Weekly
December 10, 2022 This week ended with horrific news from Iran about the execution by hanging of 23-year-old activist Mohsen Shekari. At least 10 other people have been sentenced to death for participating in the protests for regime change and equal rights for women. The regime thinks it can squash dissent with these monstrous crimes. But the people have the numbers, and it's only a matter of time before they overthrow their oppressors. Also this week, the latest trend in AI art is an app that creates fantastical selfies of users while mining their personal data and stealing from artists. I see people falling in love with these AI-rendered versions of themselves. God, I wish Marshall McLuhan were still alive to write about this. Another interesting piece from this week examined the real reasons for the decline in large-scale bathing in the late Roman Empire. And no, it wasn't Christianity's aversion to nudity, as historian Sarah E. Bond explains. Now, let's say you have kids in the family and you're supposed to buy them holiday gifts, but you're confused and lost and don't know what to do. There's a way to solve this problem while also supporting Hyperallergic's independent art journalism. For example, how about you get them a Faith Ringgold puzzle? Or a Vincent van Gogh action figure? Or maybe an illustrated biography of Ruth Asawa (I got one of these for a nine-year-old in my family)? There are many other cool gifts for kids and adults in the Hyperallergic Store. Have a lovely, warm weekend. — Hakim Bishara, Senior Editor User @SimuLiu shares his Lensa avatar on Twitter. (screenshot Rhea Nayyar/Hyperallergic) Lensa AI’s digital avatars have captivated users, but some say the app is stealing from artists and reflects racial stereotypes. | Rhea Nayyar SPONSORED Contemporary art, original sketches, and more explore how the Japanese character sprung from the pages of a manga and became a global cultural sensation. Learn more. NEWS THIS WEEK The Instagram account @womanlifefreedom.art is sharing tributes to Mohsen Shekari, such as this artwork by Masih Fah. (screenshot Valentina Di Liscia/Hyperallergic with permission) Dozens of artists honor the life of Iranian activist Mohsen Shekari, calling for the immediate release of protesters. Activists staged a "die-in" at the Met's Assyrian Sculpture Court in solidarity with protesters in Iran. Depicting a man holding his penis, an 11,000-year-old wall relief may reflect humans’ changing roles during the Neolithic Revolution. Alt-right protesters interrupt a Florida art center’s family-friendly drag event, performing the Nazi salute and chanting “Heil Hitler.” London’s Wellcome Collection permanently closes one of its foundational exhibitions, citing its promotion of racist, sexist, and ableist theories. OPPORTUNITIES IN DECEMBER From residencies, fellowships, and workshops to grants, open calls, and commissions, our monthly list of opportunities for artists, writers, and art workers. SPONSORED A variety of scholarships, fellowships, and assistantships are available for candidates pursuing advanced degrees in Studio, Graphic, or Industrial Design; Art Education; and Art History. Learn more. WHAT TO SEE IN CHICAGO Dianna Frid, “Kernel” (2022), artist book (photo by Tom Van Eynde, courtesy the artist and Alan Koppel Gallery, Chicago) Rocks, ducks, and a self-organized survey of Gingham are some of the things to see right now in four Chicago art galleries. | Lori Waxman MFA, MA, & PhD PROGRAMS TO APPLY FOR Looking to apply to grad school? We’ve organized a list of arts-related MFA, MA, and PhD programs to explore and apply to before their deadlines early next year! Become a member today to help keep our reporting and criticism free and accessible to all. Become a Member ROOTS & ORIGINS William Kentridge, “Refugees (You Will Find No Other Seas)” (2017) (photo Debra Brehmer/Hyperallergic) In an exhibition that consists of mostly small-scale black and white works on paper, viewer engagement almost magically awakens the sleepy room. | Debra Brehmer Nothing on the canvas wholly captures what it means to belong on land or at sea. | Mebrak Tareke Both Don Ed Hardy and Laurie Steelink refuse to adhere to traditional artistic hierarchies, an attitude they have shared throughout their 30-year friendship. | Matt Stromberg DEEPER EXPLORATIONS Caitlin MacBride, “Delaine Directions” (2022) (courtesy Deanna Evans Projects) In an era of fast fashion and sweatshop exploitation, the artist demonstrates how far an industry will go to keep workers out of the picture. | Billy Anania An exhibition at San Francisco’s Letterform Archive highlights typography’s role in iconic social movements from the 1800s through the present. | Emily Wilson If there is an object you have ever desired in your life, rest assured that someone in the advertising industry made money convincing you of exactly that. | AX Mina SPONSORED ANNOUNCEMENTS MORE ON HYPERALLERGIC Hubert Robert, “Ruins of a Roman Bath with Washerwomen” (after 1766) (courtesy the Philadelphia Museum of Art) New research contests the myth that it was Christianity’s opposition to public nudity that led to the decline in large-scale bathing in the late Roman Empire. | Sarah E. Bond It took over 37 hours to pull 1,900 miles of glass filament to create the garment, now on view at the Toledo Museum of Art. | Rhea Nayyar Eva Hagberg’s new book sheds light on the relationship between critic and publicist Aline Louchheim and architect Eero Saarinen. | Sophia Stewart An insidious racism is at play in interviewer Henri Renaud’s attempt to groom Thelonious Monk for public consumption on French television. | Anthony Hawley This week, news outlets flock to TikTok, New York Times staff strikes, the problem with the phrase “late-term abortion,” and was the North Pole once a forest? | Hakim Bishara and Lakshmi Rivera Amin IN OUR STORE This winter, stay warm and stylish in this soft wool-and-silk scarf inspired by a bògòlanfini — a handmade Malian cotton fabric dyed with fermented mud — created during the 19th–20th century. Shop our artful scarves! Become a member today to help keep our reporting and criticism free and accessible to all. Become a Member | 