Arts Nov 26 Music therapy helps Chinese elders in Boston overcome trauma In Boston, music therapy is being used to enrich the well-being of people hoping to overcome trauma. Senior arts correspondent Jeffrey Brown reports for our look at the intersection of art and health, part of our arts and culture series,…
Arts Nov 14 Ken Burns’ ‘The American Revolution’ explores the beginnings of the nation’s democracy "The American Revolution," the latest work from filmmaker Ken Burns, begins this Sunday on PBS. The six-part, 12-hour history of the war of independence from Britain and the beginnings of the American experiment in democracy comes at a moment of…
Arts Nov 10 Auction of Bob Ross paintings aims to fill funding gaps for public broadcasting More than 30 years after his death, the work of artist and public television icon Bob Ross continues to engage audiences across the world. When Congress rescinded $1.1 billion allocated for public broadcasting, Bob Ross Inc. saw an opportunity to…
Arts Oct 20 Ai Weiwei’s ‘Camouflage’ art installation reflects on FDR’s Four Freedoms A public art initiative marking the 80th anniversary of the U.N. is inviting artists to examine the state of democracy and social justice. The first featured artist is Chinese dissident Ai Weiwei, whose blend of art and activism has long…
Arts Sep 29 How artists and musicians are responding to Trump’s 2nd term Rock legend Bruce Springsteen publicly blasted President Trump and his policies, saying “we’re living through particularly dangerous times." As Trump increasingly targets the arts, artists are faced with the question of whether to speak out or keep their heads down.
Arts Aug 20 Scholar says Trump’s efforts to reframe U.S. history is ‘reminiscent of McCarthyism’ President Trump described Smithsonian museums as “out of control” for emphasizing, in his view, “how bad slavery was.” It's part of a pattern by Trump in his second term to reframe historical narratives, in particular about racism and discrimination. Amna…
Arts Aug 18 Newly released tapes reveal intimate reflections by Woody Guthrie Nearly 60 years after his death, there is a renewed interest in the life and music of American folk icon and social activist Woody Guthrie. Last week, an album of songs and recordings of him talking was released, and Guthrie’s…
Arts Jul 29 ‘Maybe Happy Ending’ actor and composer on the musical that’s captivating Broadway The title of the musical “Maybe Happy Ending” might leave you guessing about the storyline, but there’s no doubt the show itself is getting its due. It recently won six Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Senior arts correspondent Jeffrey Brown…
Arts Jul 22 Branden Jacobs-Jenkins on the inspiration for ‘Purpose,’ his Tony-winning family drama It’s been a successful few months for 40-year-old writer Branden Jacobs-Jenkins and his play, “Purpose,” which won both the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Tony Award for Best Play. Senior arts correspondent Jeffrey Brown spoke with him recently at…
Arts Jul 10 Opera uses AI to give people with non-verbal disabilities a voice At an Omaha, Nebraska, festival this summer, new work explores the intersection of art, disability and technology, asking questions like "who has a voice?" and "who gets to be heard?" Senior arts correspondent Jeffrey Brown reports on this unusual undertaking…