Over a long career Faith Ringgold has used her art to support civil rights for African Americans and feminist causes. The first retrospective of her work in France makes the message clear through its title “Black is Beautiful”. Ringgold was born in 1930 in Harlem and grew up surrounded by the art, literature and music … Continue reading “Faith Ringgold: Black Art Matters”
The Ciné O’Clock British and Irish Film Festival in Villeurbanne will be presenting its 27th edition from 22-26 February. There are some great previews of upcoming releases. On of the Oscar nominees is Colin O’Farrell, for Martin McDonagh’s The Banshees of Inisherin (the most nominated film this year). If you haven’t caught it yet, it’s … Continue reading “Irish and British Film Festival in Villeurbanne”
Equestrian performer Bartabas started his “Cabaret of Exile” series with a show about the Jewish culture of Eastern Europe. Now he has focused on Irish Travellers for his latest Zingaro show, that has proved so popular that it has doubled its run. This is the first time that a show in France has paid tribute … Continue reading “On the Road: Irish Travellers”
The British Tate museum has a large collection of David Hockney’s work. A large selection from the collection is on view in Aix-en-Provence, a great opportunity to appreciate the variety of Britain’s most famous pop artist, from his California swimming-pool paintings to collages, portraits and objects. Hockney was born in Yorkshire in 1937, and despite … Continue reading “David Hockney: Pop Art in Aix-en-Provence”
South African photographer Zanele Muholi describes themself as a visual activist. For the last 20 years, Muholi has explored the depiction of black women and the LGBTQIA+ community. Muholi’s photos are included in several modern art collections around the world and the major exhibition of their work at Tate Modern in London from 2021 has … Continue reading “Zanele Muholi: Visual Activism”
On 19 January, New Zealand’s Prime Minister announced that not only would she not seek re-election this year, she was resigning with effect on 7 February. On 19 January, New Zealand’s Prime Minister announced that not only would she not seek re-election this year, she was resigning with effect on 7 February. Ms Ardern said … Continue reading “Jacinda Ardern Resigns as NZ Prime Minister”
Canada has a new national celebration: Ribbon Skirt Day will be held every year on 4 January. The idea came from a young First Nations girl, Isabelle Kulak, now 12, who wanted Canadians to recognise and celebrate indigenous culture in the form of the ribbon skirts and shirts many tribes create. The country already has … Continue reading “A First Nations Schoolgirl Inspires a New Canadian Celebration”
Our challenge last year was to get 4e students interested in musicals! As we couldn’t take them abroad on an exchange, we felt like taking “a bit of abroad” to them, through musicals. You can read what we planned to do here, and below you’ll find our conclusions about what worked and what didn’t. Though … Continue reading “Assessing musicals with 4e euro”
After the Midterm elections in November, the 118th Congress has been sitting since 3 January. The Midterms were expected to result in a defeat for the Democrats and a lame-duck presidency for the next two years. But the Democrats have kept hold of the Senate and although the Republicans have a small majority in the … Continue reading “What’s Going On in the U.S. Congress?”
A chance meeting between novelist Kazuo Ishiguro and actor Bill Nighy led to Ishiguro remaking Akira Kurosawa’s 1952 film Living, setting it in post-WWII London. Nighy plays a buttoned up English civil servant who changes his attitude to life when he is told he is dying. It may not sound like it but it’s a … Continue reading “When a Nobel Laureate Remakes a Cinema Masterpiece”
