Weekend Reading: August 2 Edition

Around Ohio

• The Lantern previewed Wex Open House, coming August 19.
• Matter spoke to Alek Shabazz, one of the artists featured in the exhibition Greater Columbus, opening this weekend at Columbus Museum of Art.
• Local artist Diamond Young also spilled about her paintings, which are now on view in two Franklinton galleries.
• Arts Midwest shared a Buckeye Flame story about Victor Banis, the rural Ohio native who redefined LGBTQ+ literature in the 1960s.
• Two central Ohio film projects received a total of nearly $3.7 million in state motion picture tax credits.
• The Linden neighborhood is home to Columbus’ first 3D-printed house.
• Next Friday, Glass Axis will hold a ribbon cutting for its new Franklinton location.
• Also Friday, Streetlight Guild will host a poetry show featuring Billy Tuggle.
• Saturday, the poetry continues with the MeatGrinder Poetry Slam at Kafe Kerouac.
• And also Saturday, the second annual 614 Funk Fest brings Morris Day, Zapp, and more to Columbus Commons.

Around the Globe

• This week’s absolute must-read is an amazing New York Times feature on upcoming Wex guest Meshell Ndegeocello.
• A new study indicates that memory for music doesn’t fade with age.
• An opera lover explained the unique appeal of the Paris Olympics Opening Ceremonies.
• ARTnews tried to clear up the controversy around the opening ceremony drag performance that was incorrectly identified as an homage to Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper.
• And The Guardian offered an Olympics-inspired list of the best films set in Paris.
• The Washington Post looked at two past TV shows centered on politics and wondered whether America is currently living in The West Wing or Veep.
• The Verge podcasted about why AI is so terrible at recommending movies.
• But here’s someone who’s much better at that, especially if you love horror: Shudder curator Samuel Zimmerman.
• Canadian Architect had some very nice things to say about Trinket, the Kapwani Kiwanga installation at the Venice Biennale, curated by Wex Executive Director Gaëtane Verna.
• The Art Newspaper shared a primer on the cool fiber art work of Ella Emhoff, aka bonus daughter to Vice President Kamala Harris.
• Now seems like a good time for a new guide on how to spot AI images.
• A suspect has been arrested in connection with the vandalism of the home of Brooklyn Museum director Anne Pasternak.
• Slate covered the labor revolution underway in the video game industry.
• If you’re looking for a copy of Hillbilly Elegy, here’s why you might not find it at a small independent bookstore.
• NPR’s Code Switch covered how book bans impact the careers and reach of Indigenous authors.
• The longlist of writers up for the Booker Prize is out.
• Russian artists are speaking out about how Vladimir Putin’s emphasis on patriotism is killing the nation’s culture.
• In San Francisco, Ballet22 is creating a supportive space for male and nonbinary dancers.
• Joyce Brabner, comics writer and widow to American Splendor creator Harvey Pekar, passed away at 72.
• And fyi, there’s reason to believe some beloved and respected alt-weeklies like The Village Voice are becoming “zombies.” Stay safe out there.