PBS News Hour - Art Beat

A giant in the music and entertainment industry has died. Quincy Jones, known to many as 'Q,' was revered as a record producer, songwriter, composer, arranger and performer through his seven decades in the business. Through his vast range of projects, he racked up 80 Grammy nominations and 28 wins. Jeffrey Brown looks back on Jones' life and career for our arts and culture series, CANVAS. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

During the final days of this tense election, we take a look at a project fostering a different type of civic space to encourage young people to discuss issues, engage each other and vote. Jeffrey Brown visited the University of Michigan to see how this works. It's part of our series, Art in Action, exploring the intersection of art and democracy and for our arts and culture coverage, CANVAS. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

With the election days away, there is no shortage of reflections on American politics and democracy. Photographer Paul Shambroom has a unique view. His "Purpletown" project uses photos to examine the cities and towns most evenly divided politically. We spoke with Shambroom for our series, Art in Action, exploring the intersection of art and democracy and for our arts and culture coverage, CANVAS. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Palestinian poet, teacher and writer Mosab Abu Toha was born in a refugee camp in the Gaza Strip. That's where many of the pieces in his new collection, "Forest of Noise," were written, tapped out on his phone amidst the chaos and uncertainty of war. Amna Nawaz sat down with him at the Museum of the Palestinian People in Washington, D.C., for our arts and culture series, CANVAS. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Mitch McConnell is the longest-serving Senate leader in history and set to step down from that position next month. Over nearly two decades, he has become one of the most consequential and powerful senators in history. Geoff Bennett sat down with Michael Tackett, author of "The Price of Power: How Mitch McConnell Mastered the Senate, Changed America and Lost His Party." PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

From JFK's assassination to the Son of Sam, Jimmy Breslin covered major events of the 20th century as a columnist for the New York Daily News. His plainspoken approach captured the country's attention, offering readers a poetic, and blunt, perspective on the issues that mattered most. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Richard Esposito, author of "Jimmy Breslin: The Man Who Told the Truth." PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Detroit has been in the headlines during this campaign with Donald Trump comparing the city to "a developing nation." But Detroit is also known for its creativity. One couple is using the arts to transform an entire neighborhood, emphasizing possibility. Special correspondent Megan Thompson visited "Little Village" to see its big plans. It's part of our arts and culture series, CANVAS. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

"For Dear Life" is the first exhibition to survey the themes of illness and disability in American art from the mid-20th century to the COVID pandemic. It's part of PST Art, an enormous collaboration of Southern California arts institutions around the theme of art and science. Senior arts correspondent Jeffrey Brown visited the exhibition for our arts and culture series, CANVAS. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

The ongoing war in Ukraine has impacted tens of millions of people, including Russians who have Ukrainian relatives. A Russian artist's life took a dramatic turn after the war broke out in 2022. Special correspondent Cat Wise reports for our arts and culture series, CANVAS. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Pharrell Williams is a hitmaker for himself and a string of other stars. Now his story is being told on film with Lego bricks. It's certainly not your usual approach to documentary filmmaking, but it's the latest from one of today's leading documentary filmmakers, Morgan Neville. Jeffrey Brown discussed more with Neville for our arts and culture series, CANVAS. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders