This N' That: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow
Brigid Berlin, Untitled (Self-Portrait with Tit Prints I), ca. 1971-1973 / Courtesy of Brigid Berlin, Vincent Fremont Enterprises, Inc., and Invisible-Exports
Brigid Berlin, fixture in the world of Andy Warhol, dies at age 80
Brigid Berlin, confidante and co-conspirator to Andy Warhol, died on July 17 at the age of 80. Berlin was best known for her involvement in Warhol’s Factory, finding fame as one of his Superstars. She acted in several of his films, including Imitation of Christ (1967) and Ciao! Manhattan (1972). Berlin was a fixture in the world of Warhol in the 1960s and 1970s, performing a variety of roles, from secretary of the Factory to diligent documentator of Factory happenings to administrator of amphetamine injections (pokes). The latter earned her the nickname Brigid Polk. Berlin, who was born into a wealthy Upper East Side family, found joy and popularity in the raucous art movement of the 1960s, merrily rejecting her family’s staid values. In addition to her presence in Warhol’s work, Berlin was regarded by many to be Warhol’s “best friend.” In the years during which Berlin worked at the Factory, the pair talked daily and referred to themselves as Mr. and Mrs. Pork. Although she rejected the title herself, Berlin was a prominent art maker in her own right, known for her photographs and needlepoint pillows.
Leica M10-R
Leica introduces M10-R camera with highest resolution rangefinder yet
Leica Camera recently introduced its M10-R model, which has the highest resolution rangefinder of its M-10 series to date. Leica claims that the sensor in the M10-R, which is largely the same as the one in the M-10 Monochrom, offers a wider dynamic range in Raw mode and less noise than previous M10 bodies. The M10-R features a 3" fixed touchscreen with 1.04 million dots, a single SD card slot, and Wi-Fi. It will go on sale later this month priced at $8295, offered in black or silver.
Photo by Dennis Gecaj on Unsplash
New York City museums hold off on reopening
Although New York City is set to enter Phase 4 of its reopening plan today, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has announced that indoor cultural attractions, malls and indoor dining will not reopen yet. The hesitation comes from fear of a “second wave” of the virus, which could arrive by plane, car or train from hotspots like Florida or Arizona. Prior to this announcement, today would have been the earliest possible date for reopening. The Museum of the City of New York, one of the few institutions that had planned to reopen this week, was to do so on July 23. Fotografiska, a photography museum that was only open for 4 months before COVID-19 forced its closure, was planning on a July 29 reopening implementing timed ticketed entry. Due to the recent announcement, neither of those museums will reopen this week. Weeks ago, the Metropolitan Museum of Art announced an August 29 reopening; it is unclear whether that date stands. Outdoor attractions, such as zoos and botanical gardens, will be permitted to reopen in the coming days and weeks at one-third capacity.
Open Society Foundations announces 2020 Soros Art Fellows
Last Tuesday, the Open Society Foundations announced the list of 2020 Soros Art Fellows. Each year, the foundation puts together a cohort of 10 artists, curators, cultural organizers, and researchers working at the intersection of migration, public space and the arts. Each fellow selected receives a stipend of $80,000 to put forth in an ambitious project over the next 18 months. “We are honored to support this extraordinary group of artists and cultural producers, whose work explores the realities of migration, diaspora, and indigeneity from a range of perspectives,” said Rashida Bumbray, director of the Open Society Culture and Art program. This year, Brazil, Botswana, Jamaica, Nigeria, Palestine, St. Croix, Syria, Tlingít Aaní, the United States and their respective diasporas are represented by the selected fellows.
