Puerto Rico’s El Yunque National Forest has unveiled the reconstructed El Portal visitor’s center, a $18 million project designed by Marvel Architects to withstand future climate disasters. Following the devastation of Hurricanes Maria and Irma, the new facility features elevated structures, advanced stormwater management, and solar capabilities, serving as both a sustainable tourism hub and an emergency command post.
Chicago-based collectors Mamadou-Abou and Catherine Sarr discuss their art collection, which spans works from West Africa, France, and the U.S., in an interview with Cultured. The couple, an investor and a jewelry designer, share how their collection began with Mamadou-Abou's discovery of contemporary African photography and emphasize a patient, conviction-driven approach to acquiring art. They also detail the SARR Prize, an initiative supporting emerging France-based artists with cash awards and a residency at Villa Albertine in Chicago.
The WaterFire Arts Center in Providence, Rhode Island, is launching two large-scale summer exhibitions in its 15,000-square-foot Main Hall. From June 9–12, artist Yuval Gur presents "RIFT: A Sonic Environment for Multi-Timescale Listening," an immersive sound installation using environmental recordings from Iceland that transforms sound into a physical, felt experience. From July 2 through August 30, the group show "America, Unfinished?!" features artists from Rhode Island and across the country, selected via open call, exploring themes of labor, migration, memory, and civic life through interactive installations and mixed media, with live performances on Thursday evenings.