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Articles by MJ Rivera
A New Way to Look at Roy Lichtenstein at the Whitney
With over 130 Lichtenstein works, the Whitney explores the process behind his iconic imagery and the evolution of his artistic practice beyond pop art fame. Lichtenstein’s early training in Hoyt Sherman’s Flash Lab shaped his approach to visual perception, which the exhibition explores alongside his wartime imagery and new works included by curator Alex Da Corte.
10 Radiant Summer Paintings by Vincent van Gogh
The Harvest portrays a sun-drenched Provençal harvest, with bold yellows, whites, and blues making the heat almost palpable. Drawing from Millet’s The Sower, Van Gogh turns the sower’s work into a radiating vision of nature’s life cycle. Seascape near Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer captures the Mediterranean’s changing colors through vivid contrasts and thick, dynamic brushwork. Sunflowers became Van Gogh’s signature motif, with vibrant blooms symbolizing nature and friendship.
Love Life! Remembering David Hockney in 10 Artworks
The story of the late David Hockney, one of the most iconic contemporary painters, told through 10 artworks: We Two Boys Together Clinging uses a Walt Whitman cipher to cloak gay intimacy at a time when homosexuality was illegal in Britain. A Bigger Splash fixed the image of Southern California, and the pool that became Hockney’s signature. Mr and Mrs Clark and Percy—subverts traditional marriage conventions within this series of double portraits.
How the Brooklyn Books of the Dead Were Brought Back to Life
African Art What kind of measures do you take when the stakes are real? When you have to get it right the first time? You can’t improvise. You triple-check, run through every detail, make sure you have exactly what you need. Put that level of preparation into a situation where the outcome depends on what you say and how you say it, maybe in a courtroom or a career-changing interview. One wrong response can change everything. Now up the ante. Not a case. Not a job. The fate of your immortal soul.
Andy Warhol in 10 Artworks: A Pride Month Look at Pop Art’s Queer Icon
Any list of 10 famous works by Warhol has to start with Campbell’s Soup Cans, where repetition became an artistic method. Marilyn Diptych—the publicity image of Marilyn Monroe that Warhol turned into an iconic representation of the cost of fame. Ethel Scull 36 Times—the portrait that made Ethel Scull world famous for certainly more than 15 minutes. Mustard Race Riot is one of Warhol’s most politically charged images, which continues to challenge viewers today.
New York Art Week 2026: 12 Highlights from NYC’s Spring Art Frenzy
Lady Gaga, Beyoncé, and a dress made out of living microorganisms make an appearance. Old colonial systems challenged in a Monet-like composition. Check out some delectable Bad Fruits. Felipe Baeza presents a window to the soul. Arte Povera icon Giuseppe Penone going strong at 80. Way before Bad Bunny there was Sophie Rivera. Vaughn Spann flies the flag for (All) Americans. A Filipino artist channels Hieronymus Bosch. A preview of the Hammershøi 2027 show. Frieze highlights Latin American art.
Fashion Is Art: 13 Beautiful Dresses in Art History
Fashion min Read European Art Contemporary Art “Who Wore What” has fascinated artists for centuries because few things convey status, identity, and history as effectively as fashion. Painting dresses was often where artists showed off. And even though not every showstopper on this list is technically a dress, here are 13 of the most beautiful ones ever depicted on canvas—best dressed is your call! 1.
The Original Influencer: Raphael at the Met
Review min Read European Art Animals Any content creator entering the exhibition Raphael: Sublime Poetry might feel a twinge of FOMO at the opening wall text-the Metropolitan Museum of Art describes the “Prince of Painters” as “one of the greatest influencers of all time.” The Met is translating a familiar Old Master premise into contemporary language: Raphael was not just widely admired, but an artist who shaped taste to the point of defining what counted as “good” painting for centuries.
13 Hidden Gems at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
13 hidden gems as an entry point to explore the Met on your own! Gallery 165 offers one of the most immersive experiences of Roman Second Style frescoes from near Pompeii. The New York Diptych in Gallery 605 shows one of the most gruesome depictions of the afterlife by Van Eyck. Gallery 620 presents two of the seven authenticated Caravaggios in American museum collections. Gallery 619 holds one of the earliest standalone cityscapes in Western art.
Ultimate Guide to Spring 2026 Exhibitions
News min Read Contemporary Art European Art At DailyArt Magazine, we have assembled a carefully curated list of 10 must-see exhibitions across Europe and the United States this spring, from Chinese artist Cao Fei at Fondazione Prada in Milan to the Sublime Poetry of Raphael at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. If you manage even one of these 10 exhibitions on your bingo card, that alone is something special! 1.
10 Van Gogh Paintings to Celebrate Spring
Spring blossoms held a special power for Vincent van Gogh and inspired paintings of remarkable beauty, often concealing the difficulties he faced while creating them. His career as an artist, although lasting barely a decade before his tragic death, produced an extraordinary body of work. Spring may be an overused symbol of renewal, but it endures for a reason.
