“For Freedoms: Where Do We Go From Here?” Image courtesy of Phaidon…
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For Freedoms’ Next Project? A Monograph
You know For Freedoms’ artist-made billboards. Over the years, the art collective founded by Hank Willis Thomas, Eric Gottesman, Wyatt Gallery, and Michelle Woo has mobilized to bring hundreds of artists’ provocations to the skies. Now, the organization has teamed up with Phaidon imprint Monacelli to publish a monographic survey of the project on October 15, staring down the 2024 Presidential Election. The volume will feature all 550 billboards by the likes of Derrick Adams, Jeffrey Gibson, Jenny Holzer, Christine Sun Kim, Jesse Krimes, and more. Additionally, readers can look forward to topical essays by Rujeko Hockley and Nadya Tolokonnikova. —Jenna Adrian-Diaz
Carpenters Workshop Gallery in Los Angeles. Photography by Elizabeth Carababas…
Carpenters Workshop Gallery, the celebrated collectible design gallery founded by Loïc Le Gaillard and Julien Lombrail, is facing allegations of unethical business practices and sexual harassment, as reported by Air Mail. The gallery, which employs 120 people and showcases work from prominent designers like Rick Owens, Marcin Rusak, and the Haas Brothers, is accused of engaging in shill bidding, mishandling artist commissions, and failing to reimburse production expenses. The gallery denies the allegations, attributing them to a commercial dispute, while also expressing pride in its business and community of artists.
At the 20th anniversary gala for More Art, performance group the Yes Men impersonated executives from Related Companies to criticize plans to demolish the Fulton and Chelsea Elliot Houses, NYCHA-managed public housing. The act highlighted concerns over displacement and gentrification, pointing out that the redevelopment into mixed-use buildings under Section 8 could reduce affordable housing units. Despite initial confusion and a convincing introduction by More Art curator Dylan Gauthier, the performance aimed to expose and protest the impact of such urban development projects on low-income residents.
The Hillside Theater by Frank Lloyd Wright. Photography by Tim Long, courtesy of Taliesin Preservation…
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Hillside Theater reopens after a five-year, $1.1 million restoration.
On June 8, a lively crowd gathered at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin to celebrate the architect’s 157th birthday and the reopening of the Hillside Theater following a five-year, $1.1 million restoration. The theater, part of Wright’s estate in Spring Green, Wisconsin, was refurbished to address structural issues and enhance accessibility, including new roofing, plumbing, and ADA-compliant features. The Grammy-winning Third Coast Percussion inaugurated the renovated venue, which will continue to host cultural events, maintaining Wright’s legacy of community engagement. The project was funded by various grants and private donations.
Photofairs New York, which made its debut in September at the Javits Center, has canceled its 2024 edition due to unfavorable market conditions. Despite receiving strong initial interest and support, Creo Arts decided to postpone the event, with no clear timeline for its return. The fair was founded by Scott Gray, CEO of Creo Arts, and initially directed by Helen Toomer. The Shanghai edition of Photofairs will continue as planned, with its next event scheduled for 2025.
An early morning fire destroyed Toronto’s historic St. Anne’s Anglican Church, along with rare paintings by the Group of Seven, a renowned Canadian art collective. The blaze, which engulfed the historic site, caused significant cultural loss, including 18 murals by artists like JEH MacDonald, Fred Varley, and Franklin Carmichael. Local officials and community members mourned the loss of the Byzantine-inspired church, a landmark completed in 1908 and designated a national historic site in 1996. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
A pineapple-sized hail stone spotted in Texas. Photography by Val Castor/KWTV via AP…
