It is already January 15th and two weeks into the new semester, but I wish you all a very Happy New Year! The last 4-5 months have mostly been a blur of activity, planning, writing, editing, research, and of course teaching and working with students, but I am looking forward to a calmer year ahead (aren't we all?!) and more time for this blog. Over the holidays I spent a good deal of time catching up on many bookmarked and new articles and various circulating statements from artists, critics, academics, journalists and others about the state of affairs with respect to the rising politicization of art and culture worldwide. I am glad to say that I feel a great deal of optimism after taking much needed time for reflection on where the world is heading in this challenging geopolitical climate. That was certainly not the case the last time I posted to my blog, but I see once again the many opportunities that exist to use education (in the classroom and in public forums) as a tool of critical thinking, awareness, and yes, relief and hope, in the year ahead. Focusing on the historical avant-garde in my teaching and research tends to bring out that kind of perspective, but also the constant realization that we have seen this all before in our collective history. I am also thankful to be traveling a great deal in 2017 to some of the world's most powerful art cities, and I am already looking forward to the many conversations and ideas that will be shared with those I meet and travel with. As always, I hope you enjoy the assembled roundup of links and return back on Sundays (and hopefully more often as I kickstart my blogging once again) to share in the expansion of knowledge and information. Enjoy!