Arts Mar 28 'The Power' author Naomi Alderman answers your questions Naomi Alderman, author of our March pick for the PBS NewsHour-New York Times book club, Now Read This, joins Jeffrey Brown to answer reader questions about “The Power.” Plus, Jeff announces the April book selection.
Arts Mar 21 A culinary tradition for the Persian new year Nowruz, the Persian holiday celebrating the new year, is observed in Iran and parts of Western and Central Asia. It marks the first day of the vernal equinox. Najmieh Batmanglij, author of eight cookbooks on Iranian cuisine that are widely…
Arts Mar 18 Shunned by country radio, female artists in Nashville are looking to break through The proportion of female voices on country radio has been dropping in recent years, amid “long-held beliefs” that male singers drive larger audiences and greater ad revenue. But not everyone in Nashville buys into that theory. Jeffrey Brown reports on…
Arts Mar 15 Dawoud Bey on photography as a 'transformative experience' For decades, Dawoud Bey has been considered one of the country’s foremost street photographers, known for capturing the everyday lives of black Americans with a deep intimacy. Recently, Bey has shifted his focus to the historical, with an exploration of…
Arts Mar 14 With 'Mutual Air,' this California artist leverages the sounds of science Despite increasingly dire assessments about the outlook for climate change, it can be difficult to remain mindful of our environment’s health on a daily basis. Jeffrey Brown traveled to the Bay Area to meet Rosten Woo, a Los Angeles-based artist…
Arts Mar 11 Author Marlon James on never outgrowing the magical Marlon James is best known for writing literary fiction, including “A Brief History of Seven Killings,” which won the prestigious Man Booker Prize. But his latest book, “Black Leopard, Red Wolf,” draws on a lifelong love of comics and fantasy.
Arts Mar 08 Embracing classical music and its potential for 'sonic salvation' Classical is a music genre hampered by a tendency to exclude or intimidate newcomers. But Clemency Burton-Hill, creative director at WQXR, a public classical radio station serving New York, wants to change that. An evangelist for art that leaves her…
Arts Mar 04 The artistry behind protecting and repairing photographs At the Art Institute of Chicago, staff rely on state-of-the-art technology and sophisticated conservation methods, including a massive cold-storage facility, to ensure that the collection of more than 24,000 photographs is preserved. A current museum exhibit teaches visitors how that…
Arts Mar 01 'True West' stars Ethan Hawke and Paul Dano on Sam Shepard's 'profound sensibility' The Sam Shepard play “True West” is a revival of an American theater classic. The play has been a magnet for great actors since it was written in 1980. In this contemporary version, it stars Ethan Hawke and Paul Dano,…
Arts Feb 22 'Moonlight' writer hopes audiences leave his new play 'full of questions' The hit Broadway play “Choir Boy” chronicles an African-American prep school and its star pupil, the choir boy, who happens to be gay. Written by Tarell McCraney, a MacArthur Fellowship recipient, the play explores themes not often addressed publicly within…