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Category Archive
For Sarah Brightman, 'Dreamchaser' Is a Prelude to Upcoming Space Journey May 8, 2013 |
Sarah Brightman's voice has been often described as heavenly, which more than ever seem especially appropriate, as the soprano has recently turned her sights to the skies. Her latest album, "Dreamchaser," is inspired by her life-long fascination with space, and in two years, Brightman's childhood dreams are set to become reality when she boards a rocket as a crew member and travels to the International Space Station.
Catching Up With Kelly Oxford, From Tweets to Best-selling Memoir April 17, 2013 |
A lot has happened to Kelly Oxford since we first spoke with her on Art Beat three years ago. She moved her family to Los Angeles, began writing pilots for major TV networks, penned a screenplay slated to be a movie, and published her first book, which is now a New York Times best-seller.
Weekly Poem: 'Song' April 1, 2013 |
Cynthia Zarin is the author of four books of poetry -- "The Swordfish Tooth" (1989); "Fire Lyric" (1993); and "The Watercourse" (2002); and "The Ada Poems" (2010) -- and five books for children.
Weekly Poem: 'Cuckoo Flower on the Witness Stand' March 25, 2013 |
Li-Young Lee is the author of four books of poetry: "Behind My Eyes" (2008); "Book of My Nights" (2001); "The City in Which I Love You" (1991); and "Rose" (1986).
Weekly Poem: 'The One Thing in Life' February 25, 2013 |
Gerald Stern is the author of several collections of poetry and is the winner of numerous awards, including the National Book Award for "This Time: New and Selected Poems" (1998).
Weekly Poem: 'Frogs' January 28, 2013 |
Gerald Stern is the author of several collections of poetry and is the winner of numerous awards, including the National Book Award for "This Time: New and Selected Poems" (1998).
Monday on the NewsHour: 100 Years of Poetry Magazine December 24, 2012 |
More of Jeffrey Brown's conversation with Poetry magazine editor Christian Wiman.
Q&A: Violin Virtuoso Paul Huang November 16, 2012 |
Paul Huang's recent debut concert at the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., began with Beethoven. The 22-year-old violinist and winner of the 2011 Young Concert Artists International Auditions kicked off a new Virtuoso Series by the Washington Performing Arts Society.
Q&A: Mary Jo Bang's Translation of 'Inferno' Offers a Fresh Taste of Hell November 2, 2012 |
Mary Jo Bang's new translation of Dante's "Inferno is true to the moral and emotional intensity of the original, but she infuses the text with her own voice and modern allusions to Stephen Colbert and "Southpark."
Weekly Poem: 'Diagnosis' October 15, 2012 |
Sharon Olds is the author of several books of poetry, including "The Dead and the Living," winner of the 1983 National Book Critics Circle Award; "The Unswept Room," a finalist for the 2002 National Book Award and the National Book Critics Circle Award; and "Stag's Leap," which was published this year. She teaches in the Graduate Creative Writing Program at New York University.
Thursday on the NewsHour: Sharon Olds October 11, 2012 |
Poet Sharon Olds reads from her new book, "Stag's Leap."
Weekly Poem: 'The Worst Thing' October 1, 2012 |
Sharon Olds is the author of several books of poetry, including "The Dead and the Living," winner of the 1983 National Book Critics Circle Award; "The Unswept Room," a finalist for the 2002 National Book Award and the National Book Critics Circle Award; and "Stag's Leap," which was published this year. She teaches in the Graduate Creative Writing Program at New York University.
Rowling's Greatest Work Isn't Her New Novel; It's Bringing Attention to Books September 27, 2012 |
This fall readers can find a shelf full of new books by big name authors, from Junot Diaz to Zadie Smith to Salman Rushdie to Orhan Pamuk. But not even books by Pulitzer, Orange, Booker and Nobel Prize winners, respectively, will garner as much attention as the latest work by the woman that brought the world Harry Potter.
Q&A: Matthew Quirk's 'The 500,' a D.C. Thriller August 23, 2012 |
Mike Ford is broke, facing a mountain of debt from hospitals bills after his mother's death, has a father in jail and is unable to pay his tuition to Harvard Law School when he's offered what seems like a dream job in Washington, D.C. That's how the new thriller, "The 500," a debut novel from Matthew Quirk begins.
Wilco's Jeff Tweedy Talks Life on the Road, Woody Guthrie and Singing to His Kids August 8, 2012 |
The life of a rock star is not always easy and there are bumps to life on the road, but Jeff Tweedy of Wilco wears them well these days. He appeared relaxed in a T-shirt and jeans when we sat down with him in the band's tour bus before a packed concert at the Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts in Vienna, Va.
