NPR Topics: Art & Design http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1047&ft=1&f=1047 NPR explores the visual arts including design, photography, sculpture, and architecture. Interviews, commentary, and audio. Subscribe to the RSS feed. Copyright 2009 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.93 Thu, 26 Nov 2009 01:00:00 -0500 http://media.npr.org/images/podcasts/thumbnail/npr_generic_image_75.jpg Art & Design http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1047&ft=1&f=1047 yes Cuba Was A Canvas For Artist Belkis Ayon When Ayon committed suicide in 1999, she was just 32 years old — and already a star in the Cuban art world. A major exhibit of her work now under way in Havana has revived an enduring mystery in Cuba — about art, African myths and the shadowy, all-male secret society known as Abakua. Thu, 26 Nov 2009 01:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113846410&ft=1&f=1047 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113846410&ft=1&f=1047 When Ayon committed suicide in 1999, she was just 32 years old — and already a star in the Cuban art world. A major exhibit of her work now under way in Havana has revived an enduring mystery in Cuba — about art, African myths and the shadowy, all-male secret society known as Abakua. 267 no When Ayon committed suicide in 1999, she was just 32 years old — and already a star in the Cuban art world. A major exhibit of her work now under way in Havana has revived an enduring mystery in Cuba — about art, African myths and the shadowy, all-male secret society known as Abakua.

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]]> Potter's Wood-Fired Kiln Sparks Friendships Twice a year, potter Naysan McIlhargey and as many as 40 of his friends spend hours firing the plates, bowls, cups, pitchers and vases he makes. Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:42:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120844949&ft=1&f=1047 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120844949&ft=1&f=1047 Twice a year, potter Naysan McIlhargey and as many as 40 of his friends spend hours firing the plates, bowls, cups, pitchers and vases he makes. 466 no Twice a year, potter Naysan McIlhargey and as many as 40 of his friends spend hours firing the plates, bowls, cups, pitchers and vases he makes.

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]]> New Edition Of Van Gogh Letters Reveal Surprises Amsterdam's Van Gogh Museum has released a definitive six-volume collection of the painter's letters. The new translations of 902 original letters written by and to Van Gogh cast a different light on the brilliant, troubled artist. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120846061&ft=1&f=1047 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120846061&ft=1&f=1047 Amsterdam's Van Gogh Museum has released a definitive six-volume collection of the painter's letters. The new translations of 902 original letters written by and to Van Gogh cast a different light on the brilliant, troubled artist. no Amsterdam's Van Gogh Museum has released a definitive six-volume collection of the painter's letters. The new translations of 902 original letters written by and to Van Gogh cast a different light on the brilliant, troubled artist.

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]]> Judith Fox Turns A Close-Up Lens On Alzheimer's Judith Fox's new book of photographs is an intimate portrait of a loved one's submergence into Alzheimer's. <em>I Still Do</em> is a chronicle of her husband's journey with the disease. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120568216&ft=1&f=1047 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120568216&ft=1&f=1047 Judith Fox's new book of photographs is an intimate portrait of a loved one's submergence into Alzheimer's. <em>I Still Do</em> is a chronicle of her husband's journey with the disease. 964 no Judith Fox's new book of photographs is an intimate portrait of a loved one's submergence into Alzheimer's. I Still Do is a chronicle of her husband's journey with the disease.

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]]> Parking Garages: A Multilevel History "House of Cars," an exhibit at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., traces the origins and design challenges of the places we store our cars. While it's unclear who created the first parking garage, the exhibit highlights some little-known and quirky facts about these structures that dot the American landscape. Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:48:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120545290&ft=1&f=1047 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120545290&ft=1&f=1047 "House of Cars," an exhibit at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., traces the origins and design challenges of the places we store our cars. While it's unclear who created the first parking garage, the exhibit highlights some little-known and quirky facts about these structures that dot the American landscape. 348 no "House of Cars," an exhibit at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., traces the origins and design challenges of the places we store our cars. While it's unclear who created the first parking garage, the exhibit highlights some little-known and quirky facts about these structures that dot the American landscape.

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]]> Maxxi: Italy's New Contemporary Art Museum In the city of the ancient Romans and Michelangelo, architecture buffs got a preview over the weekend of something decidedly modern: Rome's new museum of contemporary art. It was designed by Iraqi-born Zaha Hadid. Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120448260&ft=1&f=1047 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120448260&ft=1&f=1047 In the city of the ancient Romans and Michelangelo, architecture buffs got a preview over the weekend of something decidedly modern: Rome's new museum of contemporary art. It was designed by Iraqi-born Zaha Hadid. 91 no In the city of the ancient Romans and Michelangelo, architecture buffs got a preview over the weekend of something decidedly modern: Rome's new museum of contemporary art. It was designed by Iraqi-born Zaha Hadid.

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]]> Headless Actors On A Global Playground The mannequins in Yinka Shonibare's exhibition at the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art might be missing a crucial body part, but they more than make up for it in subtext. Shonibare's sculptures take on climate change, class, race and exploitation, all without losing their playful edge. Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:56:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120393449&ft=1&f=1047 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120393449&ft=1&f=1047 The mannequins in Yinka Shonibare's exhibition at the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art might be missing a crucial body part, but they more than make up for it in subtext. Shonibare's sculptures take on climate change, class, race and exploitation, all without losing their playful edge. 349 no The mannequins in Yinka Shonibare's exhibition at the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art might be missing a crucial body part, but they more than make up for it in subtext. Shonibare's sculptures take on climate change, class, race and exploitation, all without losing their playful edge.

