A comprehensive collection of arts and culture stories highlights significant developments across multiple creative fields, from institutional influence to architectural achievements and media controversies. The featured stories span museum reopenings, construction milestones, political commentary, academic freedom issues, and industry analyses.
Ahead of the Studio Museum in Harlem's highly anticipated reopening this November, Salamishah Tillet explored the institution's profound impact on careers and lives in Harper's Bazaar. The article features testimonials from prominent figures in the art world, including independent curator Rashida Bumbray, who served on the Studio Museum staff from 2001 to 2006. Bumbray recounted her transformative experience: "I came in 2001—I believe in April. I was a page at NBC, which I hated. Thankfully, they laid us all off right after Thanksgiving." Her journey to the museum began at one of Sandra's Uptown Fridays events, where she encountered Whitfield Lovell's installation "Whispers From the Walls," featuring charcoal drawings of unidentified Black Americans based on pre-Civil Rights era photographs. The emotional impact was immediate and life-changing.
Lauren Haynes, currently head curator and vice president for arts and culture at Governors Island, New York, who worked at the Studio Museum from 2006 to 2016, shared similar sentiments about the institution's influence. When she arrived at the museum, Lowery Stokes Sims had transitioned from director to president, with Golden succeeding Sims as director in 2005. Haynes worked closely with Sims on specific projects, including African objects in the collection, describing her as "so warm, welcoming, and kind but also very smart and precise." The representation was particularly meaningful: "To see these examples, particularly of Black women who were so stellar in what they were doing—I was like, 'Oh, right. There are people who look like me who do this work.'"
In architectural news, The New Yorker's D.T. Max provided an extensive report on the monumental Sagrada Familia project in Barcelona. Construction on the iconic basilica began over 140 years ago and will theoretically conclude next year, though the timeline remains fluid. The report examines how contemporary architects navigate the challenge of staying true to Antoni Gaudi's ambitious original vision while dealing with modern constraints and technological advances.
The current project leader, Fauli, granted Max access to observe the ongoing progress. Church officials had previously rescinded their promise to finish by 2026, citing pandemic-related delays. Fauli explained that the revised goal focuses on completing the Jesus tower by the end of 2025, allowing the building's full height to be celebrated on the centenary of Gaudi's death. However, significant work remains, particularly on the facade depicting humanity's history from Adam and Eve to the Last Judgment, which currently lacks essential architectural elements including the facade, narthex, portal, angel statues, and stone credos. When asked about completion timelines, Fauli startled with his response: "I would say maybe twelve years." At sixty-four years old, Fauli acknowledged uncertainty about witnessing the project's true completion, responding philosophically: "Lo que Dios quiera" (Whatever God wishes).
Controversial political commentary emerged from Ta-Nehisi Coates in Vanity Fair, who delivered a sharp analysis of mainstream media's treatment of Charlie Kirk. Coates criticized what he termed the "hagiography" of Kirk across publications from The Atlantic to Ezra Klein's New York Times column, calling the phenomenon "truly bizarre to behold." The piece examines the contradiction between mourning political violence while overlooking Kirk's own inflammatory rhetoric, including calls for aggressive action against transgender athletes and support for federal force deployment.
Academic freedom concerns surfaced through Judith Butler's response to UC Berkeley's controversial actions, published in The Nation. After learning that the university sent the Trump administration a list of 160 faculty members and students, many of whom protested the situation in Gaza, Butler penned a scathing critique. The response highlighted procedural violations and due process concerns: "Instead of treating the report according to procedure as you are obligated to do under both US constitutional law and University of California policy, you forward the allegation, unadjudicated to an office of the federal government." Butler expressed particular concern for vulnerable populations, noting that "students on visas and adjunct faculty unprotected by academic freedom are among those whose names were passed along."
Media industry developments included Karen Attiah's Substack piece about her termination from The Washington Post over social media posts following Charlie Kirk's death. Attiah, who was "the last remaining Black full-time opinion columnist at the Post," contextualized her firing within broader patterns of exclusion: "What happened to me is part of a broader purge of Black voices from academia, business, government, and media—a historical pattern as dangerous as it is shameful—and tragic." Despite the setback, Attiah remained committed to her work, stating, "I still believe in the power of the pen. My values have not changed."
Environmental concerns in healthcare were addressed through Scarlett Harris's investigation for Atmos into the plastic surgery industry's hidden environmental costs. The cosmetic surgery market, currently valued between $59.13 billion and $85.83 billion, is projected to reach $160.47 billion by 2034. The environmental impact is substantial: in 2020 alone, rhinoplasties in the United States produced an estimated 6 million kilograms of carbon dioxide, equivalent to nearly 6,000 cross-country car trips from Los Angeles to Boston. The report also examined the rise of cosmetic tourism, with patients traveling to countries like Mexico, Singapore, and Turkey for procedures, further increasing the industry's carbon footprint.
Bookstore industry dynamics were explored through LitHub's Brittany Allen, who analyzed Barnes & Noble's strategy of acquiring independent bookstores while adopting indie aesthetics and formats. The company's planned purchase of San Francisco's beloved Books Inc. chain represents part of a broader strategy implemented by CEO James Daunt since 2019. Allen noted the irony that "BN, once maligned as the big-box retailer that nearly killed the independent bookstore—is now fashioning itself as their savior." This transformation includes decentralizing buying decisions, empowering local managers, and operating each store with distinct character, though skepticism remains about the long-term implications.
Digital media evolution was examined through YouTuber Mina Le's analysis of the celebrity interview's transformation in recent years. Her video essay explores how traditional celebrity interviews have dramatically shifted, adapting to new media formats and audience expectations. The content reflects broader changes in how public figures engage with media and audiences in the digital age.
The roundup concluded with cultural observations, including museum visitor engagement examples and social media phenomena like the "Bad Bunny effect," demonstrating the continuing evolution of cultural consumption and appreciation in contemporary society. These diverse stories collectively illustrate the dynamic nature of arts, culture, and media in addressing contemporary challenges while preserving institutional values and creative expression.
