This week’s editorial musings
from magpie’s nest<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The quote<\/mark><\/strong> Every day you live, you make a difference. You matter. You’re here for a reason. Find the reason. And do your bit. Then, we can save the world Jane Goodall<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Critical choice<\/mark><\/strong> Sharjah Art Foundation<\/strong> has named the five recipients of its PARA fellowship programme for contemporary art criticism<\/strong><\/a> for emerging and mid-career art writers in Asia and Africa \u2013 Adwait Singh<\/strong> (India); Le Huu Hoang Anh<\/strong> (Vietnam and Taiwan); Samantha Del Castillo<\/strong> (Philippines); Wabwire Ian Joseph<\/strong> (Uganda); and Youyou Wang<\/strong> (China). They\u2019ll be mentored to produce original works of art criticism which will be included in an anthology. There will also be a week of visits, workshops and \u201cpeer-led gatherings\u201d in Sharjah …<\/p>\n\n\n\n Content with Yas<\/mark><\/strong><\/mark><\/strong> Atheer<\/strong><\/a> is a new hybrid communication and production platform for digital content creation and professional development from the Yas Island developer Miral, \u201charnessing advanced AI technologies and data analytics to ensure captivating and impactful storytelling that resonates with diverse audiences\u201d. It seems to be an AI-laden facility that emphasises strategic collaborations and monetisation opportunities, plus \u201cthe creation of high-quality content that highlights Abu Dhabi\u2019s unique appeal\u201d. Exactly how it will do this is a bit unclear, but check out the website<\/strong><\/a> and you may learn more …<\/p>\n\n\n\n Op 1<\/mark>\u00a0<\/strong>Applications are now open for the Christo and Jeanne-Claude Award 2026<\/strong><\/a>, for a piece of public art \u201cin the spirit of Christo and Jeanne-Claude\u2019s work\u201d to be displayed in Abu Dhabi late next year. The winner gets $10,000<\/strong> to produce the work; applications close 30 January <\/strong>…<\/p>\n\n\n\n Op 2<\/mark><\/strong><\/strong>\u00a0Karama Arts Club<\/strong><\/a> members (local designers, artists, and small creative businesses: you\u2019re welcome to join) are invited to pitch for a spot to show\u00a0their work at the club\u2019s stall in the Dubai Design Week Marketplace<\/strong> (evenings 8-9 Nov in d3). They\u2019re looking for prints (inc screenprints and linocuts), small-format artworks \u201cthat are affordable and collectable\u201d, and design pieces, objects and \u201cout there designs\u201d. Pitch here<\/strong><\/a> …<\/p>\n\n\n\n Op 3<\/mark><\/strong> The open call for the seventh edition of Riyadh Arts\u2019 Tuwaiq Sculpture <\/strong><\/a>invites sculptors from around the world to submit proposals. This is probably the best-funded and now the most successful sculpture event in the world; scheduled for \u00a0January and February 2026, it will have 25 artists sculpting in public around Riyadh, culminating in a public exhibition with original works that will be permanently installed across the capital\u00a0…<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ops update<\/mark><\/strong> number of open calls and other artistic opportunities<\/strong><\/a> for art, design and curatorial proposals are closing in the next few days, incidentally. Check out magpie\u2019s Opportunities<\/strong><\/a> page for the details\u00a0…<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instagrammar<\/mark><\/strong> The latest digital Jameel Library Commission<\/strong> is Angelheaded Towers<\/strong><\/a>, a straight-to-Instagram film in six episodes by Ruba Al-Sweel. There\u2019ll be one every two months starting 14 October<\/strong>. And now the explainer: \u201cSitting in the ternary plot of critical theory, networked technologies and generative AI, it draws on the platform physics, visual language, and the \u2018user\u2019 as one node in an ouroboric relationship with the media they consume. Each chapter lingers in the blindspots of this pinoptic apparatus, exploring the projections of ego and desire shaped by what she calls \u2018algorithmic eugenics\u2019\u201d. Mark your diaries<\/strong><\/a> …<\/p>\n\n\n\n