Smithsonian Women's Museum chaos, Oliver Beer and Rufus Wainwright, Jasper Johns in Bilbao-podcast

The Smithsonian Institution has faced increased scrutiny and government interference since President Trump took office. Plans for a Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. were disrupted when the US House of Representatives struck down a bill intended to build the museum. Separately, British artist Oliver Beer will present new paintings and sound and video works in London at Thaddaeus Ropac for the exhibition The Sky in the Cave. The exhibition connects to Beer’s Resonance Project: The Cave, created by bringing eight singers into a prehistoric painted cave in the Dordogne to respond to its acoustic frequencies, including singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright. The episode also features Jasper Johns’ Painting with Two Balls as part of a new retrospective at Guggenheim Bilbao titled Night Driver.

"The Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. has faced unprecedented scrutiny and government interference since President Trump came to power. Now, its long cherished plans for a Smithsonian American Women's History Museum on the National Mall in D.C. have been dealt a blow because the US House of Representatives has struck down a bill to build the museum."

"As part of London Gallery Weekend, which begins on 5 June, the British artist Oliver Beer will show new paintings and related sound and video works in an exhibition, The Sky in the Cave, at Thaddaeus Ropac. The show relates to Beer's opus Resonance Project: The Cave, in which he brought eight singers into a prehistoric painted cave in the Dordogne in France to respond to its particular acoustic frequencies."

"Among them was the singer songwriter Rufus Wainwright, and Ben speaks to Oliver and Rufus about their collaboration. Oliver Beer: The Sky in the Cave, Thaddaeus Ropac, London, 5 June-31 July. Oliver and Rufus will be in conversation at the gallery on Friday 5 June, 12.00; Visit rufuswainwright.com"

"And this episode's Work of the Week is Painting with Two Balls by Jasper Johns. It is part of a new retrospective of the American artist's work at the Guggenheim Bilbao, Night Driver. Ben talks to the exhibition's curator, Enrique Juncosa. Jasper Johns: Night Driver, Guggenheim Bilbao, 29 May-12 October"

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