Capri Sun handbags at NYFW and a Big Brother twist

Gaza Biennale: Art as a War Cry

Working as an artist is never easy, but working as an artist in a war zone is an act of courage. For the over 40 Palestinian artists (many of whom are still in Gaza) who have organized the Gaza Biennale, it’s part of their survival.

Taking place in “pavilions” around the world, the Biennale has been ongoing since last spring, with shows in Scotland, France, Spain, and Denmark. Now, the Gaza Biennale opens in North America with a powerful collective exhibition in Brooklyn.

Featuring work from 25 Palestinian artists, the show’s variety of videos, paintings, and installations are most often digital reproductions of work that wouldn’t have made it out of Gaza otherwise. It’s just one of the aspects that shows these artists’ resilience and determination to be heard, as if screaming, “I am still here….we are still here.”

Created in the most challenging circumstances, these artworks are a look inside the hearts and minds of Palestinians, who find themselves in the midst of a genocide with their backs against the wall. Yet, as these artists prove, they refuse to back down.

Beyond the headlines and political maneuvering, Palestinians are people with hopes, desires, and dreams. And by putting themselves out there, these artists hope to shine a light on something much bigger than their artistic talents.

Support for Palestine at the Emmys

Stars of the small screen gathered for a glamorous night of celebrating television at the Emmys on September 14. There were some historic wins, including Tramell Tillman (the first Black man to win Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series) and Owen Cooper (the youngest male winner in any acting category ever), but one of the most impassioned and memorable wins of the night has to be Hannah Einbinder, who defiantly ended her winner’s speech with, “Go birds, f*ck ICE, and free Palestine.”

Einbinder, who won Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role as Ava Daniels on Hacks, has been outspoken on social media about her stance on horrific immigration tactics and the ongoing genocide in Gaza. However, taking the stage on network television, on a widely watched event such as the Emmys, it is no small feat to use one’s platform to amplify the voices of the oppressed.

Her support of Palestine was an especially powerful statement. Backstage, after winning her award, the press asked her to expand on her support for Palestine. Einbinder confidently responded, sharing that she has friends who are doctors currently working in northern Gaza to aid pregnant women and children. She added, “I feel like it is my obligation as a Jewish person to distinguish Jews from the State of Israel.”

Einbinder wasn’t the only one to bring attention to the plight of the Palestinian people on Emmys night. Javier Bardem wore a keffiyeh and openly spoke of his support for Palestine with press on the red carpet. In an interview with Variety, he said, “I cannot work with someone that justifies or supports the genocide.”

Both Einbinder and Bardem have signed a pledge to boycott Israeli film institutions. They are only two of 3,900 signatures, which include Ava DuVernay, Emma Stone, Mark Ruffalo, Ayo Edebiri, Riz Ahmed, Olivia Colman, Yorgos Lanthimos, Joaquin Phoenix, Nicola Coughlan, Tilda Swinton, Lily Gladstone, Gael Garcia Bernal, Melissa Barrera, Boots Riley, Adam McKay, and many many more.

• 👨‍🎨 Ai Weiwei has never shied away from a political statement, and for his newest installation, the Chinese artist has stepped into a war zone. His large-scale installation in Kyiv will remain on view until November 30. Composed of spheres wrapped in camouflaged uniforms that have been painted white, the piece is a commentary on precision and harmony disturbed by the chaos of war.

• 👝 On a lighter note, the unexpected duo of Capri Sun and Christian Siriano landed on the runway of New York Fashion Week with a delightful collaboration. Designer Siriano has elevated the beloved juice box into a creative clutch complete with the brand’s yellow straws and rainbow fringe that’s just crying out to be played with. The limited-edition purse will drop soon via the appropriately titled Capri Sun Pouch Purse website. It’s the sort of brand collaboration we love — whimsical, unexpected, and totally creative.