Tuesday on the NewsHour: Walter Dean Myers July 31, 2012 |
Tuesday on the NewsHour, Jeffrey Brown talks to award-winning author Walter Dean Myers, the Library Of Congress' National Ambassador For Young People's Literature.
With Expiration of 'Ulysses' Copyright, Bloomsday Celebrations Bloom June 15, 2012 |
On Saturday, James Joyce fans around the globe will commemorate "Bloomsday," a holiday that celebrates "Ulysses." This year is special, however, as it marks the first occasion that the copyright has expired on Joyce's work.
Conversation: Jonathan Gottschall, Author of 'The Storytelling Animal' June 13, 2012 |
In his new book, "The Storytelling Animal," Jonathan Gottschall explores the art of telling tales and the science behind what's at work in our minds when we hear things like "Once upon a time."
Natasha Trethewey Named U.S. Poet Laureate June 7, 2012 |
Pulitzer Prize-winner Natasha Trethewey will be the 19th Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry, the Library of Congress announced on Thursday.
Music Legend Doc Watson Dies at Age 89 May 29, 2012 |
Doc Watson, a legend of folk and bluegrass music, died Tuesday at a hospital in North Carolina. He was 89 years old. Blind as an infant, Watson developed into one of the nation's finest pickers and received scores of honors.
In Moscow, Writers Lead Anti-Putin Protest May 16, 2012 |
From Aleksandr Pushkin to Aleksandr Griboyedov, there is a long history in Russia of writers confronting government authority. Last weekend, the tradition continued when a group of 12 well-known authors drew a crowd of around 10,000 to follow them on a "controlled walk" between statues of the two Aleksandrs in downtown Moscow.
A Revealing Look at 'Marley' April 18, 2012 |
Bob Marley remains one of the most recognizable and celebrated musicians in the world, and on Friday his fans will get a comprehensive look at his life in a new documentary called, simply, "Marley."
The Agony and the Dishonesty of Mike Daisey's Apple Story March 16, 2012 |
Last year, performer Mike Daisey sat down with Jeff Brown for Art Beat to discuss his much-talked-about one-man show, "The Agony and the Ecstasy of Steve Jobs." It was revealed Friday that parts of Daisey's story were not true.
Q&A: Violinist Benjamin Beilman March 7, 2012 |
Benjamin Beilman is making a name for himself as a young violin phenom, winning several major prizes. The 21-year-old violinist recently performed at the Young Concert Artists Series recital at the Kennedy Center's Terrace Theater in Washington, D.C. Next week, he will make his New York City recital debut at Merkin Concert Hall.
Q&A: Time for Three Mixes Classic With New February 29, 2012 |
A classical music trio covering Kanye West doesn't seem an obvious project, but that's exactly what Time for Three has done in its latest music video for the song, "Stronger." Made up of two violinists, Zach De Pue and Nicolas Kendall, and bassist, Ranaan Meyer, the group met while studying at the renowned Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia.
Friday on the NewsHour: Poet Rae Armantrout January 27, 2012 |
An extended interview and reading with Rae Armantrout.
Conversation: Doc Watson January 11, 2012 |
At 88, Doc Watson is a legend of folk and bluegrass music, but he hasn't yet lost the drive to hit the road and perform on stage.
Conversation: Joan Didion January 6, 2012 |
Mortality is a subject Joan Didion has grappled with in recent years, both in life and on the page. In the span of roughly two years, her husband, the writer John Gregory Dunne, and their only child, Quintana Roo, both died. Her new book is "Blue Nights."
Susan Orlean Charts the Rise of America's Most Beloved Dog, Rin Tin Tin October 12, 2011 |
After nearly a decade of research, animal lover and famed author Susan Orlean has written a comprehensive biography of arguably America's most loved dog, Rin Tin Tin.
Poet Donald Hall Reflects on Love, Death and New Hampshire October 5, 2011 |
"Love, death and New Hampshire," Donald Hall once said when asked what he writes about. It remains true in the former US Poet Laureate's newly published book of poems, "The Back Chamber."
Joel Meyerowitz Documented Ground Zero 'Aftermath' September 8, 2011 |
Photographer Joel Meyerowitz spent months at Ground Zero, amassing roughly 8,000 images of the destruction and the heroic recovery efforts.
Dave Stewart Gets the Blues for 'Blackbird Diaries' August 25, 2011 |
Dave Stewart, best known for the band the Eurythmics, has a new solo album called Blackbird Diaries.His first solo album in nearly 13 years was recorded in Nashville and is heavily influenced by the Blues and Americana music.
