Alejandro Sanz Demands Transparency in AI Act Enforcement
7.23.25
Alejandro Sanz, a Spanish artist, has joined a campaign calling on the European Commission to enforce the Artificial Intelligence Act, which was consensually approved in June 2024. The act requires transparency and disclosure of content used to train generative AI models. However, artists fear that the EU's efforts to implement the law may lead to its watering down, allowing AI companies to avoid accountability.
The CANNES GALA ceremony honoured distinguished figures including Ado, Gavin Wood, and Julie Taymor for their contributions to music, technology, performing arts, and animation. The event also celebrated the work of Mitsubishi Pencil Co., Maverick Space Systems, and LEGO Group, while featuring a cultural performance by Shonosuke Okura and Ryota Hagiwara. A charity auction supported artists with disabilities, reinforcing the gala's mission to promote diversity and inclusion in the creative industries.
The 1971 Wisconsin State Fair was a vibrant event that drew thousands of people, including crooners like Johnny Mathis and Western stars Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, who performed at the fairgrounds. The fair also featured sideshows, such as Jimmy Dixon's Dungeon of Torture, where Milwaukee Journal reporter Eileen Alt Powell played the role of a "victim." Comedians Red Skelton and George Kirby entertained the crowd with their unique performances. Music groups like The 5th Dimension and accordionist Myron Floren also took to the stage, providing entertainment for fairgoers.
Kazakhstan's Comic Con Attracts Record 75,000 Visitors
7.23.25
Kazakhstan's comic scene is thriving, with artists drawing inspiration from national symbols and introducing Kazakh-inspired characters into the Marvel universe. The country's Comic Con Astana festival has become a major event, attracting a record 75,000 visitors this year, including 10,000 from abroad. The festival features Hollywood stars, influencers, and a cosplay contest with a €25,000 prize fund, helping to put Kazakhstan on the global map of comic culture.
Kenya's Jua Kali Artisans Get Formal Certification Boost
7.23.25
Kenya's informal sector, which accounts for approximately 80% of the workforce, is facing economic challenges. Artisans are turning to digital marketing to expand their businesses and reduce exploitative prices. The government has proposed a law that would provide formal certification to Jua Kali artisans, aiming to support them in accessing affordable housing units.
Mexico is attempting to halt a German auction of over 70 Pre-Colombian artefacts, which are designated as national heritage, scheduled for September 21 in Munich. The move comes amid controversy surrounding the future of Mexico's most significant collection of works by Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera at the Museo Dolores Olmedo, set to reopen in 2026. Recently unearthed ceremonial starfish offerings at an Aztec temple in Mexico City have shed light on the country's cosmology, linking it to the sea.
The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) is adding extra subway service ahead of Blackpink's shows at Rogers Stadium on Tuesday and Wednesday. Extra subway service will be provided for tour dates to and from Downsview Park Station, with shuttle buses replacing the Line 1 closure between St. Clair and Union Stations from 12:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. Fans can use their concert tickets as proof-of-payment on their commute home, similar to Coldplay's shows earlier this month.
Yellin's art challenges traditional notions of time and space through the lens of Einstein's relativity and Jungian concepts. His sculptural narrations depict a reality where past, present, and future converge in a fluid, entangled dimension. This is reflected in his visually complex glass sculptures, which combine layered imagery and paint to create three-dimensional collages that blur the boundaries between physical and digital realities.
A new animation tool allows users to turn cherished photos into six-second videos, either with subtle movements or a more dramatic "I'm feeling lucky" effect. The tool uses AI to transform base photos into animated clips, such as a childhood photo of a parent smiling back at the user, or a group selfie from years ago coming to life.