Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Betye Saar on a life of confronting racism through art
LA artist Betye Saar creates art out of objects she finds at flea markets and junk stores. In 1972, she made her name with “The Liberation of Aunt Jemima,” in which she reconfigured a mammy figurine to hold a broom in one hand and a shotgun in the other. Now she has a new exhibition at the Craft and Folk Art Museum in LA.
By Madeleine Brand • • 52m ListenPhoto: Betye Saar at the Craft and Folk Art Museum in LA. (Photo by Gina Pollack)
In this episode
5 storiesRussian meddling probe now includes Trump's banking activities
Special Counsel Robert Mueller has expanded his Russian meddling inquiry to include years of President Trump’s banking transactions, Bloomberg reports today. Trump’s longtime and most supportive lender -- Deutsche Bank -- is facing new scrutiny over its loans to Trump. The bank may soon be involved in Mueller’s investigation.
Read the story10 minCalifornia GOP congressman is in middle of his own Russia scandal
Rep. Dana Rohrabacher of Huntington Beach, who has long held pro-Russian positions, is under scrutiny for his efforts to discredit a leading advocate of U.S. sanctions on Russia. A member of Rohrabacher’s staff has been removed from his role at the Subcommittee on Foreign Affairs Rohrabacher chairs.
Read the story9 minHow the feds could seize suspects' property even before they're accused of a crime
Jeff Sessions is restarting part of the federal program called civil asset forfeiture. When law enforcement finds reason to believe that some cash, a house, or other valuable asset has been used in illegal activities, they seize it, and it becomes government property.
Read the story7 minAt 90, Betye Saar still makes political art about race in America
Betye Saar creates art out of objects she finds at flea markets and junk stores. In 1972 she made her name with a piece called “The Liberation of Aunt Jemima,” in which she reconfigured a mammy figurine to hold a broom in one hand and a shotgun in the other. Now she has a new exhibition called “Keepin’ It Clean” at the Craft and Folk Art Museum in LA. Betye Saar at the Craft and Folk Art Museum in LA (Photo by Gina Pollack) Saar says this white christening dress symbolizes the loss of innocence. It has words stitched to the bottom-- racist slurs for black children. (Credit: Craft and Folk Art Museum) Saar's "The Liberation of Aunt Jemima," 1972. (Credit: Collection of the Berkeley Art Museum)
Read the story16 minWhy free payment apps like Venmo are really not-so-free
The free peer-to-peer payment app Venmo has a social element that other similar apps don’t have. How secure is your personal data and the money you send. How does Venmo make money, anyway? Also, the Dept. of Justice announced today that the black market site AlphaBay has been busted up. Finally, Apple announced new emoji this week.
Read the story8 min
