Books
Poetry That Pulls at the Seams of Colonial Power and Memory
Enjoy a sneak peek of Perfidia, a new book from Sky Hopinka, which examines collective memory and the everyday impacts of colonial violence upon Indigenous peoples.
Review
Film
When Nixon Tried to Blame Police Riots on Left-Wing Activists
Writer/director Aaron Sorkin proves an ill fit to write and direct The Trial of the Chicago 7.
Film
A New Film Celebrates Dolly Parton's Career
Dolly Parton: Here I Am is a winning portrait of the beloved singer.
Film
Debating Whether the US Constitution Should Be Abolished
The film version of Heidi Schreck's What the Constitution Means to Me has all the stage show's strengths — and flaws.
Art
Revisiting the Question “What Is Feminist Art?”
Building on an influential 1977 feminist exhibition, the Smithsonian’s updated edition takes a more inclusive approach, adding further nuance to the question of how and who gets to define feminist art.
Art
Nina Katchadourian’s Tribute to Political “Roads Not Taken”
An intriguing meditation on the flawed two-party system, the power of Katchadourian’s Monument to the Unelected lies in its ability to confront us with alternative histories.
Books
Kimberly Drew Asks: What Should a Museum Look Like in 2020?
In This Is What I Know About Art, Drew uses her own fumbles and triumphs as a frame in which to examine the symbiotic relationship between art and activism.
Art
How Do You Paint Portraiture Without a Portrait?
By negating the figure, Amir H. Fallah expands the limits of portraiture to make space for multiple interpretations.
Art
Ceramic Sculptures That Refuse the Neat and Tidy
Trafficking in fragments of beings, machines, and ideas, Julia Phillips rejects the immediate gratification of simple forms and answers.
Art
Getting Buzzed on the Color Black
Few artists unlock the optical potential of black better than Joan Witek, whose compositions hum with subtle illusions.
Books
The Ingenuity and Flair of Chinatown Seniors
We started Chinatown Pretty out of admiration for this overlooked community, for both their fashion blog–worthy outfits and their active and independent lifestyles.
Art
Kevin Beasley’s Sculptures Evoke the Family Intimacy We’re All Missing
In his exhibition Reunion, Beasley’s sculptures express reverence for his family’s annual gatherings in Virginia — canceled this year due to the pandemic, like so much else.