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A street in Washington, D.C., where the acclaimed 20th-century painter Alma Thomas lived and worked for over seven decades was renamed "Alma Thomas Way" on Monday. The new signs now mark the block between 15th and Church streets and 15th and Q streets, near the red brick home at 1530 15th Street, NW, where Thomas maintained a studio in her kitchen. The renaming follows a bill introduced by D.C. council member Christina Henderson in May 2024, approved unanimously by the council, and signed into law by Mayor Muriel Bowser in October. A ceremony with about 30 attendees, including Thomas's grand nephew Charles Thomas Lewis and Susan Talley of the Friends of Alma Thomas group, commemorated the event.

Washington, DC street renamed ‘Alma Thomas Way’ in honour of renowned abstract painter

A block of 15th Street NW in Washington, DC, where renowned abstract painter Alma Thomas (1891-1978) lived for most of her life, has been renamed “Alma Thomas Way.” The street signs now stand at the corners of 15th and Church streets and 15th and Q streets, bookending the house at 1530 15th Street NW that her parents purchased in 1907. The renaming follows a bill introduced by District Councilmembers Christina Henderson and Brooke Pinto, who led a ceremony to honor the artist. Henderson stated the goal is to “elevate and introduce local heroes to folks for the next generation.”

Patarei Prison Could Become Museum

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Estonia’s Minister of Justice, Urmas Reinsalu, has proposed transforming the historic Patarei Prison in Tallinn into an international museum and research center dedicated to the crimes of communism. The sprawling 10-acre seaside complex, which served as a site of political incarceration under Soviet rule until 2002, remains largely unrestored, containing haunting remnants such as surgical tools and tattered bunk beds. The proposal has gained significant diplomatic traction, receiving formal support from representatives of eight EU member states during a recent meeting in the Estonian capital.

Art, research, and Night at the Museum: The flourishing partnership between UC Santa Cruz Humanities and the Museum of Art and History - UC Santa Cruz

UC Santa Cruz Humanities and the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History (MAH) have deepened their decade-long partnership, marked by the MAH's 30th anniversary in April 2025. The collaboration includes co-sponsored exhibitions like "This is Thirty" and the ongoing "Night at the Museum" public event series, which brings scholars, artists, and community members together for free panel discussions and exhibits. Notable past projects include the 2016 Kinsey African American Art & History Collection exhibition and the 2023 California premiere of "Resettlement: Chicago Story."