• ⚒️ Finally, someone has told us what we all want to hear — you really don’t need to be doing more than 3 to 4 hours of concentrated work a day. According to productivity expert Oliver Burkeman, this cap on daily working hours is what great minds like Thomas Jefferson, Virginia Woolf, and Charles Dickens did. And really, if it’s good enough for Dickens, isn’t it good enough for all of us?

• 😻 Photographer Tim Flach is known for giving animals the royal treatment when it comes to portraits fit for a king. After publishing books that honor birds, dogs, and endangered species, he’s turned his focus on cats. Felines is filled with 170 photographs that highlight the beauty, wonder, and dignity of these beloved animals.

• 👨‍🎤 David Bowie lovers are booking their tickets to London now that his complete archive, which comprises a whopping 90,000 pieces of art, costumes, handwritten notes, and other ephemera, has opened at the Victoria & Albert Museum. The David Bowie Centre is the centerpiece of the museum’s expanded storehouse facility and will surely draw fans seeking the opportunity to get close to Bowie’s creative mind.

• 😀 A new study investigates which U.S. states have the happiest people by looking at everything from income growth to activity levels. Number one is Hawaii, and really, is anyone surprised? We probably could have told you that without the data analysis. But seriously, it’s worth a look to see where your state falls and then ask yourself, do you even agree with what they claim is a predictor of happiness?

• ☎️ Need life advice? Now there’s a hotline you can call to get advice from seniors. What originally started off as a way for two artists-in-residence at a care facility (Natalie Baird and Toby Gillies) to record stories told by residents and gift them back to them and their family members has now become the Miserecordia Place Life Advice Line. Recorded clips of the senior residents telling stories and sharing advice can be accessed by calling 204-788-8060.

• 📺 We know to “expect the unexpected” on Big Brother but we did NOT expect this! The legendary Rachel Reilly was eliminated in a shocking twist (without ever being nominated or voted out, mind you) and ratings for Big Brother have plummeted since her untimely departure. Even former contestant (and fan favorite) Janelle Pierzina, who keeps up with the program via live feeds, immediately tweeted, “Not worth watching anymore.” A few days later, when the episode of Rachel’s demise finally aired, she accurately tweeted, “Well those ratings better grab a life vest. They are gonna need it.”

• 🎭 It looks like SNL’s cast shake-up isn’t quite done yet. Ego Nwodim announced that she won’t be returning for the new season on October 4. She was on the show for 7 seasons and decided to bow out on a high. With her exit, there’s one glaring issue: there are no Black women left on the cast. In the history of SNL, there have only been 8 Black women, many of them in recent seasons. Will it really enter Season 51 with none?

• 🌹 Two reality TV worlds will collide as Taylor Frankie Paul from The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives will be looking for love and handing out roses on Season 22 of The Bachelorette. Interestingly, Paul says her suitor doesn’t necessarily have to be Mormon.

• 🎵 Five countries have threatened to pull out of Eurovision if Israel isn’t removed. The five nations (Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Spain) are considering this boycott because of Israel’s actions in Gaza. Finland is also considering their participation. While the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) hasn’t announced any changes as of yet, they maintain that Eurovision “has never been about politics.” However, Russia was banned from competing back in 2022 after its invasion of Ukraine. Whether the EBU will enforce similar measures is yet to be seen.

• 🖼️ People love to argue over how to pronounce GIF, but now there’s a new argument brewing — are GIFs fine art? GIPHY, in collaboration with the Museum of Modern GIFs (MoMG), has launched the GIPHY Gallery. This digital archive of 229 images features work from over 75 artists. A pop-up show also took place for one night only in New York City.

• 🦍 In anticipation of the 25th anniversary of Gorillaz’s debut album, the beloved band has relaunched its Flash game site, Kong Studios. Fans from the late 90s and early aughts are treated to a healthy dose of nostalgia, but with some palatable updates.

• 🍄 He’s-a back! In a teaser for the upcoming Super Mario movie, the title has been revealed: The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. There isn’t much info about this sequel just yet, but given the Super Mario Galaxy video game, it’s bound to take a trip to space and include more Lumas.