What Did Cleopatra Smell Like?

May 13, 2022 • View in browser

Good morning. ☁️ Happy International Hummus Day! Enthusiasts worldwide celebrate this day by eating hummus for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Also today: researchers are trying to recreate the fragrance worn by Cleopatra, new images of a giant black hole at the center of our galaxy, a WPA-style employment program for artists in Seattle, a New York exhibition invites visitors to take a nap, and a lot more news stories and reviews.

You should also check out Required Reading to hear the true story behind Gwyneth Paltrow's $120 luxury baby diapers.

— Hakim Bishara, interim editor-in-chief

Nani Chacon’s Urban Interventions Enter the Museum

The artist says she wants to “confront people with beauty and pride and complexity.” | Maria Manuela

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WHAT'S HAPPENING

Alexandre Cabanel, "Cleopatra Testing Poisons on Condemned Prisoners" (1887) (via Wikimedia Commons)

Researchers are using chemical analysis to recreate the fragrance likely worn by Cleopatra.

The City of Seattle will distribute $2 million to create jobs for unemployed and underemployed artists and cultural workers.

A new report pinpoints how the pandemic has exacerbated inequities in the photography industry and highlights racial disparities in pay and benefits.

A telescope captures the first direct image of the black hole at the center of the Milky Way.

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Parsons School of Design Presents the MFA Fine Arts Class of 2022 Thesis Exhibition

Guest curated by Alison Burstein, An Asterism* at the school’s Kellen Gallery in NYC features the work of 15 multidisciplinary artists, on view from May 16 through May 27. Learn more.

MOZAIK Philanthropy Announces Open Call for Digital Art

All US-based artists, including those who work with NFTs, are welcome to submit to the 2022 Future Art Awards. 25 winners will each receive between $2,500 and $5,000. Learn more.

LATEST REVIEWS

Weaving an Altar to Guatemala's Pre-Hispanic Glory

Sandra Monterroso confronts the knots that tie together the inequalities, violence, discrimination, racism, and patriarchy in Guatemala. | Silvia Benedetti

NYC Exhibition Invites Viewers to Go for a Nap

For all its quirks, Sprout Hinge Nap Wobble’s immersive elements never feel gimmicky. | Louis Bury

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MassArt’s 2022 MFA Thesis Exhibition Opens in Boston

Graduates of the Massachusetts College of Art and Design showcase their fine arts theses on campus and at the MassArt x SoWa Gallery, with virtual public artist talks on May 20. Learn more.

MORE FROM HYPERALLERGIC

Documentary Workers Unite Against the Odds

We spoke with two workers at the International Documentary Association about their successful fight for a union. | Billy Anania

Required Reading

This week, Manhattan offices are still mostly empty, Gwyneth Paltrow releases luxury baby diapers, how to remove your personal data from Google, and much more. | Hakim Bishara

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TRANSITIONS

Teresa Fankhänel was appointed associate curator and Rachel Winter was appointed assistant curator at the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum.

Allison Glenn was named senior curator at Public Art Fund.

Tammy Nguyen is now represented by Lehmann Maupin.

Erica Wall was named director of the Lunder Institute for American Art at the Colby College Museum of Art.

AWARDS & ACCOLADES

Jason Fitzroy Jeffers, Ju Hong, Nicole Solis-Sison, Tracy Chahwan, and Yehimi Cambrón were selected for the 2022 Define American Fellowship.

The Joan Mitchell Foundation announced the 23 artists who will participate in its 2022 Artist-in-Residence program. A complete list of participants is here.

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