In this week’s highlights, Calida Rawles discusses her exhibit at Spelman College, focusing on the complex relationship between Blackness and water. Rawles reflects on the dual nature of water, both as a source of healing and as a reminder of historical trauma. She highlights her personal journey of learning to swim later in life and her desire to reconnect the Black community with water-based activities, often perceived as outside their cultural domain.
Richard Grant, writing for Smithsonian Magazine, delves into the world of die-struck jewelry with an artist in Rhode Island. This artist is intent on preserving traditional techniques by passing them down to younger generations, countering the rise of AI technology that can easily replicate designs for 3D printing. This dedication ensures the survival of skills that are not documented in books but taught through hands-on experience.
Jesse Dorris from the Guardian examines a new publication about the artists who have influenced Fire Island’s vibrant queer community. While the island is often associated with leisure and parties, the book reveals a deeper, artistic atmosphere intertwined with nature and camaraderie. This scene has been enriched by artists like David Hockney and Robert Mapplethorpe, who, despite infrequent visits, contributed to its artistic legacy.
Miaad Bianki shares a poignant narrative in Public Books about translating literature during Tehran’s blackout, amidst bombings by the U.S. and Israel. The translation of a story about mourning rituals became an act of resistance, mirroring real-life scenes where mourners danced at gravesites, defying conventional expressions of grief. This act of remembrance through translation paralleled the defiance seen in those dancing over graves.
Finally, a report from Kyle Chayka in the New Yorker examines the growing unreliability of weather apps. These tools, crucial for daily life, have lost user trust due to inaccuracies, compounded by the absence left by the shutdown of Dark Sky. New apps attempt to fill this void, designing interfaces that clearly communicate forecast uncertainties, a necessity in an era of climate change-driven unpredictability.