Must-see paintings and hidden gems at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York
15 famous masterpieces of Western art to see at the Metropolitan Museum of Art: Duccio’s rare painting blends Byzantine influences with early Renaissance naturalism. The painting’s original frame reflects its past as a private devotional piece. Raphael’s Colonna Altarpiece marks his shift from Perugino’s style to the innovations of the Florentine Renaissance. It is now the only large altarpiece by the artist in the Americas.
Not Your Average Portrait Show in New York—Gainsborough: The Fashion of Portraiture at the Frick
Review min Read European Art European Art Thomas Gainsborough assembled a veritable army of portraits of “the great and the good” in Georgian Britain. And the new exhibition at the Frick Collection presents his grand manner portraiture at its most dazzling. Duchesses and countesses, earls and dukes, were all portrayed as living embodiments of social rank. Many of the loans appear in New York for the first time, emphasizing their rarity and significance; some making their public debut.
Student fashion designs are about to hit the runway in ‘Opulence’
Student designers in the apparel, textile and merchandising (ATM) program will be showcasing their looks in this year’s fashion show titled “Opulence” on June 3 in the Milo Smith Tower Theater in McConnell Hall. Andrea Eklund, professor in the ATM major and director of the fashion show, said, “There [are] the students who, starting at the beginning of the quarter, look for models, get their measurements [and] create all the designs.
Student fashion designs set to hit the runway in ‘Opulence’ show
Student designers in the apparel, textile and merchandising (ATM) program will be showcasing their looks in this year’s fashion show titled “Opulence” on June 3 in the Milo Smith Tower Theater in McConnell Hall. Andrea Eklund, professor in the ATM major and director of the fashion show, said, “There [are] the students who, starting at the beginning of the quarter, look for models, get their measurements, create all the designs.
The decline of local newspapers: How journalism is affected
Local newspapers are becoming few and far between. Mike Gallagher worked at Ellensburg’s local newspaper, The Daily Record, for 25 years as a reporter and managing editor. He said journalism is different now than it was when he first started. “When newspapers first started, they made a lot of money- most newspapers came to 30% profit margins,” Gallagher said.
Ellensburg’s history has some interesting and scary stories
You already know Ellensburg is a small town and home to CWU, but do you know the history of the buildings you see around town? Inspired by the upcoming historic pub crawl, I wanted to share a few stories from Ellensburg’s past that you likely haven’t been told, including one about murder.
How bedroom pop has given young musicians a more personalized way to make it big
The term “bedroom pop” emerged in the mid 2010s and refers to music that can be made from the comfort of someone’s bedroom, using computer programs that anyone can learn.
Doctor panelists and community members weigh the role of medication in addiction treatment
Friendly chatter, free food and educational discussions created a welcoming atmosphere as attendees walked in the Hal Holmes Community Center for the Doctors Talk Addiction seminar on April 28. Hosted by Merit Resources, the seminar was the second part of the “Let’s Talk Addiction” series first launched in September, Recovery Month, in 2020.
Girl power at Girls Night Out: Highlighting women-owned businesses and togetherness
A warm breeze blew through the downtown streets of Ellensburg as local businesses filled with people participating in the girls night out event. The event took place on April 27 from 5 to 9 p.m. in downtown Ellensburg. Free snacks and drinks were on display at the EDA as participants trickled in to collect bingo cards and maps of participating businesses. The first 40 people to check in received $10 vouchers they could use at any of the businesses.
Plants to Plates event aims to educate people about the relationship between humans, tools and food
MJ Rivera, Scene Editor The CWU Biology greenhouse and Museum of Culture and Environment drew connections between humans, tools, food and sustainable eating at the Plants to Plates event on April 22. Linnea Stavney, the manager of the greenhouse and vivarium, where CWU students research plants and reptiles through the Biology Department, said that the Plants to Plates event is a first of its kind. “This is a one-of-a-kind event,” Stavney said.
Having pets in college: CWU community members share stories
Life as a college student can be busy, but for those who love animals, having a pet in college is worth the extra responsibility. Archie, a kitten just a few days old, was found left outside in the yard of junior elementary education major Emily Linden’s grandmother. Linded took him in in the summer of 2022 and has spent every day with him since to help him grow up healthy.
Bringing art and communication together with “Roote Wordes”
Seattle-based artist and sculpter Rob Rhee sat down with CWU’s writing curriculum coordinator and lecturer Matt Martinson at the front of a packed room in Randall Hall on April 6 to discuss his exhibit in the Sarah Spurgeon Art Gallery, “Roote Wordes.” Appreciation for the land CWU resides on was expressed, along with a brief history about the land and the people who lived here before colonialism.
Trying to lose weight in college while caught between diet culture and body positivity, difficult but not impossible
A sweet old therapist of mine told me how damaging diet culture is for people, especially for women in college like myself. According to the Jan. 2022 issue of the Women’s Studies International Forum, diet culture is a term that is “often used by those within the broad anti-diet movement to critique the pervasiveness of dieting norms and practices,” according to sciencedirect.com.