Levine Named Next U.S. Poet Laureate August 10, 2011 |
The Library of Congress announced Wednesday that Philip Levine will be the 18th Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry for 2011-2012. Levine, 83, succeeds W.S. Merwin.
Parton Brings Her Charm, Rags-to-Riches Story on New Tour August 2, 2011 |
Dolly Parton is many things: movie star, business mogul, master musician, queen of country. On Sunday at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, she traded turns between the guitar, banjo, dulcimer, recorder and even saxophone with ease, not to mention her best instrument: that singular voice which vaulted her to fame more than 50 years ago.
Lucian Freud, Innovative Painter of the Intimate, Dead at 88 July 21, 2011 |
Lucian Freud, the British painter who helped redefine modern portraiture and figurative painting, died Wednesday night at the age of 88 at his home in London.
American Painter Cy Twombly Dies at 83 July 5, 2011 |
Celebrated American painter Cy Twombly, whose paintings featured scribbles, graffiti and unusual materials and who invigorated American post-War art alongside Jasper Johns and Robert Rauschenberg, has died. He was 83.
Ever Been Rejected by Poetry Magazine? You're in Very Good Company June 29, 2011 |
The Poetry Foundation opened its new home in Chicago last weekend, and as it celebrates this achievement, we decided it would be fun to ask for people's stories about being rejected from the foundation's time-honored literary journal, Poetry magazine. If you're a writer and you've sent out work to journals, you know the feeling.
Weekly Poem: 'To Television' May 23, 2011 |
Former poet laureate Robert Pinsky reads "To Television" from his "Selected Poems."
Now on View, the View From Jane Freilicher's Window May 19, 2011 |
Jane Freilicher has been well known in the art world for decades, but unlike many of her friends and contemporaries, she's never quite become familiar outside of that circle.
Conversation: Nathacha Appanah, Author of 'The Last Brother' May 5, 2011 |
"The Last Brother" is Nathacha Appanah's fourth novel and her second translated into English. The book centers on the unlikely friendship of two young boys, Raj and David, as they both struggle with intense loneliness and the impact of their violent pasts.
Photographer, Filmmaker Tim Hetherington Killed in Libya April 20, 2011 |
Award-winning photographer and filmmaker Tim Hetherington has been reported killed Wednesday in Misrata, Libya, in a mortar attack.
Avett Brothers Finds Fame, Success, Homesickness April 7, 2011 |
The Avett Brothers are now back in the studio working on a new album.
Julie Taymor Out as Director of 'Spider-man' March 10, 2011 |
The curtain has closed for Julie Taymor, director of the problem-plagued Broadway musical, "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark." The show's producers announced Wednesday night that Taymor will be stepping down and that Philip William McKinley will replace her.
Conversation: Elizabeth Bishop's 'Prose' February 17, 2011 |
Although publishing relatively little, roughly 100 poems, Elizabeth Bishop wrote volumes, and over the last decade nearly all of her unpublished work has been made public. Last week, two new books were added to the Bishop's canon, titled simply "Poetry" and "Prose."
Weekly Poem: 'Together' January 24, 2011 |
Charles Wright was born in Pickwick Dam, Tenn., in 1935 and was educated at Davidson College and the University of Iowa. He has written several books of poems, including most recently, "Outtakes" (2010); "Sestets: Poems" (2010); and the forthcoming "Bye-and-Bye: Selected Late Poems" (April 2011).
New York Times' Brantley Previews Upcoming Theater Season January 7, 2011 |
New York Times chief theater critic Ben Brantley previews the shows to watch out for in New York and on stages across the country.
Weekly Poem: 'Boy in Blue' January 3, 2011 |
Recently, Kwame Dawes teamed up with the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting to examine the earthquake in Haiti through poetry. Look for a report on the NewsHour about that project in the coming days.
From Himalayas to Appalachia, Mountain Music Strikes Common Chords December 29, 2010 |
Geographically worlds apart, there are striking similarities between the traditional music found in both the Appalachian and the Himalayan Mountains.
Friday's NewsHour: Rap Reconsidered for New Scholarly Anthology December 10, 2010 |
A new work of scholarship, "The Anthology of Rap," recently published by Yale University Press, offers a look at the art form on its own terms: a collection of rap lyrics, offered up like lyric poetry, from the last twenty years.
Translator Brings Poetry of Nobel Peace Laureate Liu Xiaobo to U.S. December 9, 2010 |
Ahead of the Friday ceremony awarding the Nobel Peace Prize to the absent (and imprisoned) Liu Xiaobo, Graywolf Press announces the future publication of a collection of his works, translated into English by Jeffrey Yang.
