• Of 500 invitees, about 250 members of the creative class (architects, artists, musicians, directors, writers, composers) arrived at the Vatican yesterday for an audience with the Pope. According to organizer Archbishop Gianfranco Ravasi, the goal of the event "was to 're-establish a dialogue' between the church and artists 'that's necessary and fertile for both.'" Participants included Zaha Hadid, Daniel Libeskind and Bill Viola. No word on whether Chris Ofili was invited. — http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/22/world/europe/22pope.html?em
(courtesy of the NYT / Associated Press)
• On my holiday wish list, "The Map as Art: Contemporary Artists Explore Cartography" (Princeton Architectural Press) by Katharine Harmon. I highly recommend Harmon's previous book, "You Are Here: Personal Geographies and Other Maps of the Imagination."
• Slideshow: Tim Burton exhibit at the MOMA, which opens today and runs through April 26, 2010. (courtesy of the NYT)