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A24 Auctions Everything Everywhere All at Once Props
The film Everything Everywhere All at Once has proven to be a real hero, not only with its breathtaking content but also through its charitable donations. A24, the film’s production company, announced it will auction off 43 props and costumes to benefit three charitable organizations: the Laundry Workers Center, the Transgender Law Center, and the Asian Mental Health Project.
The props and costumes have been categorized into three groups, each with one-of-a-kind items, including Evelyn’s hot dog costume, Jobu’s Elvis ensemble, and the infamous rockverse rock and Auditor of the Month buttplug-shaped trophy. All funds raised from the auctions will be donated to charity. A24 has previously auctioned off props and costumes from other films to support charities, such as Midsommar, Uncut Gems, and Euphoria, and old movie merchandise to support the Vidiots Foundation. —Ryan Waddoups
Kith expands to the Miami Design District with a two-story, multi-brand flagship.
Kith has expanded to Miami’s Design District, opening a two-story multi-brand flagship, a Sadelle’s restaurant by Major Food Group, and a standalone Kith Treats store. The new outpost was designed by Kith’s founder and creative director Ronnie Fieg and features a neutral color palette alongside vibrant shades of green, floor-to-ceiling windows, and birch-paneled walls. The Kith Treats store, located across the street, features a circular center bar, and stainless steel accents, and will serve new signature specials and Belgian waffles with Kith branding. The new location marks Kith’s second location in Miami after opening on Collins Avenue in 2016.
Sotheby’s taps Kelly Rowland to curate a contemporary art auction in New York.
Sotheby’s has tapped Kelly Rowland to curate the auction house’s latest Contemporary Curated Auction in New York. The former Destiny’s Child member has focused on selecting figurative and abstract pieces by artists of color, such as Ernie Barnes, whose work has recently garnered high auction results. The auction will also feature works donated by queer artists, with proceeds going to the Ali Forney Center. “My first exposure to art was through figurative works that I could identify with because as a kid, the world around me didn’t look the way I did,” said Rowland in a press release. “Today, I find myself gravitating toward more abstract pieces that meld motion, energy, and color—those feelings of being on stage.”
The Philadelphia Museum of Art is preparing to launch a new center for African art.
The Philadelphia Museum of Art is preparing to launch the Brind Center for African and African Diasporic Art to enrich its collection. The center is part of the museum’s Equity Agenda, which seeks to promote diversity and provide new opportunities, and will feature scholarship, exhibitions, and public programs. The center is named after Ira Brind, a financier and museum trustee, who donated funding and art to the project, with a curatorial director, assistant curator, and graduate fellowship program to be included. The news arrives as the institution continues to heal from sexual harassment allegations in 2020.
Saudi Arabia unveils plans for a colossal cubic skyscraper in downtown Riyadh.
Saudi Arabia has unveiled plans for the Mukaab, a colossal cube-shaped skyscraper that will tower above downtown Riyadh’s New Murabba district. The 1,300-foot-tall building will become the world’s largest built structure and is part of a 7.3-square-mile development that includes 80 cultural and entertainment venues, a new museum, a design university, and a theater. Slated for completion in 2030, the project is a key part of the Middle Eastern country’s push to diversify its economy and move away from its reliance on oil, which includes other ambitious projects like Neom and Oxagon.
Hong Kong’s art scene is showing signs of bouncing back as Art Basel approaches.
Hong Kong’s art and retail scene is bouncing back after a three-year pandemic hibernation. With the city’s edition of Art Basel just around the corner, global auction houses such as Sotheby’s and Christie’s are planning in-person VIP events to cater to the return of wealthy mainland Chinese patrons, who mostly stayed away during the pandemic due to travel restrictions. The annual fair kicks off in the week of March 21, but the festivities have already begun, with parties and gatherings of the city’s well-heeled. Despite losing three years to the pandemic, Hong Kong remains the main Asia transaction center for Sotheby’s and Christie’s. This year’s Art Basel coincides with the government’s efforts to revive a battered economy and welcome back tourists, including a giveaway of 500,000 free air tickets to visitors.
The Dallas Museum of Art has stepped up its security following a break-in last year.
Following a break-in last June, the Dallas Museum of Art has announced a “critical moment of transformation” as it makes sweeping changes to its security measures, including changes to procedures, staff, and facilities, as well as bringing in outside security consultants. Four artifacts were seriously damaged in the burglary, which occurred when the intruder entered the museum through the front door, undetected, before picking up a museum phone and turning himself in to 911. The DMA is owned by the city of Dallas and operated by a private nonprofit corporation, which will also oversee a reorganization of the museum’s security force.
Today’s attractive distractions:
Here’s how an idealistic community for exchanging free stuff fell apart.