Preview: Kurtis Blow on 'The Anthology of Rap' November 30, 2010 |
Kurtis Blow, a pioneer of rap and hip-hop music, talks to Jeffrey Brown about his role in the history of the art form, as a major new anthology of American rap lyrics is published.
Weekly Poem: 'Hammer Is the Prayer' November 29, 2010 |
Christian Wiman is the editor of Poetry magazine and the author of three collections of poems: "Every Riven Thing" (2010), "Hard Night" (2005) and "The Long Home" (1998).
Weekly Poem: 'Fish Head for Katrina' November 22, 2010 |
Terrance Hayes, a poet and professor at Carnegie Mellon University, won the 2010 National Book Award. Here, he reads a poem from his award-winning volume, "Lighthead."
Poet Christian Wiman's 'Every Riven Thing' November 18, 2010 |
Christian Wiman's new collection of poetry, "Every Riven Thing," is filled with powerfully profound poems, many of which are deeply personal. He had taken a break from writing poetry for a few years, but a recent diagnosis of a rare cancer propelled his pen back to the page.
Will the Real Author (Bill Wyman) Please Stand Up? November 11, 2010 |
A (creative nonfiction) review of Keith Richard's new book, supposedly written by Mick Jagger, is mistaken for the real thing
Writers' Theatre: Big Ideas on a Small Stage November 2, 2010 |
The Writers' Theatre, a small venue housed in the Glencoe (Ill.) Woman's Library Club, has garnered big accolades over the last decade for its varied programs mixing original works with fresh looks at classic stories.
Conversation: Poet Elizabeth Alexander October 19, 2010 |
On January 20, 2009, Elizabeth Alexander was vaulted onto a stage few poets ever see when she was asked to compose and read a poem, "Praise Song for the Day," at the inauguration of President Barack Obama. Her latest book was published this month.
Weekly Poem: 'The Elders' October 18, 2010 |
Elizabeth Alexander was born in Harlem, raised in Washington, D.C., and attended Yale University, where she now teaches African American Studies. She is the author of six books of poems, including most recently, "Crave Radiance: New and Selected Poems 1990-2010."
New Documentary Explores How Music 'Made' Louisville October 12, 2010 |
After the Great Depression and a horrendous flood devastated Louisville, the city's mayor and and the conductor of its symphony orchestra hatched a plan to make the city great again.
Weekly Poem: 'In D.C.' October 11, 2010 |
Elizabeth Alexander was born in Harlem, raised in Washington, D.C., and attended Yale University, where she now teaches African American Studies. She is the author of six books of poems, including most recently, "Crave Radiance: New and Selected Poems 1990-2010."
Tuesday on the NewsHour: Austin Kleon's 'Newspaper Blackout' September 14, 2010 |
Austin Kleon is a Texas-based poet, writer, cartoonist and designer. He's found a playful way of making poetry from the newspaper. His first book, "Newspaper Blackout," was published this summer.
'Parallel Currents' Showcases a Poet's Collection of Latin American Art September 8, 2010 |
Entering Ricardo Pau-Llosa's home in Miami, visitors can't help but feel they've stepped into an art museum. From the kitchen to his high-ceilinged study, nearly every inch of his place is covered with works by contemporary of Latin American artists.
Pulitzer Winner Natasha Trethewey Looks 'Beyond Katrina' September 1, 2010 |
Poet Natasha Trethewey's latest book, "Beyond Katrina," is a personal account of how the people of the Gulf Coast region, including her family, have lived with the threat and consequences of natural disasters for generations.
Weekly Poem: 'Watcher' August 30, 2010 |
Natasha Trethewey has written three collections of poetry: "Domestic Work," "Bellocq's Ophelia" and "Native Guard," which won the "2007 Pulitzer Prize. Her latest book, "Beyond Katrina: A Meditation on the Mississippi Gulf Coast," is a mix of prose and poetry.
Mom Says the Darndest Things: 10 Questions for Kelly Oxford August 18, 2010 |
Kelly Oxford started writing an anonymous blog more than seven years ago after spending a lot of time online reading sites about child-rearing. What she found were places where fellow mothers could communicate with each other, but they just weren't very entertaining.
Conversation: Ricky Skaggs August 11, 2010 |
Ricky Skaggs has sold millions of records and won 14 Grammys, but the most important marker of success for him is a strong spiritual life. His latest album, "Mosaic," focuses in on his spiritual side with a mix of songs that vary in tone and style.
Weekly Poem: Two from 'Newspaper Blackout' July 26, 2010 |
For Austin Kleon, an exercise for breaking writer's block developed into a method for creating poetry. Using a marker and a copy of the New York Times, Kleon blacks out words to reveal the ones he likes.
