| Garrels Quarrels: BlogBacks on My Defense of SFMOMA’s Deposed Curator After posting my contrarian defense on Tuesday of Gary Garrels, I ducked, anticipating a pile-on of invective. Instead, I got confirmation of what I’ve always known: I’ve got a classy readership — intelligent, civil and reasonable, even while contesting my contentious views. – Lee Rosenbaum
The Arts in America — Is the Pandemic a Perfect Storm? At a moment when culture could vitally contribute to national pride and resilience, the arts are newly challenged financially. The reverberations, internationally, disclose a sudden, naked disparity in the role of long-inherited culture as a component of the national experience in the US compared to attitudes abroad. – Joseph Horowitz
Garrulous Gary Garrels: The Thought-Police Nab Another Unguarded Curator I’m again risking the wrath of the thought-police by coming to the defense of another consummate museum curator who has had the misfortune of wandering into the cancel-culture crosshairs. – Lee Rosenbaum
Porgy and the White Police Though a prominent British reviewer of the current Met production of Porgy and Bess called Gershwin’s 1935 opera “a period piece,” it loudly resounds today. Consider the first act confrontation between a white detective and a black community. – Joseph Horowitz
Bley, Swallow, Sheppard: ‘Life Goes On’ Sometimes it takes a while to catch up. Case in point: Carla Bley’s, Andy Sheppard’s and Steve Swallow’s Life Goes On. ECM released the album on Valentine’s Day. – Doug Ramsey
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