Cultured Magazine

FRANKLIN SIRMANS Museum Director Franklin Sirmans is the director of the Pérez Art Museum Miami and sat down with Christo in advance of PAMM's exhibition documenting the artist's 1983 installation Surrounded Islands. "He's optimistic about the power of art to unite, but he's also clear about humanity and its many flaws," says Sirmans of the legendary artist. "He speaks with an urgency that gives faith to the idea that art can at least bring us to the table to talk about change." 48 culturedmag.com Contributors ISABEL FLOWER Writer New York-based Isabel Flower was formerly an associate editor at Artforum magazine and is currently a writer for the experience design agency Elephant, as well as cohost of the Top Rank podcast. She covered No Sesso for this issue and wishes she could attend one of Pierre's embroider y workshops, where the designer shows how the house's clothes are made. JESSICA LYNNE Critic Jessica Lynne is a writer, critic and co-founder of ARTS.BLACK, a journal of art criticism from Black perspectives. She met with Leslie Hewitt in late July to discuss some of Hewitt's recent projects, the artist's relationship to photography, sculpture, time and memor y, and their shared love of Toni Morrison. TED LOOS Writer In this issue, Ted Loos, a contributing Cultured editor since 2012 who frequently writes for the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, interviews collectors Mitch and Emily Rales and artist Liza Lou. "Given that Lou's show is opening a half-block from my apartment, I was interested to hear about her work with glass and her commitment to social practice." © 2013 MUSEUM ASSOCIATES/LACMA (SIRMANS); PHOTO BY MARCEL ROSA-SALAS (FLOWER); JANET LOOS (LOOS); TAYLOR ALDRIDGE (LYNNE)

• Cover