Lissy Rosemont Writes Songs at My Dining Room Table July 16, 2010 |
Front-woman of the Junior League Band, Lissy Rosemont is set to release her third full-length album, "Jelly Roll," this week with a concert at Washington, D.C.'s Rock N Roll Hotel. Lissy is singer, guitarist, pianist, banjo player...and the author's fiancee.
Capturing Tiffany's Color and Light July 13, 2010 |
The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is exhibiting more than 180 examples of the artist's work in an exhibit called "Tiffany: Color and Light.' The collection shows Tiffany's ability to use layering and a wide breadth of colors to create a sense of movement.
W.S. Merwin Appointed as Next Poet Laureate July 1, 2010 |
The Library of Congress has appointed W.S. Merwin as the 17th Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry for 2010-2011. Merwin will assume the post in the fall, succeeding Kay Ryan.
Philip Schultz Finding Success After 'Failure' June 17, 2010 |
The accolades came later in life for New York-based poet Philip Schultz. He was 63 when he won the Pulitzer, already the author of five published books of poems, which never broke into the mainstream.
Weekly Poem: 'Sick' June 14, 2010 |
Philip Schultz won the Pulitzer Prize for poetry in 2008 for his book of poems, "Failure." He is the founder and director of the Writers Studio in New York. Schultz's latest book, "The God of Loneliness: Selected and New Poems," came out in April.
Weekly Poem: 'Attention' June 7, 2010 |
Philip Schultz won the Pulitzer Prize for poetry in 2008 for his book of poems, "Failure." He is the founder and director of the Writers Studio in New York. Schultz's latest book, "The God of Loneliness: Selected and New Poems," came out in April.
Conversation: Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves...and Screen May 14, 2010 |
The legend of Robin Hood can trace its origins as far back as medieval poet Geoffrey Chaucer. On Friday, the latest version of one of history's favorite vigilantes arrives in theaters with director Ridley Scott's film, starring Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett.
For Josh Ritter, Mummies and Shakespeare Are the Stuff of Music May 13, 2010 |
The works of Flannery O'Connor, Philip Roth and Stephen King are probably not the first influences that come to mind for a songwriter. But after hearing Josh Ritter sing, it quickly becomes apparent why authors are important to the Moscow, Idaho, native.
Picasso Price Helps Paint a Prettier Picture for the Art Market May 6, 2010 |
This week, the art market continued to show strong signs of recovery as leading auction houses Sotheby's and Christie's held their Impressionist and Modern art sales, setting records and at least tripling the total brought in by the same auctions last May.
Weekly Poem: 'Reading Stephen Crane's 'War Is Kind' to My Husband' May 3, 2010 |
Jehanne Dubrow is the author of three poetry collections: "The Hardship Post," "From the Fever-World" and most recently "Stateside," which is an exploration of the long history of military wives waiting for their husbands to return from war.
Weekly Poem: 'Against War Movies' April 12, 2010 |
Jehanne Dubrow is the author of three poetry collections: "The Hardship Post," "From the Fever-World" and most recently "Stateside," which is an exploration of the long history of military wives waiting for their husbands to return from war.
Weekly Poem: 'Nonessential Equipment' April 5, 2010 |
Jehanne Dubrow is the author of three poetry collections: "The Hardship Post," "From the Fever-World" and most recently "Stateside," which is an exploration of the long history of military wives waiting for their husbands to return from war.
New Translation Is a Song to the Psalms April 1, 2010 |
To help combat depression, Pamela Greenberg flipped through the Book of Psalms in Hebrew, taking time to translate the ones that spoke out to her on any given day. Over time, Greenberg found she had translated so many, she decided to do them all.
Smithsonian Fine Tunes a New Collection of Appalachian Blues March 24, 2010 |
The migration of the blues from the fields of the Mississippi Delta to clubs on the southside of Chicago has been well-documented by historians and musicologists, but there is also a rich tradition in and around the Appalachian mountains that has received scant attention. A new album, "Classic Appalachian Blues" by Smithsonian Folkways, helps to set the record straight.
Weekly Poem: 'Achilles' March 22, 2010 |
British Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy wrote "Achilles" after English soccer player David Beckham suffered a season-ending injury last week. Beckham, 34, was headed for what would have likely been his last World Cup this summer.
Weekly Poem: 'bound isaac' March 8, 2010 |
D.A. Powell is the author of "Chronic" (Graywolf Press), which won the 2010 Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award. The award, which comes with a $100,000 prize, is given annually by Claremont Graduate University to honor work by a mid-career poet.
Weekly Poem: 'scenes from the trip we didn't take to the antarctic' March 1, 2010 |
D.A. Powell is the author of "Chronic" (Graywolf Press), which won the 2010 Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award. The award, which comes with a $100,000 prize, is given annually by Claremont Graduate University to honor work by a mid-career poet.
