Feb 06 Conversation: Brian Dennehy and Robert Falls By Arts Desk Brian Dennehy and Robert Falls have teamed up for nearly all of O'Neill's classics. Now, they're at it again, with "Desire Under the Elms," part of an ambitious six-play festival of O'Neill at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago. Continue reading
Jan 30 Conversation: Author Neil Gaiman By Arts Desk Author Neil Gaiman is a man of many genres: science fiction, graphic novels -- some of you will know his "Sandman" series -- screenplays, adult fiction, as well as books for young readers. Continue reading
Jan 30 A Setting Fitting for a Master By Arts Desk Watching the 2003 interview I did with John Updike, who died this week, brought back very warm memories about the man and a very special day. Whenever we have the opportunity to travel and visit with writers and artists, we… Continue reading
Jan 23 Conversation: Roberto Bolano’s ‘2666’ By Arts Desk For most of the English-speaking world and certainly for this reader, Roberto Bolano was unknown only a few years ago. Since then, he's become a literary phenomenon--his novels read, reviewed, discussed, widely praised. Continue reading
Jan 22 Scenes From a Mideast Trip By Arts Desk News from Gaza on every television. One man said to me: "I feel as though I've seen every one of the 1,200 bodies of those killed." And on every tongue: expressions of outrage, helplessness, sadness. Continue reading
Jan 16 Filming in Cairo? Your Papers, Please By Arts Desk I have been to Cairo before, but not like this. Before, I walked anonymously; today, I'm part of a small group carrying a magnet for endless attention -- a TV camera. Continue reading
Jan 13 Marcel Khalife…Don’t Call Him Bob Dylan By Arts Desk Marcel Khalife is often described in articles as the "Bob Dylan of the Middle East." (In my preparation for this trip, by the way, I discovered two different women described as the "Oprah of the Middle East"). Continue reading
Jan 12 Hezbollah by Day, Dunkin’ Donuts by Night By Arts Desk Hezbollah by day and Dunkin' Donuts by night. And that was just our first 24 hours in Beirut. I didn't go into the Dunkin' Donuts shop; I just stared in the window. Wherever we go around the world, the brands… Continue reading
Jan 07 Conversation: Andy Goldsworthy By Arts Desk Sculptor Andy Goldsworthy has spent much of the last three decades creating works amid natural settings in his native England or across Europe and North America, or even at the North Pole. Continue reading
Jan 02 Previews of Next Week and a Mideast Trip By Arts Desk We continue to receive many wonderful comments and responses to specific stories and to the entire Art Beat effort. But the news is not always good. Continue reading