J.W. Marriott announces his retirement, a film studio backed by Robert De Niro is opening in Queens, and five cities celebrate Black History Month. All that and more in this week’s Five on Friday.
5 cities to visit for Black History Month
Philadelphia is offering private walking art tours that visit murals representing African American figures; photo courtesy of Visit Philly
A recent article by the The New York Times spotlights five cities celebrating Black History Month. In the former Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia, which also recently removed a statue of Robert E. Lee, the city is reckoning with its past. Powerful public art like Mending Walls by Hamilton Glass is worth a visit in addition to the programming at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts celebrating African American artists. In Portland, Oregon, February 17th marked the start of the NW Black Comedy Festival. This weekend in Philadelphia, Philly POPS presents “Dancin’ In the Streets: The Music of Motown.” On February 19th in Cleveland, the Real Black Friday Business Expo will showcase more than 100 Black-owned businesses. In San Antonio, the Witte Museum will discuss Black cowboy history in an exhibit titled “Untold Stories of the American West.”
Robert De Niro-backed film studio to open in Queens
Wildflower Studios, rendering courtesy of BIG
New York City granted a building permit this month for Wildflower Studios, a forthcoming $600 million movie studio in Astoria, Queens. The project, which is backed by actor Robert De Niro, has been in the works since 2019 and will comprise a 775,000-square-foot, seven-story studio designed by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG). Intended to serve as a content creation campus, the sprawling complex will include 11 sound stages for film and TV, office space, and amenity spaces such as a fitness center and cafés. The project will be built along Luyster Creek and include a publicly accessible waterfront esplanade. According to a recent article by 6sqft, the studio is expected to be completed in 2023.
Authenticity of Basquiat paintings at Orlando Museum of Art questioned
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As one of the most popular and famous artists of all time, it seems impossible for any artwork by Jean-Michel Basquiat to disappear. A collection of 25 previously unknown paintings have resurfaced, raising questions about their authenticity along with it. Allegedly, TV writer Thaddeus Mumford commissioned the art while Basquiat was in Los Angeles in 1982. Mumford didn’t like the art, relegating it to a storage unit he would eventually default on, with a private bidder winning its contents at auction. Aaron De Groft, the director of the Orlando Museum of Art, says there is “absolutely no doubt” that the paintings were made by Basquiat. However, Artnet reports one of the paintings is on a FedEx box with a logo not used by the company until 1994—six years after Basquiat’s death. While debate about the collection is ongoing, it is currently on display in an exhibit titled “Heroes & Monsters” at the Orlando Museum of Art.
Marriott executive chairman J.W. Marriott to retire
After more than 60 years at the helm of Marriott International, Hotel Business reports J.W. “Bill” Marriott will retire as executive chairman in May. At the upcoming shareholder meeting, he will not seek re-election to the board and will be succeeded by David S. Marriott. After the meeting, Marriott will assume the role of chairman emeritus, cementing his immense contributions to the company. The career of the hospitality heavyweight had humble beginnings, growing his family-run root beer stand into one of the most recognized brands in the world with a portfolio of 8,000 properties across 139 countries and territories. Working his way up through various positions, Marriott started in the family’s Hot Shoppes restaurants, eventually becoming CEO of Marriott in 1972 and chairman of the board in 1985. HD inducted Marriott into its Platinum Circle hall of fame in 2018.
HD Expo teases conference lineup
The DesignWell Pavilion will return to HD Expo + Conference 2022; photo by PWP Studio
When HD Expo comes to Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas on April 26–28th, the industry’s preeminent tradeshow will bring together hundreds of companies—from fabric and carpet to bathroom fixtures and wallcoverings—debuting their latest product innovations, as well as more than 30 dynamic conference sessions featuring more than 100 key industry professionals. Among the highlights is the much-anticipated HD/ISHP Owners’ Roundtable, the annual NEWH Young Entrepreneurs Breakfast, and the Women in Design panel, sponsored by Shaw Hospitality. The Hospitality Diversity Action Council (HDAC) will also lead two sessions. Register today and check back next week for the full schedule of events.
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