Ferguson: A man in a shroud of tear gas.
- Things went from bad to worse in Ferguson last night. A group of protesters and police officers came into violent conflict in the hours before a curfew was to begin at midnight. Reporter Christopher Hayes, who was covering the outbreak, tweeted that a riot cop threatened him with mace if he didn’t “get back.” In the early morning hours, the Missouri governor announced that the National Guard was being deployed in response to all the unrest. Meanwhile, Amnesty International has deployed a team of its workers to Ferguson–the first time done so in the U.S. [The Independent]
- An interview with NFL player David Bass, who comes from Ferguson, has powerful background on what it’s like to be black in Ferguson and deal with the police. “When I go home I get pulled over just because…When they don’t know who you are, all you are is black.” [MMQB]
- In the New York Times, harrowing accounts of Michael Brown’s shooting: “Another neighbor, a woman who identified herself as a nurse, was begging the officers to let her perform CPR [on Brown]. They refused, Mr. Stone said, adding, “They didn’t even check to see if he was breathing.” [New York Times]
- According to reports prepared for The New York Times by Tutela Capital S.A., and Beautiful Asset Advisors, flipping art like stock is no more common now than it was 20 years ago. So why do so many believe flipping is on the rise? The New York Times reports that increased art sales have affected our perception of the practice. Flipping is still the exception, not the rule. [The New York Times]
- Leon Black buys a $50 million townhouse where Knoedler & Company was formerly located. Will any fake Jackson Pollocks come with the sale. [The Real Deal]
- Israel finally lifts its international travel ban on Palestinian artist Khaled Jarrar. [The Art Newspaper]
- Julian Assange has made vague plans to leave Ecuador embassy in London “soon.” This comes after two years of refuge. Assange didn’t specify any reasons, but did say his health has suffered. [BBC News]
- For background on Assange, nothing beats this essay by Andrew O’Hagan, who was hired to ghost write Assange’s biography. That project was never completed, and the essay explains why, while giving readers what may be the closest look at Assange ever produced. [The London Book Review]
- After all-night talks, the Metropolitan Opera and two of its largest unions reached a tentative deal, preventing a lockout. [The New York Times]
- The Goldring arts journalism program at Syracuse University is looking to hire a director to replace current director Johanna Keller. This program has a history of producing successful journalists. We hope it continues to be in good hands. [Arts Journal]