'Families of Abraham' Gather in Exhibition February 25, 2010 |
'Families of Abraham," a photography exhibit, captures families of Christian, Muslim and Jewish faiths in their daily lives.
Links to Faulkner's Works Found in Diary February 16, 2010 |
A little literary sleuthing has uncovered a link between an unpublished antebellum diary and the well-known work of William Faulkner.
Friday on the NewsHour: 'A Rift in the Land' February 5, 2010 |
"Michele Voltaire Marcelin":http://www.lidous.net/, an artist, poet, spoken word performer and teacher, was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Since the earthquake struck that country last month, she has been struggling to make sense of the destruction.
Portraits of the Face of War February 2, 2010 |
In her surprisingly tender portraits of former soldiers and marines, photographer Nina Berman documents the lives of veterans who have made an extraordinary sacrifice for their country, and who now must make a new start in the face of serious injury.
Weekly Poem: 'Centuries of Ashes' February 1, 2010 |
Patrick Sylvain is a Haitian-American writer, essayist and poet, and instructor of Haitian language and culture at Brown University's Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies.
Weekly Poem: 'Ports of Sorrow' January 25, 2010 |
Patrick Sylvain is a Haitian-American writer, essayist and poet, and instructor of Haitian language and culture at Brown University's Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies.
Going, Going, Gone: 2009 Was a 'Recession Battered' Year January 5, 2010 |
As early as mid-2007, there was speculation that the bubble had begun to deflate, and by late 2008 it had burst outright, laying the groundwork for a rough 2009. Sales at Sotheby's and Christie's each declined around 50% from the year before, and collectors' interest in contemporary art (including works by up-and-coming artists) waned.
Thursday on the NewsHour: Poetic Partnership December 31, 2009 |
You can watch Vera Pavlova read poems not shown on the program below and also check out our Poetry Series page for additional material.
Remembering the Sharp Insights of Caricaturist David Levine December 30, 2009 |
David Levine, a master of the caricature, died yesterday at the age of 83 in New York as a result of prostate cancer and other illness. Levine had the ability to expose and gently exaggerate the distinguishing features of politicians, historical figures and literary giants.
Conversation: Harold Ramis and Bernard Sahlins on Second City's 50th Anniversary December 17, 2009 |
On a cold December night in 1959, The Second City opened in the Old Town section of Chicago in a small space that had been previously been a hat shop and Chinese laundry. Fifty years later, Second City stakes claim to having been the training ground for scores of now-household names.
Cautious Collectors Still Deliver Strong Sales at Art Basel Miami December 7, 2009 |
In a year where art prices have been all over the map, the five-day trade fair Art Basel Miami was another closely-watched event, being analyzed now for the greater financial implications for artists and collectors.
Weekly Poem: 'Contracted' November 30, 2009 |
Marie Ponsot has published several books of poems, including most recently, "Springing" (2002) and "The Bird Catcher" (1998), which won the National Book Critics Circle Award and was a finalist for the 1999 Lenore Marshall Poetry Prize.
Conversation: T.J. Stiles, National Book Award Winner for Nonfiction November 25, 2009 |
The winner of this year's National Book Award for nonfiction tells the story of Cornelius "Commodore" Vanderbilt, who rose from humble means to amass a vast fortune, build the country's largest fleet of steamships and control a railroad empire.
Conversation: Phillip Hoose, National Book Award Winner for Young People's Literature November 24, 2009 |
Art Beat talks to Phillip Hoose, who last week won the National Book Award for young people's literature for "Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice."
Weekly Poems: Keith Waldrop, 2009 National Book Award Winner November 23, 2009 |
Keith Waldrop won the 2009 National Book Award for "Transcendental Studies," a trilogy of collage poems. The two poems below are from "Transcendental Studies."
Winning Faces in Modern Portraits November 5, 2009 |
Every three years, the National Portrait Gallery holds a contest showcasing the best efforts in the country in portraiture. Out of 3,300 entries to the Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition, an exhibition of the top 49 is now on display.
Poet Laureate Kay Ryan Pushes Verse for Community Colleges October 22, 2009 |
Kay Ryan came into office as an "unlikely" poet laureate, she has said, living a quiet life in California, working away on her refined, compact verse. Now in her second term as the 16th U.S. poet laureate, she has decided on a project to share with the nation.
Art of Contemporary Pakistan Comes to U.S. September 29, 2009 |
A new show at the Asia Society entitled Hanging Fire -- which refers to an idiom meaning "to delay decision" -- is the first U.S. museum exhibit to focus on contemporary art in Pakistan, and an attempt to alter the American perception of contemporary Pakistan.
