Nation Jun 20 Drag performer Sasha Velour explains what the art form means to her By many measures, drag is more popular than ever. At the same time, there’s a growing number of states passing or debating laws to restrict or ban the art form. But what is drag? And what does it represent to…
Arts Jun 12 A Brief But Spectacular take on writing from the inside out Michael R. Jackson is a Pulitzer and Tony Award-winning playwright and composer. His musical, “A Strange Loop,” started as a personal monologue he wrote shortly after graduating from NYU and it debuted on Broadway 18 years later. He shares his…
Arts Jun 07 How intimacy coordinators ensure safety on theater and film sets In the aftermath of the #MeToo movement, a new field has come to prominence in the film and theater industry, intimacy coordinators and directors. The role puts a focus on consent and safety for actors and the production team. Jeffrey…
Arts May 30 How a blend of science and art is improving neurological health The blend of science and art is called neuroarts or neuro-aesthetics. The new book, “Your Brain On Art: How The Arts Transform Us,” shows both the growth and importance of the field that connects the arts and our health. Jeffrey…
Arts May 25 Michelle Zauner’s Brief But Spectacular take on making the ordinary beautiful Michelle Zauner is a Korean American author and musician, best known as the lead vocalist of alternative pop band Japanese Breakfast. Zauner shares her Brief But Spectacular take on making the ordinary beautiful.
Arts May 15 American Museum of Natural History opens stunning new expansion At a time when the public teaching of science is again being fought over, the largest museum of natural history in the U.S. just extended its reach. Jeffrey Brown got a look inside the American Museum of Natural History's stunning…
Arts May 03 Art historian brings attention to overlooked women in ‘The Story of Art Without Men’ How many women artists can you name? That was a question Katy Hessel, then a 21-year-old art history major, asked herself. The results were disappointing. And so she set about learning and teaching herself and then others. That resulted in…
Arts May 01 The issues behind possible Hollywood writers’ strike that could halt film, TV production The Writers Guild of America’s contract with Hollywood studios expires at midnight Tuesday, potentially affecting over 800,000 jobs if last-minute negotiations break down and a strike begins. Writers are demanding higher wages and better working conditions and say many of…
Arts Apr 25 Billy Porter on his return to music and becoming unapologetically himself Billy Porter has become an icon both on stage and on screen. It was just announced that he's playing James Baldwin in an upcoming biopic, and he's returning to his musical roots by releasing a new album and embarking on…
Arts Apr 13 Sphinx Organization diversifying classical music nationwide and changing lives There is much talk these days about diversifying classical music and other arts. But one Detroit-based organization has been at it for a long time. The Sphinx Organization's reach now expands across the nation. Jeffrey Brown reports for our arts…