The Antarctic Biennale
CNN / VICE / MONOCLE 24: A pioneering expedition to the seventh continent sought to break down boundaries between art and science.
SPAMiversary: 7 BILLION cans sold in 75 years
REUTERS: The iconic canned ham has been the butt of jokes – but it’s also an American icon, serving troops in war, joining the Smithsonian and hamming it up on Broadway. Here's a rundown of Spam by the numbers.
NYC to expand outdoor gym provision
CNN: “Playgrounds for adults” have been around since the 1930s, but only recently began appearing in New York parks. Now, the city plans to roll out 24 new facilities over the next 18 months – after a successful space was opened near Yankee Stadium in the Bronx.
Cash-strapped towns cancel July 4 fireworks
CNN: As towns and cities across the United States are plagued by harsh weather and a harsher economy, many have been forced to abandon traditional Independence Day celebrations. But in New Rochelle, NY, a lifeline appeared from the unlikeliest of sources.
Thousands march in silence against NYPD’s “Stop and Frisk”
CNN: Last year, nearly 685,000 people were stopped by officers in cases that ended with no meaningful charge, according to police department statistics. Of these, 87% were African-American or Latino.
The Half King: A refuge for New York journalists
MONOCLE 24: Reporters from far and wide flock to the world’s media capital in search of stories and opportunities. Twelve years ago, three journalists decided to create a place for this community to hang out, share secrets and enjoy good food and drink – all under one roof.
In El Barrio, a New Bookstore Is Counting on Its Community
THE NEW YORK TIMES: Undaunted by the withering publishing industry, a woman with a passion for literature has opened a Latino bookstore in East Harlem.
Egypt: Tahrir burns with Mubarak protests
REUTERS: After Egypt's ousted president, Hosni Mubarak, received a life sentence for his role in civilian deaths during the country's revolution, protesters marched on Tahrir Square in central Cairo.
Occupy protesters target Frieze art fair
MONOCLE 24: On May 4-7, thousands of visitors flocked to Randall’s Island in New York for the city’s first ever Frieze art fair. Galleries reported promising profits during a sellout weekend, but on Sunday afternoon, a small group of activists and artists gathered outside to make a noisy stand about commercialization of the creative world....
The 99% Spring: What next for Occupy?
MONOCLE 24: Last year, Occupy Wall Street triggered waves of international protest when a ragged group of activists set up camp in a New York park. As winter arrived and the occupiers were evicted, questions emerged about the movement’s future – but plans are currently afoot for a big summer campaign in cities across America....
How Lenin and Red Square ended up in NYC
MONOCLE 24: In the mid-1990s, a bronze statue of Lenin suddenly appeared on New York's Lower East Side – and became an unlikely symbol of gentrification in this gritty urban neighborhood.
In conversation with Emanuel Pimenta
MONOCLE 24: Emanuel Pimenta is an intermedia artist who was born in Brazil and now lives between Switzerland and America. He pioneered the concept of "virtual architecture," has collaborated with contemporary musical luminaries like John Cage, and holds exhibitions around the world.
Kiss and run: new film casts light on pro-Putin youth movement
OPEN DEMOCRACY: Masha Drokova was a rising star of the pro-Kremlin youth movement Nashi, yet she was also friends with Oleg Kashin – a critical journalist who was nearly killed by assailants allegedly connected to her organisation. A compelling new documentary captures this moral dilemma.