Jamming With the Philharmonic at Carnegie September 15, 2009 |
For Trey Anastasio, a member of Phish, it's taken more than 25 years to get to play with the New York Philharmonic at the legendary venue.
The Beatles Remastered September 8, 2009 |
On Wednesday, EMI Music and the Beatles will release the band's entire catalog -- every album and single -- digitally remastered in mono and stereo versions, with superior digital quality to the current CD recordings out since 1987.
Of Dollars and Spidey Sense: Disney Has Much to Gain by Purchasing Marvel September 3, 2009 |
Disney's plan to buy Marvel Entertainment, Inc. for $4 billion opens up the gates of the Magic Kingdom to a whole host of new characters and helps complete the evolution of comics from a dime-store fringe market to a global economic powerhouse.
Jessye Norman, the Roots Team Up for Langston Hughes' 'Ask Your Mama' August 27, 2009 |
Five years ago, Emmy Award-winning composer Laura Karpman stumbled across a copy of Hughes"Ask Your Mama." She was instantly struck by the power and potential of the piece, believing it cried out to be realized as a 21st century multimedia performance.
An Unflinching Look at Violence in Juarez August 20, 2009 |
Artist Alice Leora Briggs takes an unflinching look at the violence in the border town of Juarez, Mexico.
'When She Named Fire' Examines Contemporary Women's Poetry August 6, 2009 |
When the editors at Autumn House Press in Pittsburgh started looking around at various anthologies of contemporary poetry, they noticed most of the general collections still featured more male bards than female.
Eggleston: An Exceptional Eye for the Ordinary July 23, 2009 |
For more than 40 years, photographer William Eggleston has captured common, everyday instances or objects that, through his particular framing, elevates the familiar and makes the ordinary beautiful. Through his lens, a moment can be made monumental.
Alison Krauss, Brad Paisley at the White House July 22, 2009 |
On Tuesday, the current first family welcomed a mix of some of country's biggest stars into their home.
In Chicago, 'Rush Hour' Is Time for Music July 15, 2009 |
Classical music audiences around the country are declining in size and growing older, according to the National Endowment for the Arts. For the last 10 years the Rush Hour Concert Series in Chicago has been trying to buck that trend.
Kernis Takes On Ibn Gabirol in 'Meditations' July 1, 2009 |
What do you get when you pair an 11th century Spanish poet with a modern American composer? Last week, the audience at the Seattle Symphony found out at the world premiere of Aaron Jay Kernis' "Symphony of Meditations."
Guggenheim Celebrates 50th With a Look Back June 18, 2009 |
This summer, the Guggenheim Museum in New York is going back to its roots. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the opening of its landmark building on Fifth Avenue the museum is displaying a selection of works from its inaugural exhibition in 1959.
First Class Addition in Second City: Art Institute of Chicago Opens Modern Wing May 21, 2009 |
The city that gave birth to the skyscraper and modern architecture has added a fresh facade to its landscape that is being hailed as a "temple of light." The Art Institute of Chicago opened up its Modern Wing this week.
Conversation: Russell L. Goings May 8, 2009 |
To sit down and talk with Russell Goings, you would never guess he came to poetry later in life. Stories rich with allusions drawn from the gods of antiquity to the pioneers of the African-American journey to freedom pour out of Goings in a natural rhythm that reveals his connection to the blues and gospel, Homer and Shakespeare.
Poet Craig Arnold Goes Missing on Writing Trip April 30, 2009 |
An award-winning poet and assistant professor at the University of Wyoming disappeared after setting out to explore a volcano on the Japanese island of Kuchinoerabu-jima.
Conversation: Poet Mark Nowak and Director April Daras Discuss 'Coal Mountain Elementary' April 24, 2009 |
Mark Nowak's recently published poetry collection "Coal Mountain Elementary" explores the perils and at times personal tragedies of the coal mining industry. "Coal Mountain Elementary" is also being staged as a play by Davis & Elkins College.
Conversation: Daniel Mendelsohn Discusses Two New Collections of Poet C.P. Cavafy April 9, 2009 |
Constantine Cavafy, the greatest Greek poet since antiquity, never published a complete book of his poems during his lifetime. Instead, he would print them himself as pamphlets or broadsheets and distribute them to a small group of friends.
Witness to the American West March 25, 2009 |
Like most great figures of the American West, there is a touch of legend in the tale of how Ernest L. Blumenschein made it to New Mexico.
From Moscow With Jazz March 10, 2009 |
The forecast called for a mix of rain and snow in Moscow, and that's exactly what greeted Jackie Ryan last month when she arrived for her first visit to the Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival.