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]]> Terra Cotta Warriors March Through Washington In 1974, a group of farmers digging a well in central China stumbled upon a buried figure. It turned out to be one of an estimated 7,000 life-sized terra cotta warriors in an underground tomb complex. The warriors and a host of other figures were created for China's first emperor, Qin Shihuangdi. Host Guy Raz drops by the National Geographic Museum in Washington, D.C., to see an exhibit of the figures. Sun, 15 Nov 2009 11:55:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120418660&ft=1&f=1047 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120418660&ft=1&f=1047 In 1974, a group of farmers digging a well in central China stumbled upon a buried figure. It turned out to be one of an estimated 7,000 life-sized terra cotta warriors in an underground tomb complex. The warriors and a host of other figures were created for China's first emperor, Qin Shihuangdi. Host Guy Raz drops by the National Geographic Museum in Washington, D.C., to see an exhibit of the figures. 298 no In 1974, a group of farmers digging a well in central China stumbled upon a buried figure. It turned out to be one of an estimated 7,000 life-sized terra cotta warriors in an underground tomb complex. The warriors and a host of other figures were created for China's first emperor, Qin Shihuangdi. Host Guy Raz drops by the National Geographic Museum in Washington, D.C., to see an exhibit of the figures.

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]]> Sea Glass A Disappearing Treasure Most people visit the beach for its natural beauty. But reporter Nancy Cohen of member station WNPR in Hartford, Connecticut, introduces us to a woman who visits the beach for its trash. Sun, 15 Nov 2009 08:50:17 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120431193&ft=1&f=1047 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120431193&ft=1&f=1047 Most people visit the beach for its natural beauty. But reporter Nancy Cohen of member station WNPR in Hartford, Connecticut, introduces us to a woman who visits the beach for its trash. 180 no Most people visit the beach for its natural beauty. But reporter Nancy Cohen of member station WNPR in Hartford, Connecticut, introduces us to a woman who visits the beach for its trash.

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]]> Robert Bergman, Emerging From The Darkroom The artist-photographer has never exhibited and has published just one book. Now his striking, enigmatic portraits are being celebrated in not one but two major exhibitions. As NPR's Claire O'Neill explains, it's Bergman's patience and his perfectionism that have caught the eye of curators. Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:38:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120283879&ft=1&f=1047 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120283879&ft=1&f=1047 The artist-photographer has never exhibited and has published just one book. Now his striking, enigmatic portraits are being celebrated in not one but two major exhibitions. As NPR's Claire O'Neill explains, it's Bergman's patience and his perfectionism that have caught the eye of curators. 321 no The artist-photographer has never exhibited and has published just one book. Now his striking, enigmatic portraits are being celebrated in not one but two major exhibitions. As NPR's Claire O'Neill explains, it's Bergman's patience and his perfectionism that have caught the eye of curators.

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]]> Theater Producer Takes The Stage As New NEA Chair Former Broadway producer Rocco Landesman is about to embark on a journey that will take him way off-Broadway: Peoria, Ill. is his first stop on "Art Works," a six-month tour of arts organizations around the country. Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114044365&ft=1&f=1047 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114044365&ft=1&f=1047 Former Broadway producer Rocco Landesman is about to embark on a journey that will take him way off-Broadway: Peoria, Ill. is his first stop on "Art Works," a six-month tour of arts organizations around the country. 316 no Former Broadway producer Rocco Landesman is about to embark on a journey that will take him way off-Broadway: Peoria, Ill. is his first stop on "Art Works," a six-month tour of arts organizations around the country.

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]]> DeCarava's Photos Improvised The Music Of Life In the 1950s, photography was hardly considered art. If you wanted to be taken seriously as a photographer, you snapped mountains and models &mdash; not your neighbors. It also helped to be white. But Roy DeCarava, who died this week at the age of 89, turned all of that on its head. Sat, 31 Oct 2009 08:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114351046&ft=1&f=1047 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114351046&ft=1&f=1047 In the 1950s, photography was hardly considered art. If you wanted to be taken seriously as a photographer, you snapped mountains and models &mdash; not your neighbors. It also helped to be white. But Roy DeCarava, who died this week at the age of 89, turned all of that on its head. 180 no In the 1950s, photography was hardly considered art. If you wanted to be taken seriously as a photographer, you snapped mountains and models — not your neighbors. It also helped to be white. But Roy DeCarava, who died this week at the age of 89, turned all of that on its head.

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]]> Emma And Elena, Exposing The Sex Trade Through a striking art installation, actress Emma Thompson chronicles a naive 18-year-old from a small Eastern Europe republic who was caught up in London's sex trade. Her name is Elena, and her story makes its debut in New York on Nov. 10. Sat, 31 Oct 2009 05:11:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114328601&ft=1&f=1047 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114328601&ft=1&f=1047 Through a striking art installation, actress Emma Thompson chronicles a naive 18-year-old from a small Eastern Europe republic who was caught up in London's sex trade. Her name is Elena, and her story makes its debut in New York on Nov. 10. 511 no Through a striking art installation, actress Emma Thompson chronicles a naive 18-year-old from a small Eastern Europe republic who was caught up in London's sex trade. Her name is Elena, and her story makes its debut in New York on Nov. 10.

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]]> Remembering Roy DeCarava's 60 Years Of Photos The photographer, who died Oct. 27 at age 89, dedicated his decades-long career to capturing images of African Americans. Roy DeCarava's subjects ranged from daily life in his hometown of Harlem to the Civil Rights movement. Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:43:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114287231&ft=1&f=1047 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114287231&ft=1&f=1047 The photographer, who died Oct. 27 at age 89, dedicated his decades-long career to capturing images of African Americans. Roy DeCarava's subjects ranged from daily life in his hometown of Harlem to the Civil Rights movement. 1090 no The photographer, who died Oct. 27 at age 89, dedicated his decades-long career to capturing images of African Americans. Roy DeCarava's subjects ranged from daily life in his hometown of Harlem to the Civil Rights movement.

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