Arts

Arts in Brief 4/12

Country Music Star Morgan Wallen arrested for reckless endangerment 

Country Music Star, Morgan Wallen, was arrested early morning Monday after throwing a chair off of the rooftop of Chief’s Bar in Nashville. The artist had just begun his tour, coming off two shows in Indianapolis, and many fans are now wondering whether their concerts will be canceled. According to the Metro Nashville Police Department, he was arrested on three felony counts of reckless endangerment, misdemeanor, and disorderly conduct. Police had been monitoring the area outside the bar when the chair came flying down three feet in front of them. Witnesses on the scene also said that Wallen had been seen laughing after throwing the chair off the roof. According to FOX News, fans seem to feel a mix between being horrified by his actions and proud of them, with some claiming his erratic behavior further proves his place as a “real rockstar in country music.”

 

Beyoncé makes history with ‘Cowboy Carter’ hitting No. 1

Beyonce’s new album, Cowboy Carter, has made her the first Black woman to reach the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Top Country Charts. The album, which was originally anticipated to be primarily country, surprised fans with a diverse blend of influences spanning from banjos to rap, challenging genre boundaries. According to Billboard, Cowboy Carter stands at 407,000 equivalent album sales in the US, with song “Texas Hold ’Em” sitting at No. 2. With record-breaking numbers, Beyonce has proved once again her music artistry and fierce ability to crush boundaries in the music industry.

 

Professor Turns Algae Studies into Music 

Dr. Heather O’Leary, a professor at the University of South Florida (USF), has been greatly concerned with water quality and its influence on the natural world. According to NPR, while researching algae blooms in tourist regions and the decrease in coral reefs, she realized she needed a more engaging way to present her data and share her findings with others. Inspiration struck her during a concert put on by the USF’s School of Music. Following the performance, she reached out to composer Paul Reller, who has had extensive experience turning compositions into more creative projects. Together, the two created music that captured the patterns in her data, using different keys and paces to represent when the algae bloomed and died. Since then, a music group at the University called Communicating Research Expansively through Sonification and Community-Engaged Neuroaesthetic Data-literacy Opportunities (CRESCENDO), has begun utilizing similar composition methods in hopes of bringing awareness to environmental problems.

 

Technician’s Secret Art Display Sparks Controversy

A German museum worker was fired after secretly hanging his own artwork in a gallery. According to CNN, the 51-year-old technician and self-proclaimed freelance artist smuggled his painting into the Pinakothek der Moderne museum in Munich, Germany on February 26, and hung it on a wall in one of the galleries. The artwork was quickly discovered and removed by security. The man had access to the museum outside of regular opening hours due to his job, allowing him to go in unnoticed and add his work to the exhibition. As part of his termination agreement, the man was immediately fired and banned from the museum. He now also faces investigation for property damage, as his painting was attached to the gallery wall with two screws that caused €100 in damage. 

 

Superman’s First Flight: Historic Comic Fetches $6 Million at Auction

A 1938 comic featuring Superman’s first appearance sold for $6 million at an auction on April 4. According to CNN, the comic was dubbed the “most important, impactful comic book ever published,” and was originally published 86 years ago for just 10 cents an issue. Out of the 200,000 copies that were first printed, Heritage Auctions stated that only two other unrestored copies in superior condition are known to exist. The comic was in excellent shape despite its age. The comic was written by Joe Shuster and Jerry Siegel and introduced Superman as an alien child sent to Earth to escape the destruction of his planet. “Without Superman and Action Comics No. 1, who knows whether there ever would have been a Golden Age of comics — or if the medium would have become what it is today,” Heritage Auctions Vice President Barry Sandoval said in a statement ahead of the sale.