| Happy Friday, even if it is the Fourth of July! How does that one song go? “My country, ’tis of thee, sad land of sophistry …” Oh wait, that’s from a Muppets parody by artist Coco Fusco — and honestly, it’s a banger. Sing along to the satirical anti-fascist jingle below. Needless to say, the long weekend and its attendant cookouts and pool parties come with baggage, especially as the grubby fingers of a fascist government push museums to fall in line. Still, artists and institutions are speaking out and finding critical ways to mark the day. News Editor Valentina Di Liscia writes about a new initiative led by history museums to gather people’s “birthday wishes” and hopes for the future of America. The thousands of messages collected by institutions around the country speak to our deep divisions, but also to our enduring hope. As always, I hope you’ll enjoy our latest installments of Required Reading — in which I shamelessly mention my mermaid obsession not once, but twice — and A View From the Easel. Reading artists’ reflections on their process always buoys my faith in humanity, so if you find yourself in the studio this weekend, I want to hear about it! — Lakshmi Rivera Amin, Associate Editor |
