development of rice noodle like glue for historical paintings puts art conservators fears to rest

Art conservators faced a crisis after two key ingredients for Beva 371, a glue used to line historical canvases, were discontinued—first the resin Laropal K-80 in 2005 and then the tackifier Cellolyn 21E in 2020. Researchers from the University of Akron and New York University's Conservation Center, funded by a Getty Foundation grant, developed a new version called Beva 371 Akron. The adhesive is less toxic, less vulnerable to supply-chain issues, and available in three forms: a pre-mixed heat-seal variant, solid spaghetti-like pellets for easy transport, and a solvent-free pure adhesive.

king tut tomb clay troughs awakening osiris

A new study by Nicholas Brown, a postdoctoral fellow at Yale University, challenges the long-held interpretation of four clay troughs found in Tutankhamun's tomb. Discovered by Howard Carter in 1922, the troughs were previously dismissed as stands for gilded wooden staffs. Brown argues that the troughs' small bases could not have supported the staffs, and instead proposes they were used in the "Awakening of Osiris" ritual, holding libations of water for purification and rejuvenation in the afterlife. The study draws on material symbolism, including the Nile mud composition and the reed mats they rested on, to support this reinterpretation.

border patrol anish kapoor bean photo

British artist Anish Kapoor's iconic sculpture *Cloud Gate* (2006), known as "the Bean," in Chicago's Millennium Park became the site of a controversial photo op on Monday, when dozens of U.S. Border Patrol agents, led by chief Gregory Bovino, gathered in front of the 110-ton piece just after dawn. The agents, armed and in fatigues, reportedly shouted "Little Village"—a predominantly Mexican American neighborhood where Border Patrol had deployed tear gas in a raid over the weekend—instead of "cheese" for the photo. Local officials, including Chicago governor J.B. Pritzker and alderman Mike Rodriguez, condemned the action, and Kapoor himself expressed horror, likening the agents to "SS Nazi troops" and calling the incident a "fascist battle cry of intimidation." Chicago artist Michael Rakowitz also denounced the shoot as a "horrible invasion and occupation."

Open Call | Tokyo Contemporary Art Award 2026-2028

公募｜Tokyo Contemporary Art Award 2026-2028

The Tokyo Contemporary Art Award (TCAA) 2026-2028 has opened applications starting June 9, 2025, targeting mid-career artists with international ambitions. Organized by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and Tokyo Arts and Space (Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture / Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo), the award offers a 3 million yen prize, up to 2 million yen for overseas activities, an exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, and monograph production. Two winners will be selected through a combination of nominations and open call, with new jurors Joselina Cruz (Director and Curator, MCAD Manila) and Kenichi Kondo (Senior Curator, Mori Art Museum) joining the panel.