Conservators at Boston's Old North Church have been working to restore a set of colorful angels that were painted on the church walls in the 18th century. The project, led by painting conservator Corrine Long and artist Pocobene, involved removing seven layers of paint from the angels without damaging them. The team used a solvent gel to soften the paint before manually removing it with a plastic scraper. Once the paint was removed, they cleaned the angels with cotton swabs and retouched any areas that were damaged. The project is part of an effort to return the church to its original appearance, which was more colorful and dynamic than what visitors see today. Eight of the angels have been completed so far, with eight more expected to be finished by spring.
https://apnews.com/article/boston-old-church-angels-uncovered-paul-revere-4656e86d3f042b8ab8f7652a7301597cConservators at Boston's Old North Church, made famous by Paul Revere, have uncovered eight painted angels hidden under layers of paint for over a century. The angels, which were originally painted around 1730, feature round childlike faces and wings. Conservator Gianfranco Pocobene led the restoration effort to reverse a 1912 renovation that covered up the artwork. The church's oldest building in Boston was undergoing scaffolding removal when the discovery was made, revealing eight of the 20 hidden angels.
https://www.boston25news.com/news/local/centuries-old-angels-uncovered-boston-church-made-famous-by-paul-revere/5FBMU5OYKBHQJG4R6SKS2Y7XJA/Asha Shibu is a talented artist who has won several awards for her artwork, including the Artoze Interschool Art Exhibition and Competition in 2023, the Burjeel Little Artist award in 2019, and the Skssf Swargalaya National Level Painting and Drawing award in 2021. She has also participated in other competitions such as the National Level Short Video Contest in 2020 and the Kerala Health Expo - Painting competition in 2022, where she was a runner-up. Additionally, Asha has collaborated with various art brands like Staedtler, Camlin, Maped, and Zensangam, as well as fashion brands Inddus and Chicpoint.
https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2024/12/24/from-drawing-on-walls-to-painting-the-world-nazmin-rasheeds-storyThe Bucharest City Hall is organizing a special New Year's Eve event in Titan Park, themed around infinity. The event, set to begin at 8:00 PM on December 31, will feature live concerts by Romanian artists such as Voltaj and Compact, as well as a multimedia show with state-of-the-art lights, lasers, graphics, and pyromusical fireworks. A unique installation simulating the Northern Lights will also be set up, synchronized with the show at midnight. The event will also include a 3D drone performance and sand art created by artist Mariana Pachis, using artificial intelligence-driven effects to represent infinity in a unique way.
https://www.romania-insider.com/new-years-eve-show-titan-bucharest-2024Daniel Ong, a young fashion designer, emphasizes that individuality and self-expression are key elements of Gen Z's approach to fashion. He notes that this generation values dressing in their unique style, which often involves incorporating items from different eras, such as Y2K or 1990s clothing, into their outfits. Ong's own designs, showcased at events like Penang Fashion Week, blend art and fashion, pushing boundaries and challenging traditional notions of style. With his fashion label set to launch soon, he has been busy creating custom outfits for clients since graduating in 2022, with the support of his parents who encouraged him to pursue a career in fashion.
https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/style/2024/12/24/gen-z-fashion-designer-daniel-ong-on-the-generation039s-need-for-authenticityIn recent years, there has been a notable increase in attempts to cancel campus speeches and events, with 2023 and 2024 seeing more attempts than the previous two years, which had 81 and 56 attempts respectively. In 2024, around half of these attempts were successful, resulting in event cancellations or disruptions. One such instance occurred at Indiana University in January, where an exhibition by a Palestinian-American artist was canceled due to her pro-Palestinian social media posts.
https://reason.com/2024/12/24/activists-tried-cancel-a-record-number-of-campus-events-in-2024/The Kente cloth, a traditional textile from Ghana, has been recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage. This centuries-old craft is renowned for its bold patterns and vibrant colors, which serve as a symbol of national pride. The handwoven fabric holds significant meaning, with different designs indicating the wearer's region of origin and personal style.
https://www.trtworld.com/magazine/kente-ghanas-iconic-fabric-and-what-the-unesco-heritage-status-means-18245439Italian art restorer Sara Penco has identified a figure in Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel masterpiece "The Last Judgment" as Mary Magdalene, a female disciple of Jesus Christ. According to Penco, the figure is depicted kissing a wooden cross held by Jesus and is identifiable due to her blonde hair, yellow dress and importance in the context of the artwork. This identification has been made after centuries-long speculation among art experts about the identity of the woman, who appears in the far right-hand corner of the fresco behind the Vatican chapel's altar.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/has-mary-magdalene-finally-been-found-in-michelangelo-s-sistine-chapel-20241211-p5kxew.htmlRoman sculptures from the Torlonia collection, considered to be the finest group of Greco-Roman antiquities in private hands, are set to tour the United States and Canada starting next year. The tour will begin at the Art Institute of Chicago from March 15 to June 29, 2025, before traveling to the Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth from September 14, 2025, to January 25, 2026, and finally to the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts from March 14 to July 19, 2026. The tour will feature 58 highlights from the collection, including 24 newly restored pieces.
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2024/12/24/ancient-torlonia-treasures-head-for-the-us-and-canada