The “Obamalith” is unveiled while the School of the Art Institute of Chicago wages war against its students’ imagination.
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago has taken a controversial step this week by placing Savneet Talwar, the director of its graduate art therapy program, on leave. This action comes after Talwar assigned students the task of developing a mock therapeutic treatment plan for a queer Arab woman who supported pro-Palestinian protests and feared backlash under the Trump administration.
Provost Martin Berger deemed this project inappropriate and retaliated by taking action against the professor. Ironically, Berger has published extensively on the civil rights movement, making his decision particularly surprising.
Editor-at-Large Hrag Vartanian describes this incident as a “prime example of this decay that authoritarianism can insert into a democratic society, one that we have to fight at every turn.” The situation highlights the risks students face, as they have already faced arrests for protesting and writing articles, and now their creativity is under threat.
We invite you to read Hrag’s opinion piece and explore the other stories featured below. Enjoy your weekend.
—Hakim Bishara, editor-in-chief
They Want to Control Our Imagination
Oppression creeps into society by first stifling our imagination, preventing us from envisioning an escape from control by limiting our ability to conceive what is possible or needed but not yet understood.
The recent developments at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), where Savneet Talwar, the director of its graduate art therapy program, was placed on leave for instructing students to “create a mock therapeutic treatment plan for a queer Arab woman who sympathized with pro-Palestinian protests and feared retaliation under the Trump administration,” serve as a stark illustration of how authoritarianism can erode democratic society, requiring constant vigilance and resistance. | Hrag Vartanian
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News
- The School of the Art Institute of Chicago has put Savneet Talwar, the leader of its graduate art therapy program, on leave following her assignment of a case study involving a hypothetical client who was “deeply affected by the violence against Palestinian civilians.”
- David Hockney, celebrated as one of Britain’s finest contemporary painters, has passed away at 88 in his London home.
- Italian labor unions, cultural workers’ groups, and grassroots organizations are uniting for a nationwide strike on Friday, June 12, aiming to improve working conditions and express solidarity with Palestine.
- The New School in Manhattan has terminated 19 full-time faculty and 68 staff members due to a $160 million structural budget deficit linked to the COVID-19 pandemic and decreasing student numbers.
- Phoenix Art Museum will soon present 100 works by Native American artists, showcasing a century of creative resilience, following its largest-ever donation of Native American art.
- Renderings of the winning Penn Station redesign prominently feature Trump’s name, sparking questions and concerns.
- The prediction market platform Kalshi has ventured into the intersection of fine art and finance by launching a section dedicated to art markets.
- A self-portrait by Clarence Heyward displayed at the Houston Museum of African American Culture was deliberately defaced by visitors, according to the Texas institution.
- The New Museum is preparing its largest-ever survey exhibition of works by filmmaker and multimedia artist Arthur Jafa this September, titled I Am Tony, in tribute to the late jazz drummer Tony Williams.
- A child accidentally damaged a René Magritte painting at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem with a pinecone from its garden.
Pride Month
Interviews
Beer With a Painter: Samia Halaby
In her Tribeca studio, Palestinian-American painter Samia Halaby delves into her use of color and how she “accidentally stepped into abstraction.” | Jennifer Samet
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From Our Critics
Features
My Queasy, Forest-Scented Stroll Through LA’s New AI Art Museum
As I descended into a mirrored, cavernous space, dazzling light projections transformed into cyber-graphics, mycological networks, and vibrant flora. An intense soundtrack oscillated from minimalism to cinematic peaks, interspersed with natural sounds. The air carried a forest aroma, released by a device around my neck. The shifting walls heightened my senses, leaving me exhilarated yet dizzy. | Matt Stromberg
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- Required Reading: Jean Shin’s tribute to the trees of Greenwood Cemetery, a 250th anniversary few desire, Pride bar-hopping, and more.
- A View From the Easel: This week, Stacy Bogdonoff follows artists’ exhibitions across New York City, longing for more s p a c e.
- Art Movements: Dr. Steven Nelson appointed Director of the Sam Gilliam Foundation, Aperture HQ’s fall opening date, and the New Museum’s collaboration with Penske Media.
- In Memoriam: We remember Valentine Willie, advocate of Southeast Asian art, Marjane Satrapi, creator of “Persepolis,” John Claridge, a photographer devoted to London’s East End, and others.
- Opportunities: Our June list offers residencies, fellowships, grants, and open calls from the VH Award, Bennett Prize, and more for artists, writers, and art workers.
