weekend links: Lucy Sparrow, bounce buses, Brown Girls
Felt foodstuffs created by Lucy Sparrow as part of her 8 'Till Late installation.
A new bodega opened in New York City this week: a fauxdega. All of its merchandise is hand-sewn and made of felt. Lucy Sparrow, a young British artist, is the woman behind the installation, titled 8 'Till Late. The space, lent to Sparrow by the Standard, High Line Hotel, is meant to start a discussion about gentrification and the value of local businesses in NYC. [The New York Times]
Photographers have been capturing food on camera for as long as they’ve been taking pictures. From wartime propaganda to food porn, Susan Bright’s new book, Feast for the Eyes,has it all. Her book tells the story of our relationship with the food we eat and its place in the art we create. [NPR]
Daniel Adams, a 21-year-old photographer from the UK, is exploring racism toward Malaysians in his new photo series, Why Is Your English So Good? Adams grew up in Malaysia before moving to the UK, where white people often show blatant fascination toward people of color upon learning that they speak English fluently. [The Guardian]
The literary scene in Italy is one dominated by men. Though writers such as Elena Ferrante exist and are successful, a majority of Italian female authors are rarely translated into English or receive recognition for their work. Jeanne Bonner’s visit and commentary on female representation at the Salone Del Libro, the country’s largest book fair, sheds light on a problem that is much larger than Italy. [Lit Hub]
Ashley Stinson, a photographer from Louisville, has taken portraits of the inmates at The Western Kentucky Correctional Facility, a women’s prison, for over a year and a half. The prison is also the largest female-operated farm in the country. Stinson’s photos are as emotional as they are raw, showing the inmates, most of them serving sentences for small drug charges, adjusting to life behind bars. [The Creator’s Project]
New Orleans bounce has been part of the city’s music scene for generations, always finding a way to adapt to its surroundings. The music reflects the strong will of New Orleans residents, especially after Katrina. Bounce, a genre that’s (literally) on the move as it blares out of party buses driving through NOLA, not only evokes ass-shaking and gyrating, but also a sense of community. [Fader]
Pitchfork sits down to interview Nandi Rose Plunkett and discuss her solo project, Half Waif. You might know Plunkett from the New Jersey indie-rock band Pinegrove. Her third EP, form/a, explores Plunkett’s seemingly never-ending search for a place to call home and the restlessness that surrounds it. [Pitchfork]
We’re excited to learn that HBO is bringing the OpenTV web series Brown Girls to televisions across the country. The show, written by the phenomenally talented poet Fatimah Asghar and directed by Samantha Bailey, made a splash when it debuted at Elle in February. We’re looking forward to the duo’s new project, which will be based on Brown Girls and will hopefully capture the same magic as the original project. [Elle]
Planetarium,the new album by Sufjan Stevens, Nico Muhly, Bryce Dessner and James McAlister, was originally written in 2012. Though the lyrics were written years ago, the sound and meaning behind the album is hauntingly relevant in today’s political climate. The sometimes lengthy and chaotic tracks are sure to remind listeners of Stevens’ other work as well as a new, cosmic sound introduced by the additional contributing artists. [The Atlantic]
—Natalie Walrath