Ramadan dinner photo spread
MJ Rivera and Yohanes Goodell April 5, 2023 Leave a Comment
Continuing a legacy at CWU: Keith Karns, the new director of jazz
From a lifestyle of traveling and playing jazz all hours of the day and night, to igniting a passion for jazz in CWU students full-time, Keith Karns is finishing out his first year as the new director of jazz. Originally a trumpeter, Karns gained experience performing and teaching to prepare him for the legacy he will continue at CWU.
El evento Fresh Check Day nos recuerda que la salud mental es importante
Con abundancia de pizza gratuita y juegos recreativos, el evento anual Fresh Check Day en CWU sirvió para recordarnos sobre la importancia que tiene la salud mental, así como sobre los recursos disponibles para los alumnos del campus universitario. El evento de este año fue patrocinado por el Centro de Bienestar y tuvo lugar el 9 de febrero en el SURC. El evento Fresh Check Day es una iniciativa que fue creada por la fundación Jordan Porco.
Ellensburg volunteer fair showcases various opportunities for students
The Pine Street event center was packed with CWU students, community members and over 25 local organizations and nonprofit groups for the Ellensburg Downtown Association’s volunteer fair on March 2. There was a wide variety of volunteer opportunities, such as community events, work in the arts and work in nature.
Paralympic competitor, veteran Melissa Stockwell shares story at CWU
Melissa Stockwell is an American veteran who fought in Iraq and competed in three paralympic games, according to her website melissastockwell.com, and she gave a speech at CWU on Feb. 22 in the SURC ballroom at 6 p.m. “After being deployed to Iraq in 2004, she became the first female American soldier to lose a limb in active combat, when her vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb. She was honored with a purple heart and a bronze star,” according to her website.
Valentine’s Day Soireé
Students of CWU played games, ate brownies and got to know each other at the Valentine’s Day Soireé in the SURC Ballroom on Feb. 14. Freshman graphic design major Zoë Armstrong was playing a cup-pong game when she said that her ideal Valentine’s Day would be spent just hanging out with her friends. According to Armstrong, Valentine’s Day is about “showing your love and appreciation for each other.
Valentine’s Day is the best holiday
Valentine’s day is the best holiday because every type of love is worth celebrating. Pope Galasius declared Feb. 14 as Valentine’s Day near the end of the 5th century. The first Valentine’s note was a poem written from the Duke of Orleans to his wife after he had been captured in war in 1450, according to History.com .
Fresh Check Day reminds us of the importance of mental health
With an abundance of fun games and free pizza, CWU’s annual Fresh Check Day served as a reminder of the importance of mental health and the many resources available for students on campus. This year’s event was hosted by the Wellness Center and took place on Feb. 9 in the SURC. Fresh Check Day is an initiative created by the Jordan Porco foundation.
The hidden misogyny behind “not like other girls”
Most women have had a time in their life when they thought to themselves, “I’m not like other girls,” because they chose an alternative, better way of living that doesn’t involve so much pink lip gloss. If this is you, you might not realize that you’re lifting yourself up by putting other women down. We all have individuality in common.
Concert livens up the Bistro with jazz
Jazz music filled the 1891 Bistro as CWU's jazz bands returned under the direction of Dr. Keith Karns. Jazz bands I, II and III performed a mix of ballads and uptempo jazz standards for students and community members on Feb. 1. Student musicians Isaac Hurtado, a senior music major who has been playing the trombone...
Sap in their Veins: stories of logging told by David Bayles
MJ Rivera, Staff Reporter Oral History with David Bayles The Museum of Culture and Environment (MCE) invited photographer David Bayles to showcase his exhibit titled “Sap in their Veins” from Jan. 26 through March 11. Bayles gave a presentation about the impact of his exhibit, where he told the stories of the loggers and trees that comprise this collection. Amidst a divide between environmentalists and loggers in the 1980s, Bayles set out to shed light on the side that he spent so much time with.
New waves spreading downtown: Nuwave Gallery and Fortuity Cellars open doors on 3rd
Nuwave Students and community members looking for a place to sip wine, admire art and get their creative sparks flying need look no further than Nuwave Gallery and Fortuity Cellars on the corner of 3rd Ave. and Main Street. The location held its grand opening during the weekend of Jan. 13 – 15. According to gallery owner, curator and featured artist Erin Oostra “new wave” is a movement or trend within the arts specifically.
“Veganuary” in the ‘Burg: how to participate
MJ Rivera, Staff Reporter “Veganuary” is a movement that was created to inspire people to try a vegan diet during the month of January according to the official website veganuary.com. Veganism is a lifestyle that omits consumption or use of any animal product. People choose to be vegan because of the health, environmental, and financial benefits.
Chapped Lips: what’s the cure?
I know there’s not actually a cure for it but what recommendations do you have for battling it. It’s something that’s always been a struggle for me no matter what I use. Help!
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