How The Late 80s Changed NYC; Artist Joyce McDonald; First Day Of School Calls; New Doc About Psych Rock Group T. Rex
A new book from Jonathan Mahler posits that the years from 1986 to 1990 were some of the most important, and tumultuous, in New York City history. Mahler discusses the book, The Gods of New York: Egotists, Idealists, Opportunists, and the Birth of the Modern City: 1986-1990.
Artist Joyce McDonald was born in 1951 and raised in Brooklyn's Farragut Houses. But she didn't start pursuing art until the 1990s, after being introduced to sculpture in an art therapy program while recovering from drug addiction. McDonald, who was also diagnosed with HIV in 1985, found that art gave her a way to express herself, and honed her craft with Visual AIDS, which supports artists living with HIV. Her ceramic pieces and archival materials are the subject of a new exhibit at the Bronx Museum, 'Ministry: Reverend Joyce McDonald,' on view through January 11. McDonald discusses her life and art, and why she decided to become a minister at the Church of the Open Door.
WNYC education reporter Jessica Gould talks about some of the issues facing schools this year, including the cell phone ban, AI in the classroom and other 'first day of school' topics.
A new documentary celebrates the music of Marc Bolan and T. Rex through archival footage and reinterpretations from musicians like U2, Lucinda Williams, and Father John Misty. Director Ethan Silverman and producer and longtime rock manager Bill Curbishley join us to discuss and take listeners' calls. "Angelheaded Hipster: The Songs of Marc Bolan & T. Rex" will be available to stream this Friday.
