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“Mary Boone,” the latest song from Vampire Weekend, is less about the disgraced art dealer as it is a nostalgic reflection at a bygone era of New York City. Although the track vaguely alludes to Boone’s gallery and her highly publicized tax scandal, it primarily encapsulates a longing for halcyon times. “Mary Boone, Mary Boone,” band frontman Ezra Koenig sings. “I’m on the dark side of your moon. Mary Boone, Mary Boone, well, I hope you feel like loving someone soon.”
Boone, who launched her namesake art gallery in 1977 and was a prominent figure in SoHo’s art scene, faced a significant downturn in reputation after her conviction for tax evasion in 2019, marking a stark contrast to her earlier success in promoting artists like Julian Schnabel and Jean-Michel Basquiat. The song is the latest single from Vampire Weekend’s new album, “Only God Was Above Us,” which delves into themes of generational change and memories of a different New York City captured in the album’s cover art—a photograph of a graffiti-covered subway car from 1988. —Ryan Waddoups
Sumaida + Khurana, a New York–based development firm, has unveiled plans for a new office building in Miami Beach, marking Pritzker Prize–winning architect Eduardo Souto de Moura’s first North American project. The building, located at Fifth Street and Alton Road, promises a modern office experience with poetic form and exquisite detailing, featuring concrete, glass, and pink coral stone elements, with completion expected in 2026.
A recent report by the U.S. Arts and Cultural Production Satellite Account reveals the country’s arts and cultural industries soared to a record $1.1 trillion in economic activity in 2022, constituting 4.3 percent of the GDP. A collaboration between the National Endowment for the Arts and the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the report highlights the sector’s resilience post-pandemic, with employment rebounding to pre-pandemic levels and all states experiencing increased economic value from arts and culture industries since 2019.
Sasaki has been tasked by the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation to devise a comprehensive revitalization plan for Taliesin West. By integrating sustainable practices and an interpretive master plan, the project seeks to honor the UNESCO World Heritage Site’s cultural legacy as the architect’s experimentation hub and embracing its environment in the Sonoran Desert.
The British Museum is taking legal action against former curator Peter Higgs, accusing him of stealing more than 1,800 items from its collection, including ancient gems and gold jewelry, over a 10-year period. Higgs, who was fired in July 2023, denies the allegations, and while a police investigation is ongoing, the fallout from the scandal has led to resignations, calls for tighter security measures, and renewed discussions about repatriation of artifacts.
A treasure trove of René Lalique wearables is hiding in this Lisbon museum.
Has the blobfish, considered the world’s ugliest animal, been judged unfairly?
Nik Bentel turns the Grand Budapest Hotel’s pink pastry box into a leather bag.
This star-like creature is among 100 “mystery” species found near New Zealand.
