Children who are using the arts are better problem solvers," says Susan Magsamen, co-author of "Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us." Magsamen is also the founder of the International Arts + Mind Lab, Center for Applied Neuroaesthetics at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. "We think it starts to regulate the nervous system in a way that changes how we feel."

☆ Sarah Paulson financially helped Pedro Pascal early in his career
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Pedro Pascal and Sarah Paulson are two of Hollywood’s most in-demand actors, often pictured at red carpet events together, but that hasn’t always been the case during their three decades-long friendship. As young actors struggling to navigate the industry, Paulson would help her friend make ends meet. “We would go to see movies all the time in those years, and we would get so lost in them,” Paulson told Esquire. Pedro Pascal hosted SNL in February. “He’s a part of some spectacularly successful things,” Paulson added.

☆ I've scoured Detroit's dumps, streets, and abandoned homes for wood and metal to make furniture. It's exciting to be part of a movement that redefines how society should use reclaimed materials.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( Alcynna Lloyd | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

At first, I didn't even know that car design was an actual career or business. Woodward Throwbacks' Detroit showroom. It is a sustainable design studio that custom builds furniture and home goods with recycled materials found in the city. I was falling out of love with car design, and the possibility of being my own boss excited me. What Woodward Throwbacks is doing — redefining how society sees and uses reclaimed materials for everyday use — has never been done before.

☆ Twitter overhauled its verified check marks this weekend — but seemingly only for The New York Times account
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-02 | by ( Aaron Mcdade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The first day of Twitter's previously announced axing of "legacy" verified checks nearly passed without incident. However, Twitter CEO Elon Musk was presented with a meme about the New York Times not intending to pay to keep its check. "Oh ok, we'll take it off then," Musk said, and the Times' gold check disappeared overnight. "Oh ok, we'll take it off then," Musk said in another response Saturday night, and the Times' gold check disappeared sometime overnight. Both James and Alexander still have blue check marks as of Sunday afternoon.

☆ The AI program used to generate fake viral images of Pope Francis and Donald Trump just suspended free trials — but professional photographers say they're still concerned
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( Jordan Hart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

AI image generator Midjourney is pausing free trials due to "extraordinary demand and trial abuse," its founder said. Prior to the free trial shutdown, fake images created using Midjourney were going viral on Twitter and other social media platforms. The platform has been used to create fake images of Twitter CEO Elon Musk and President Vladimir Putin in the past. Professional photographers are becoming more vocal about their concerns as AI-generated images become increasingly harder to recognize as fake. "Additionally, it can lead to the creation of work that is not representative of the creative's own artwork, as AI-generated images can easily replicate styles and techniques."

☆ Ivy League child psychologist shares her No. 1 key to raising successful kids—it's not how much time you spend with them
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( Tom Huddleston Jr. | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

But you can stop anxiously counting the hours and minutes you spend at work instead of home, says Dr. Tovah Klein. "It's always about the quality of the relationship [and] the quality of the interactions," Klein tells CNBC Make It. With that in mind, focus on building meaningful connections with your children during the time you can spend with them, Klein says. You can still work on it during particularly busy periods at work or while you're traveling, albeit in small doses. "It almost always could be said that less is more for children," Klein says.

☆ Mindy Kaling, Bruce Springsteen, Colson Whitehead Are Among Recipients of National Arts Awards
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-21 | by ( Jennifer Calfas | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Colson Whitehead and Mindy Kaling will both be honored this week. President Biden will honor actors, artists, authors, musicians and scholars Tuesday with the federal government’s highest awards for contributions to the arts and humanities. Recipients of the National Medal of Arts will include comedians and actors Mindy Kaling and Julia Louis-Dreyfus , legendary singers Gladys Knight and Bruce Springsteen , and fashion designer Vera Wang . Authors including Bryan Stevenson , Amy Tan and Colson Whitehead , and academics including Henrietta Mann are among those who will receive the National Humanities Medal.

☆ Fact Check-‘Adrenochrome’ keg is an art project, not a Heineken barrel transported by Shell
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A keg with “adrenochrome” embossed on its rim was created as part of an art project exhibited in London in 2018; images of the keg have recently been misrepresented online alongside false claims that it is among Heineken barrels filled with adrenochrome and transported worldwide by Shell. The keg image and claims circulated following Feb. 22 reports that Bill Gates bought a 3.76% stake in Heineken Holding NV (here). Reuters could not source the exact photograph in the posts, but it matches others depicting an art project exhibited at the University of the Arts London (UAL) in 2018. Reuters found no credible media reports to support the claim that Heineken barrels were used to transport the substance or that Shell conveyed them. This photograph shows an object created as part of an art project exhibited in London in 2018, not a Heineken barrel transported by Shell.

☆ 'Arts are language that can exist across all barriers': Art and culture at the 2023 World Economic Forum
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( Tania Bryer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via Email'Arts are language that can exist across all barriers': Art and culture at the 2023 World Economic ForumAt the World Economic Forum, the arts played a significant role on the agenda, with an extensive cultural program including awards, exhibitions, performances and panels. CNBC's Tania Bryer speaks to artists at the event to find out more.

☆ Saudi sculptor steps into limelight as religious curbs ease
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-13 | by ( Mohammed Benmansour | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/3] Awatif Al-Keneibit, a Saudi artist, shows her art in her studio, an art-form previously frowned upon in the country but now gaining more acceptance, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, March 9, 2023. Her exposition includes ceramic faces, some with hollow eyes, others wearing eye glasses, and figurines of Saudi Arabian women, displayed on red bricks and coloured to reflect traditional desert dresses. "Who could have imagined that one day, this exhibition, which was in a basement, could be displayed in Olaya (downtown Riyadh)?" said Keneibit, 60, who is blazing a trail for women in the arts in Saudi Arabia's conservative male-dominated society. U.S.-educated Keneibit said she resorted to creating a private gallery at the bottom of her house for friends and guests after a public exhibition was banned in 2009.

