Artist's Planned Charlie Kirk Statue Draws Online Backlash

Sculptor Sergio Furnari from New York City is encountering severe backlash online due to his intention to reveal a memorial sculpture honoring slain right-wing podcaster Charlie Kirk in Times Square. Many have inundated Furnari's Instagram with trolling comments and threats regarding the memorial, which is set to be unveiled on September 10, coinciding with the first anniversary of Kirk's assassination. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has drastically decreased the size of two national monuments in Utah, reducing them by 90% to facilitate energy development in the region. Additionally, three artifacts from the Metropolitan Museum of Art are being returned to Mexico. The Institute for Contemporary Art at VCU is showcasing "Deo Vindice," an immersive installation that merges Greek mythology with Civil War history to address themes of white supremacy. A British docudrama aims to offer new insights into Caravaggio's life, although critics caution about its depiction of the Baroque artist's character. Pat Oleszko has been awarded the $100K Whitney Biennial Prize (Bucksbaum Award). Required Reading includes topics such as Chitra Ganesh's futuristic myths, optimism in André Breton's work, Florida's mermaids, a Palestinian digital archive, and racism in Argentina, among others.