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The Headlines
MURDER-FOR-HIRE CHARGE IN SIKKEMA CASE. Daniel Sikkema has been charged with hiring somebody to kill his husband, New York vendor Brent Sikkema, reviews Alex Greenberger for ARTnews. Brent Sikkema was discovered stabbed to loss of life in his Rio de Janeiro condominium in January 2024. Alejandro Triana Prevez from Cuba finally confessed to the killing, although his lawyer claims he was manipulated into committing the crime. Daniel had reportedly been searching for visitation rights for his and Brent’s son, amid an more and more “contentious” divorce continuing. Yesterday, Daniel Sikkema was formally charged in New York for murder-for-hire, passport fraud, and conspiracy to homicide an individual abroad. “As alleged, Daniel Sikkema and his co-conspirator deliberate and carried out a cold-blooded plot to homicide Sikkema’s husband, a United States citizen, in Brazil. This Workplace will doggedly pursue justice towards those that homicide United States residents, whether or not at dwelling or overseas,” mentioned US Lawyer Danielle R. Sassoon in an announcement.
TRUMP’S AMERICAN ARTS COERCION. Because the story of Trump’s takeover of the Kennedy Middle in Washington D.C. develops, together with information of his firing nationwide archivists, observers are warning that the present administration’s stronghold on influential arts and cultural platforms may have disastrous results. The place to begin? The Artwork Newspaper joins different media reporting on Trump’s “purge” of 18 board members on the Kennedy Middle, who had been appointed by former President Joseph R. Biden, together with chairman David M. Rubenstein. Richard Grenell, a former Trump ambassador to Germany, is now “interim government director.” On Friday, Trump additionally fired the pinnacle of the Nationwide Archives, Colleen Shogan. The primary girl to function nationwide archivist, she confirmed the information, saying “no trigger or motive was cited.” The dismissal with out speaking a motive for doing so to Congress, is in actual fact towards the legislation, in accordance with a letter despatched to the White Home, by the American Historic Affiliation, which a Nationwide Archives official shared with Rolling Stone Journal. The article additionally states Trump has an inventory of Nationwide Archives workers he plans to fireside in “revenge” for his or her involvement with trying to get well categorized materials the president stashed away at Mar-a-Lago after his first time period. In the meantime, The Washington Publish’s Philip Kennicott warns: “The federal authorities has doubtlessly huge powers of coercion in the case of the cultural and nonprofit sector, from the tax code to visas for artists to novel interpretations of anti-discrimination legal guidelines. And it seems to be as if this administration could use them.” He later asks: “What if this isn’t about DEI however is somewhat a wholesale assault on the nonprofit world, with the purpose of crippling or silencing teams which have historically been impartial of presidency coercion?”
The Digest
The latent impression of Trump’s stronghold on the humanities can be seen in information of the American Quilter’s Society refusing to indicate two artworks from an exhibition titled “Coloration in Context: Purple,” organized by the Studio Artwork Quilt Affiliation (SAQA). One of many textile works by Laura Shaw Feit deemed too “controversial” references abortion entry, and the opposite by Yvonne Iten-Scott might be interpreted to depict feminine anatomy. The touring exhibition was slated to go to a number of US states, however as a result of disagreement over the 2 artworks, these occasions have been canceled. [Hyperallergic]
Berlin gallery proprietor Johann König and his spouse Lena need to ban a novel that they imagine incorporates characters whose lives are primarily based on theirs. Based on the couple, the September-published novel by Christoph Peters titled Innerstädtischer Tod violates their private rights, and they’re trying to cease the e book’s distribution. A Hamburg regional courtroom will resolve on the case, however within the meantime, the debacle appears to have introduced larger consideration to the e book, and to the truth that Johann has been accused of alleged sexual harassment by a number of girls, which he denies. [Monopol Magazine]
The Loewe Basis has revealed its 30 Craft Prize finalists. Their creations produced from historic craft strategies and surprising supplies similar to bandages, soil, sawdust and fallen leaves will go on show Could 30 to June 29, on the Thyssen-Bornemisza Nationwide Museum in Madrid, when the winner of the €50,000 prize will even be introduced. [WWD]
Ilona Staller, often called La Cicciolina, Jeff Koons’ former muse, porn star, and member of Italian parliament (not essentially in that order), has written a e book known as Memorie. Quite, she is re-releasing the e book initially revealed in 2002, which tells her facet of a tumultuous life story, and one she hopes will enchantment to President Trump. She needs him to revoke a world warrant for her arrest, which prevents her visiting the US. [Cultured Magazine]
The Kicker
WOMEN SURREALIST RISE. Dismissed and ignored for many years, girls surrealists are instantly very a lot the craze. Eliza Goodpasture writes for The Guardian concerning the fascinating artwork historical past round their follow and lives, in addition to how we received to the place we’re at the moment in belatedly recognizing their inventive genius. At a time when Trump’s authorities makes an attempt to dismiss minority voices of every kind, Goodpasture reminds us that at the very least this group of fascinating artists have gained wider fame due to “an explosion of curiosity.” That was removed from the case till just lately. “After all the ladies had been essential,” mentioned artist Roland Penrose in 1982, “however it was as a result of they had been our muses.” He was talking to artwork historian Whitney Chadwick, who was interviewing him for her e book, Girls Artists and the Surrealist Motion, which “essentially modified our understanding of each surrealism and feminine artists,” writes Goodpasture. This text, too, does a lot to assist our understanding of their contributions, and why they resonate a lot now.
