Arts
Robin Williams, Comedic Master And Oscar Winner, Dies At 63
Robin Williams has died at the age of 63. Williams is remembered for his roles in TV and film, including an inspiring teacher in Dead Poet's Society and an Oscar-winning turn in Good Will Hunting.
Robin Williams, A Stand-up Act — On Stage, On Set And In Life
For NPR's film and TV critic Linda Holmes, a long-time love of Robin Williams began with his stand-up show A Night at the Met. Despite lauded dramatic turns, Williams always displayed humor and charm.
After Decades In Storage, Damaged Rothko Murals Get High-Tech Restoration
In the early 1960s, abstract artist Mark Rothko created five murals for a penthouse dining room at Harvard University. By the late '70s they were trashed — sun-faded and splattered with cocktails.
When It Comes To Creativity, Are Two Heads Better Than One?
Joshua Wolf Shenk says it's time to debunk the myth of the lone genius. His new book explores creative partnerships — and explains how Emily Dickinson wasn't actually as much of a loner as we think.
Effort To Preserve Yiddish Works Not 'Bupkes'
The preservation of Yiddish as a spoken language gets more attention, but Yiddish once had a vibrant written tradition as well, filled with plays, poetry, novels and political tracts.
As Film Stocks Dwindle, Movie-Makers Weigh What May Soon Be Lost
Film isn't dead — not yet, at least. Kodak recently announced that it will keep making film stock for motion pictures despite a dramatic drop in sales, after a handful of high-profile directors advocated for it. But, since the medium's days may yet be numbered, it's worth asking what film can offer that digital media can't.
For Novelist Jonathan Lethem, Radicalism Runs In The Family
His new book, Dissident Gardens, follows three generations of an activist family. The book is fiction, but its characters were inspired by Lethem's own story. Originally broadcast Sept. 9, 2013.
SECCA's Neil Goldberg: Anthology, Trumpeter Anita Cirba and the Salem Band, and Knifemaker John Hege
Art is all around us and you can find it in the most unexpected of places. There's the art of Damascus steel, the art of emerging from the darkness of a subway into the light of day, the art of theme and variation, knife blades, trumpet playing, and, guess what? We'll cover all those and more for you today on the show. First up, Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art curator Cora Fischer and New York-based artist Neil Goldberg open our eyes to all kinds of intimate artistic opportunities in Neil's multi-media Anthology. Did you know the Triad is home to one of the finest trumpet players in the country? Yep, her name is Anita Cirba, and I'm not just blowing hot air—she's here with trumpet and the Carnival of Venice in hand to show you. I'll give you a hint how she does it: hours and hours of tireless practice, loads of dedication, and just not taking “no” for an answer. That's the same recipe for beautiful Damascus steel knife-blade- making, and we'll chat with a devoted blacksmith whose journey from auto repair to the art of the blade is pretty inspiring stuff. John Hege feels like a fire god—and as well he should.