- What the actual fuck, America? Whenever I think Donald Trump and the Republicans couldn’t possibly get any worse, they pull some even crazier shit like this insane immigrant ban. It’s been surreal watching the American news from a distance, like some terrible disaster movie, but really inspiring to scroll through Instagram and see 7/10 of my friends’ posts be of protests at airports. [Instagram]
- Related: the Metropolitan Police Department still hasn’t released a list of what weapons were used against inauguration protesters. There are numerous reports of militarized riot police using chemical agents and other crowd-suppression devices (and some crazy videos). [City Paper]
- Artists, filmmakers, and cultural institutions are totally confused and/or outraged by Trump’s draconian visa ban. In the arts, the travel restrictions mean curators can no longer collaborate internationally, actors and directors are unable to attend screenings, awards shows, or performances, and some artists are “trapped” in the US. This is so, so stupid and terrible. [The New York Times]
- Meanwhile, the ACLU has filed a suit on behalf of green card holders being illegally detained at airports. A judge has ruled that they cannot be deported. Artist Emily Flake is giving away drawings to people who donate $50 to the ACLU. [Instagram]
- Here’s a free ebook about the history, strategies, and ethics of urban protests, including what design professionals can do to resist the administration. [Next City]
- A guide for convincing non-believers that the NEA should still receive funding. Basically, it’s one of the most “efficient” government programs from a cost/benefit point of view. [Paste Magazine]
- From musicians losing health care to institutions losing funding, pretty much the entire cultural sector is freaking out about the fact that Donald Trump is the worst president ever. [The Guardian]
- The shortlist for the artist/architect teams competing to design the UK’s Holocaust Memorial is predictably star studded. A lot of these designs are elegant, but in the way a really nice parking garage is. I think I like the Anish Kapoor and Zaha Hadid Architects proposal the best. [Dezeen]
- This video documenting street artist KAWS’ new virtual reality project at the New York Public Library is the goofiest thing I have ever seen. We basically have no idea what the actual work looks like, but the opening pretty much looked like a trailer for Zoolander 3. [artnet News]