Showtime<\/mark><\/strong> Looks like Dubai likes musicals, or at least the voters for the first ever DXB Theatre Awards<\/strong> do: Music Theatre DXB<\/strong> swept last Sunday\u2019s awards night, with 13 including Best Theatre Company. Its production of Guys and Dolls<\/strong> was the big winner, accounting for nine of those awards. \u00a0The other much-nominated musical, Romeo + Juliet featuring the Music of Queen<\/strong>, picked up only one award \u2013 Best Musical Director. The People\u2019s Choice Award went to This Is Us<\/strong> by The Hive …<\/p>\n\n\n\n Eat art<\/mark><\/strong><\/mark><\/strong> Gerbou<\/strong><\/a>, the on-site restaurant at Tashkeel in Nad Al Sheba, has unveiled the latest in its Tashkeel Artist Special Dessert<\/strong> programme, developed in collaboration with artists whose works are currently on view at Tashkeel\u2019s gallery. \u00a0This one takes inspiration from the current Ranim AlHalaky\u00a0exhibition Of Liminal Threads<\/strong><\/a>, which explores identity, heritage and memory through textile-inspired forms; so the dessert \u201cseamlessly blends textures and flavours to reflect transitions, shifting borders of identity and the delicate balance of belonging.\u201d \u00a0It\u2019s a buttery mahlab-spiced oat biscui<\/strong>t topped with orange blossom nougat parfait<\/strong> and served with\u00a0blackcurrant jam<\/strong>. You\u2019ll pay AED 65 for that, but it\u2019s only available until 16 October …<\/p>\n\n\n\n Light up<\/mark><\/strong><\/mark><\/strong> The seven artists commissioned for the second\u00a0Dhai Dubai<\/strong><\/a> light art exhibition in Expo City\u2019s Al Wasl Plaza (12-18 November) are Fatma Lootah<\/strong>; Mohammed Kazem<\/strong>; Alia Bin Omair<\/strong>; Khalid Al Banna<\/strong>; AlZaina Lootah<\/strong>; Ahmad Saeed AlAreef Al Dhaheri<\/strong>; and Hessa Alghandi<\/strong>. Some interesting names there \u2013 Alia Bin Omair is basically a jewellery designer, for instance \u2013 and they cover three generations of Emirati artists. We\u2019re expecting good things, though the website here<\/strong><\/a> is currently a bit noncommittal on the subject\u00a0…<\/p>\n\n\n\n Who’s your friend?<\/mark><\/strong><\/mark><\/strong> British psychologist Robin Dunbar reckons our brains are good for about 150 friends<\/strong><\/a>, based on extrapolation from the relationship between the size of the neocortexes of more than 30 primate species and the size of their respective social groups. More than 60%\u00a0of our social attention goes to just 15 of them<\/strong>, though …<\/p>\n\n\n\n Three shows to see<\/mark><\/strong><\/mark><\/strong> Opening today:\u00a0Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim<\/strong><\/a> at the Cultural Foundation, Abu Dhabi, and Banafsheh Hemmati<\/strong><\/a> at the Satellite Gallery, DIFC. Plus on Saturday, a group show at Efie Gallery<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0with an impressive collection of artists …\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Useful app of the week<\/mark><\/strong><\/mark><\/strong>\u00a0AnonymSMS<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>is a totally free\u00a0disposable phone number service \u2013 gives you a real phone number (US, UK) that can receive SMS messages so you can keep your real number private\u00a0…<\/p>\n\n\n\n Something for the weekend<\/mark><\/strong> Cineline<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0invites you to arrange movies in chronological order based only on clues like director, stars and length of the\u00a0title …\u00a0Try it here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Things we didn\u2019t know no.94<\/mark><\/strong>\u00a0Aday on Venus is longer than a year on Venus<\/strong>: Venus takes about 243 Earth days to rotate once on its axis but only about 225 Earth days to orbit the Sun. The same applies to Mercury<\/strong>, which takes about 59 Earth days to rotate once and\u00a088 Earth days to orbit the Sun\u00a0…<\/p>\n\n\n\n Earworm of the week<\/mark> <\/a><\/strong>Silver Gore : Celestial Intervention<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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