Writer Horton Foote Dies at Age 92 March 5, 2009 |
Horton Foote, who captured the dignity, depth of character and frequent hardship of American life for the stage and screen, died Wednesday in Hartford, Conn., at the age of 92.
Harlem Renaissance Visits Oklahoma City February 18, 2009 |
"The problem of the twentieth century is the problem of the color line," W.E.B. Du Bois wrote in 1901 in the Atlantic Monthly. What soon followed was an intellectual and artistic revolution that was first embodied in the Harlem Renaissance.
Mich. Budget Would Eliminate Arts Funding February 13, 2009 |
When Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm announced her 2010 budget proposal on Thursday, there was something missing: money for the arts.
Latest Stimulus Package Restores Arts Funding February 13, 2009 |
The House of Representatives approved a compromise $787 billion economic stimulus package Friday afternoon that would provide $50 million to the National Endowment for the Arts for projects across the country.
Ghetto Film School: a Bronx Tale February 4, 2009 |
An old piano factory in the South Bronx might not be the first place you'd look for a movie studio, but that's just where you will find the Ghetto Film School and a group of aspiring teenage filmmakers putting the finishing touches on their first movie.
Kennedy Center Offers Non-profits a Helping Hand; NEA Gets New Acting Chairman February 3, 2009 |
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts announced Tuesday the creation of a program to provide non-profit organizations free counseling in fundraising, marketing and budgeting to help them weather the current economic crisis.
Levon Helm: Rambling on the Roots February 2, 2009 |
Nestled in the woods at the foot of the Catskill Mountains in upstate New York, the majestic wooden structure that is home to Levon Helm's Midnight Ramble concert series is quite the site.
Dodge Foundation Cancels Poetry Festival January 16, 2009 |
The largest poetry festival in North America has just become the latest victim of the financial crisis. The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation announced Friday in a letter to supporters that it will cancel the next Dodge Poetry Festival.
Prado Museum, Google Earth Partner Up January 13, 2009 |
To get a real close look at some of the best paintings housed in Spain's Prado Museum, you no longer have to trek to Madrid. Google and one of the world's most famous galleries announced Tuesday they have teamed up to allow people to explore 14 of the Prado's prized paintings using the search engine's mapping technology.
Terracotta Army Stands Watch in Atlanta January 9, 2009 |
For more than 2,000 years an army lay dormant under China's soil until a farmer stumbled upon a clay head while digging a well in 1974. The head belonged to one of an estimated 7,000 terracotta soldiers stationed to protect the tomb of the country's first emperor, Qin Shihuangdi.
Harlem Quartet, Strads 'Take the A Train' December 31, 2008 |
The Harlem Quartet continues to break new ground in the world of classical music, and at the group's recent performance at the Library of Congress, a bit of music history was made, too.
Influential Playwright Pinter Dies at 78 December 25, 2008 |
Harold Pinter, the Nobel Prize-winning playwright who has been lauded as the most influential dramatist of his generation, died Wednesday at age 78 after a long battle with cancer.
Poetry at Obama's Inauguration December 24, 2008 |
It has been widely noted that President-elect Barack Obama is a reader of poetry. Only days after winning the election, Mr. Obama was spotted with a copy of Derek Walcott's collected poems.
LA MOCA Accepts Financial Help From Philanthropist, Director Resigns December 23, 2008 |
The Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art has agreed to accept $30 million in financial assistance from billionaire philanthropist Eli Broad, the Los Angeles Times reported.
LA MOCA Postpones Decision on Rescue Deal December 19, 2008 |
The board of the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art postponed an official decision on two competing proposals aimed to stabilize its financial situation.
Soweto Gospel Choir: Songs of Hope December 18, 2008 |
The Soweto Gospel Choir blends the rich sounds of traditional African music with dance and a variety of musical genres -- rock and hip-hop, and American gospel and R&B -- and the combination has earned the choir legions of fans and awards.
LA MOCA Weighs Options in Face of Financial Struggles December 17, 2008 |
The Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) is struggling to keep its doors open and hold onto one of the world's best collections of post-World War II art.
Sol LeWitt: Paint and Share Alike December 12, 2008 |
The work of great painters is typically thought to have come from the skill of their own hand. But for Sol LeWitt, the ideas behind the art mattered most, and those were to be shared, even replicated.
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Lesson plans, student voices and a teacher community devoted to bringing arts coverage into the classroom. NewsHour Poetry Series
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How Is the Sequester Affecting the Arts?
After 31 Years, Robinson Takes Final Bow
Weekly Poem: 'Not a Verbal Equivalent'
Weekly Poem: 'Child Support Hearing'
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