☆ Oscar success puts 'endangered' Irish language centre stage
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-12 | by ( Padraic Halpin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

DUBLIN, March 12 (Reuters) - Thousands of miles from the glitz of Sunday's Oscars, the first Irish language film to earn a nomination is sparking renewed interest in a native tongue spoken by so few it is considered endangered by the United Nations cultural agency. Competing for best international feature, "An Cailín Ciúin" (The Quiet Girl) last year became the first Irish language film to gross more than 1 million euros ($1.06 million) at the UK and Irish box office. Director Colm Bairéad says the success feels like it is boosting a language he grew up feeling self-conscious about because of its rarity. Mac Conghai's production company, which creates everything from Irish language children's programmes to dating shows, has more than doubled its number of staff in the past decade. "I think it's a way of seeing the language isn't just something academic or something historical in a museum.

☆ A woman used ChatGPT to make strange crochet animals that went viral on TikTok. Viewers seized on them as an example of AI's failings.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-11 | by ( Beatrice Nolan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Alex Woolner asked ChatGPT to write crochet patterns and posted the results online. Some people saw the AI patterns as an example of the new tech's limits. Woolner asked the bot: "Write me a crochet pattern for a narwhal stuffed animal using worsted weight yarn," referring to a thick yarn commonly used for crochet. Gerald — the viral crochet narwhalThe first animal Woolner made from the AI-generated pattern became an internet celebrity. Viewers seized on it as an example of AI failingsWhile some viewers thought the narwhal was strange but cute, others saw it as a sign of AI's limits.

☆ 106-year-old and 103-year-old sisters share longevity tips: 'Be happy, be healthy, and have love in your life'
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-11 | by ( Ester Bloom | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Shirley Hodes, 106, hasn't seen her little sister, Ruth "Ruthy" Sweedler, 103, in person since 2015. Sweedler agrees: The key to longevity is to "be happy, be healthy, and have love in your life." H/O: Shirley Hodes (R) and Ruth Sweedler (L), 2015 Photo by: Trudy GalynkerFrom afar, Hodes and Sweedler seem as similar as two slices of rye bread. Shirley Hodes age 106Where Hodes lives, residents are always coming and going, and she loves the variety. Sisters Shirley Hodes and Ruth Sweedler, circa 1923"When I was a little girl and got my library card, that was the best thing that happened to me," says Sweedler.

☆ Michigan Attorney General Nessel says she and other Jewish officials were targeted for murder
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( Dan Mangan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

EAST LANSING, MI - OCTOBER 16: U.S. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel speaks at a campaign rally held by U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) designed to get Michigan State University students, faculty and staff out to the polls on October 16, 2022 in East Lansing, Michigan. The race between Congresswoman Slotkin and Michigan State Senator Tom Barrett for Michigan's newly configured 7th Congressional District is one of the two most expensive U.S. House campaigns in the country. In her tweet, Nessel wrote: "The FBI has confirmed I was a target of the heavily armed defendant in this matter." "Probable cause exists that [Carpenter] made threats to cause injury and death to Jewish members of the Michigan government," an FBI agent wrote in a complaint against Carpenter. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said Thursday that the FBI told her that she was among the group of Jewish state elected officials targeted for murder by a "heavily armed defendant" who has been arrested.

☆ An anonymous 'art-world family' took out a job ad for an executive assistant to make their life easier 'in every way possible'
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( Lakshmi Varanasi | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A job posting for an executive assistant for a "high-profile art world family" recently went viral. For a $65,000-$95,000 salary, the prospective candidate is asked to "make life easier for the couple in every way possible." The ad has been removed, but was originally posted on a job board hosted by the New York Foundation for the Arts. But a recent ad for an "Executive Assistant" for an "Art World Family" has gone viral for its unreasonable — and borderline exploitative — list of job requirements. The ad was originally posted on a job board hosted by the nonprofit New York Foundation for the Arts.

☆ Etsy beats revenue estimates on steady demand
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Feb 22 (Reuters) - Etsy Inc (ETSY.O) on Wednesday beat Wall Street expectations for quarterly revenue, helped by demand for home goods, clothes, jewelry and accessories offered on its e-commerce platform, sending its shares up 4% in extended trading. Net revenue rose to $807.2 million in the quarter from $717.1 million a year earlier. Analysts on average had expected revenue of about $751.8 million, as per Refinitiv IBES data. Last week, short seller Citron Research said Etsy had become one of the largest platforms in the world for counterfeit goods. The percentage of counterfeit goods on Etsy has become too large and the company could no longer defend it as a small percentage of revenue, Citron had said.

☆ King Charles's coronation to feature 12 new pieces of music
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Twelve newly commissioned pieces of music will play at the coronation of Britain's King Charles at Westminster Abbey this May, including Greek Orthodox music, Buckingham Palace said, with the 18th century "Zadok the Priest" also to be featured. Six orchestral commissions, five choral commissions and one organ commission have been composed for the occasion, the palace said on Saturday, including a new Coronation Anthem by musical theatre impresario Andrew Lloyd Webber. Music by Elgar, Parry, and Williams were also performed at the crowning of Charles's late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in 1953. Handel's coronation anthem "Zadok the Priest," which was composed for the coronation of King George II in 1727, will be played at the ceremony, the palace said. I hope my anthem reflects this joyful occasion," composer Lloyd Webber said of his coronation anthem in the statement.

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