Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville is celebrating Flannery O'Connor's 100th birthday by showcasing 70 of her recovered artworks, including oil paintings on wood tile, wood-burned illustrations, and a self-portrait. The discovery of these previously hidden pieces sheds light on O'Connor's art practice, which was kept private by family and friends due to fear it might overshadow her writing achievements.
https://hyperallergic.com/1001352/a-trove-of-unseen-artworks-expands-a-writer-flannery-oconnor-legacy/Hong Kong Ballet's production of Frida, choreographed by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, is a visually powerful show with striking costumes and choreography, but lacks clarity in its storytelling. The two-act ballet explores vignettes from the life and art of Mexican painter Frida Kahlo, adapted from her one-act work "Broken Wings".
https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3305486/hong-kong-ballets-frida-visually-powerful-production-if-lacking-clarity?module=top_story&pgtype=sectionIn Haiti, amidst the chaos of gang violence and political instability, artists are finding solace in creative expression. The PapJazz festival, which brought together around 100 people for a brief respite from the violence, was organized by the Haiti Jazz Foundation to promote unity and cultural identity. Local residents, including Arnoux Descardes and Registre Jerry, attended the event to celebrate music and find moments of conviviality in a city under siege. The festival's organizers, such as Milena Sandler, aim to provide creative outlets for Haitians to resist the violence and assert their connection to their country.
https://www.malaymail.com/news/life/2025/04/07/haiti-jazz-festival-is-rare-respite-for-violence-racked-capital/172137K-pop remains the top global symbol of South Korean culture, with nearly 1 in 5 global fans associating it with the country first, ahead of Korean food, TV dramas, and beauty products. The 2025 Global Hallyu Survey found that 17.8% of respondents with prior experience of Korean culture linked pop music to South Korea, marking an eighth consecutive year at the top spot.
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3305553/bts-and-beyond-k-pop-remains-top-global-symbol-south-korean-culture-survey-shows?module=top_story&pgtype=sectionThe National Theater Company of Korea has announced its 2025 slate, featuring a return to classic plays. Yunchan Lim will perform "guerrilla-style solo recitals" in March for charity, while 17-year-old pianist Kim Sae-hyun won the prestigious Long-Thibaud-Crespin Competition. The company is also set to debut innovative productions at Korea's leading opera venues, a nod to legendary conductor Leonard Bernstein, known for his dynamic conducting style that blurred the line between music and physical expression.
https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2025-04-08/opinion/meanwhile/The-dancing-conductor-/2279449The former Metro theater on Broadway at 99th Street in New York City is being transformed into a five-screen arthouse cinema with funding from various grants and private donors, including the Kate Capshaw and Steven Spielberg Hearthland Foundation, Klingenstein-Martell Foundation, and Brandt Jackson Foundation. The Upper West Side Cinema Center, led by president Ira Deutchman and co-founder Adeline Monzier, has purchased the building for $6.9 million to revive "art cinema" on the Upper West Side, which has been a "cinema desert" since the closure of the Lincoln Plaza Cinema.
https://deadline.com/2025/04/new-arthouse-cinema-coming-to-new-york-upper-west-side-1236362066/The Institute of Cultural Studies at the National Academy of Arts of Ukraine received a letter from violinist Peter Campbell-Kelly, who expressed support for the Ukrainian people amid Russia's aggression. Campbell-Kelly sent a short film featuring his performance of Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber's "Passacaglia" as a musical prayer for well-being and strength. He also wrote a poem expressing solidarity with Ukraine, concluding with "Glory to Ukraine!" The NAA thanked Campbell-Kelly for his empathy and artistic support. Italian trumpeter Paolo Fresu accompanied by an Italian quartet performed in Kyiv, starting with a jazz interpretation of the Ukrainian national anthem.
https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-society/3979407-famous-british-violinist-expresses-support-for-ukraine.htmlAnita Rachvelishvili, a renowned mezzo soprano, had her remaining opera performances cancelled in January 2023 due to concerns over vocal deterioration, specifically a limitation in her highest vocal range, which she claimed was temporary and did not affect her work.
https://nypost.com/2025/04/05/us-news/best-mezzo-soprano-singer-on-the-planet-fired-by-metropolitan-opera-after-she-struggled-to-hit-her-high-notes-suit/Spanish photographer Bernardo Aja's portrait series EntreMuros will be showcased at Instituto Cervantes de Manila from April 10 to July 7, 2025. The exhibition is presented by the Embassy of Spain in the Philippines, AECID, and Instituto Cervantes in Manila, in collaboration with De La Salle College of Saint Benilde and Intramuros Administration. Aja's work features characters from Cebu, Negros, and Luzon, offering a unique look into Filipino identity through meticulous detail and subtle humor.
https://www.manilatimes.net/2025/04/07/expats-diplomats/spanish-photographer-bernardo-aja-presents-entremuros/2087261