Whitney Museum Workers Surprise Biennial Guests With Union Protest

March 31, 2022 • View in browser

Good morning. ☁️ Today, we report from the Whitney Museum workers’ protest outside the VIP opening of the 2022 Whitney Biennial, we look at two Navajo artists innovating through contemporary weaving, and we consider if the new FinCEN laws might end wide-scale antiquity theft.

I also interview TikTok influencer Devin Halbal (better known as Hal Baddie) and her now popular catchphrase “Met Gala Behavior.”

And today, I’ll be hosting three Whitney Biennial artists, Nayland Blake, Pao Houa Her, and Raven Chacon, for a conversation on Twitter. Join our Space at noon EDT today to understand how artists prepare for biennials and how they are different from solo exhibitions and other shows.

— Hrag Vartanian, editor-in-chief

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Whitney Museum Workers Surprise 2022 Biennial Guests With Union Protest

Half of the museum’s workers earn less than $20 per hour, and many are temporary workers with no benefits. | Jasmine Liu

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Two Navajo Artists Weave New Histories

Zefren-M and Morris Muskett find self-expression through contemporary weaving. | Susannah Abbey

Met Gala Behavior and Other TikTok Wisdom From Devin Halbal

An influencer who goes by the handle @halbaddie has been helping define what “Met Gala Behavior” is in 2022. | Hrag Vartanian

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