Arts May 24 Houston museum highlights contributions of Latin American artists to 20th century art In the midst of the pandemic and a nationwide reckoning on race, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston opened a new building that highlights its growing collection of Latin American and Latino works. Jeffrey Brown visited recently and reports for…
World May 20 Midori reflects on her quintessential prodigy story and what it means to be a performer This week, the annual Kennedy Center Honors for lifetime artistic achievement are being awarded, remotely. One of the honorees is the world-renowned violinist Midori. Starting as a child, the now 49-year-old has wowed audiences for decades, and has been a…
Arts May 11 In bringing the Song of Rapa Nui to the world, pianist brings music education home Mahani Teave grew up on one of the most remote islands on Earth, but the 38-year-old pianist still found a way to bring her music to the world — and music education to Rapa Nui. Jeffrey Brown tells the story…
Arts May 05 New book explores cultural forces at play in the 1970's, and how they influenced America A new book argues the 1970's was a moment when TV, movies, and music all shifted into a new gear, changing the cultural landscape in ways that continue to today. Jeffrey Brown has a conversation with author Ron Brownstein about…
Arts May 04 What Breonna Taylor's name and image is teaching America about Black lives A year and a half after the police killing of Breonna Taylor during a raid of her home, no one has been charged in her death. Now her life, death, and the larger questions they raise about policing, and the…
Arts May 04 Remembering the legend of dance, ballet star Jacques d'Amboise We take a moment to look back at the career of dancer Jacques d’Amboise, who died Sunday at age 86 in his Manhattan home following complications from a stroke. His work with the New York City Ballet, on film and…
Arts Apr 22 'It was like freedom:' How a camp for disabled children changed lives Can summer camp change the world? The documentary “Crip Camp” makes the case that one particular camp impacted the lives not only of the young people there but the culture at large, through the fight for disability rights. The film,…
Arts Apr 19 'A lesson in authenticity:' Andra Day reflects on the experience of playing Billie Holiday The new film "The United States Vs. Billie Holiday" takes on the life of "Lady Day," the great Billie Holiday. And the woman playing her — Andra Day — is winning raves of her own with a nomination for best…
Arts Apr 15 How the 2008 economic crisis created a 'new wandering tribe' of seasonal workers The latest selection for our “Now Read This” book club, Jessica Bruder’s “Nomadland,” documents a growing phenomenon in the country — a "wandering tribe" of seasonal workers. It has inspired a new movie of the same name. The film was…
Arts Apr 08 How Gabby Giffords is using music to rewire her brain after being shot President Joe Biden reached out to, and fist-bumped, former Arizona Congresswoman Gabby Giffords at the White House Rose Garden Thursday -- A moment to mark a new push to curb gun violence. Giffords was shot in the head in 2011,…