National Public Radio chronicles four decades of broadcasting independent-arts and political programming across America with a new book presenting the faces behind the radio dial.
A constant companion to daily commuters and fans of arts and culture journalism, NPR celebrates what it does best in This Is NPR: The First Forty Years, combining stellar graphic design, in-depth interviews, behind-the-scenes photos, and rare anecdotes from its best-loved voices. And if reading the radio is too strange, there’s also an audio version.
The Associated Press just blew our minds: a complete nitrate film reel dating from a century ago. Featuring a dramatized version of Abraham Lincoln. Directed by and starring the older brother of legendary director John Ford. Found intact in a New Hampshire barn. Francis Ford’s silent film When Lincoln Paid will debut at Keene State College after a yearlong restoration project by the National Film Preservation Foundation. This story comes from so far out in left field that we have to wonder if Banksy had anything to do with it. But nevermind us, watch two whole clips for yourself! Without further adieu:
Architect of the old-school pin-up paradigm Peter Gowland died earlier this month atage 93, according to this weekend’s obit in the New York Times. In his lengthy career, in which Gowland shot over 1,000 magazine covers and made pin-ups out of celebrities from Raquel Welch to Ann-Margret, the photographer “took the cheese out of cheesecake,” lending a wholesome, sunny vibe to the barely-clothed female figures ogled the nation over. He was also inventive, devising foot supports for tired models and most notably, his own model of cameras, including the 4″ x 5″ format twin-lens Gowlandflex camera, later purchased by everyone from Annie Leibowitz to the F.B.I. Preview some of Gowland’s work and get pin-up tips from the master, after the jump.
OK, so we’re launching a new weekly feature. It’s called Hipster Headlines, and the idea is pretty self-explanatory. We’ll round up the most interesting hipster-related stories of the week and leave you to do with them what you will. Play along after the jump, or, if you hate the term and all things associated, head over to Gawker, where they’re voting for a new word to replace it. Which, come to think of it, will make finding these stories a lot harder for us…
We tend to love reading about how the governmental bodies view art — depressing when you consider the federal budget, heartwarming when you hear that the Obamas picked Alma Thomas for the White House collection — but little did we know how opinionated the Federal Reserve chairmen could be on the matter. (Well, let’s not forget the Feds were all schooled before Bush’s No Child Left Behind policy neglected the arts as core curriculum for K-12 education.) Today, Mary Anne Goley — former director of the fine arts program for the board of governors — penned a piece for the Wall Street Journal about the tastes of various Fed chairs, and let’s just say, it’s pretty revealing.
We love Gorillaz, so we couldn’t help but be a bit disappointed by the recent rumor of the group’s uncredited music stealing borrowing. (Seriously, is there something in the water?) Reggae artist Eddy Grant claims the electronic keyboard riffs from his song “Time Warp,” were used in the new Gorillaz song, “Stylo,” without any due credit. Although both Grant and the Gorillaz are signed with EMI Publishing, the label refuses to get involved and is letting the artists settle this dispute themselves.
In a properly configured relationship I would have gotten a call from EMI to say, ‘Damon wants to use ‘Time Warp.’ What arrangement can you guys come to? Would you claim 100% would you claim 60%, or 70% of whatever it is?’ That phone call never came.
Although nothing has been resolved, we’re curious to hear your take on songs that borrow. After the jump, compare Grant’s “Time Warp” to Gorillaz “Stylo,” and check out our roundup of other musical “homages.”
If you harbor any doubt that one species of fish could potentially take down an entire city’s tourism industry, take a long, sober look at the creature on the right. That’s an Asian carp, and it is terrifying. The “voracious and prolific invasive species has destroyed native fish populations and disrupted ecosystems on its 15-year march up the Illinois River,” and the Army Corps of Illinois is now faced with a decision that may include shutting the river locks into Lake Michigan… which would mean no traffic on the Chicago River, ergo no architectural boat tours. Take a peep at the city’s architectural wonders (which, ahem, will be visible on foot, regardless) after the jump.
PBS’ Frontline series pretty much wrote the book on public-affairs documentaries; now you can watch full episodes of the Peabody and Pulitzer award-winning show online, with more opportunities for in-depth investigating and interaction.
Frontline has been exploring the weightiest of topics since 1983. On the series’ website, you can watch 88 entire episodes, covering everything from Mormons to the meth epidemic, Abu Ghraib to the Madoff affair. Go “Behind Taliban Lines,” or learn the secrets credit-card companies don’t want you to know. Look for online extras, too: for the recent “Flying Cheap” show, about Buffalo Flight 3407, you can read responses from the producer and key figures in the story, learn safety info by airport, and join the discussion yourself.
Three giant ladies in bathing suits, coming to a town near you (as long as you live in Washington, DC). The National Museum of Women in the Arts is installing new public art by the late Niki de Saint Phalle in front of its headquarters on New York Avenue NW; the sculptures are meant to be “showstoppers, as contemporary as the last splash of pop art, as exaggerated as Las Vegas showgirls.” Just what our nation’s capital needs in the form of cultural institution-approved public art: go-go dancers as seen through a distorted Pop Art lens.
Yesterday Flickr turned six years old. With billions of photos, tens of thousands of groups, and a vast online community, it’s a far cry from its initial days as a multi-player gaming site. Of particular note: The Commons, Flickr’s 2-year-old collaboration with famed public photography archives (The Library of Congress, Smithsonian Institution, and the Bibliotheque de Toulouse, to mention a few), easily made accessible with the power of technology.
In honor of the big celebration, we’ve sorted through our favorite archival cake photos — some of which date all the way back to the days of beehives and top hats. More after the jump.
