Author: Ben East
-
Moment of Silence
Today, of all days, marks a good time to pause and remember. And as millions of Americans struggle with present threats, its important to emphasize what unites is, instead of what divides us.
-
Cake Talk
Of all the artists — musicians, painters, actors & stand-up comedians, even poets — I put my own kind at the very bottom. Novelists ask too much of their audience. These others thrive on immediacy, accessibility, and entertainment. Musicians bang it out live in short bursts or cast long, sweeping arcs; the audience has only to…
-
Speaking of Statues
Atop the U.S. Capitol Dome stands a 19 ½-foot, 15,000-lb bronze woman in a classical Roman chiton. Workers hoisted her up there in five pieces, completing her installation in December 1863. Not a good year for national unity. She’s unusual for her era. “Armed Freedom,” as she’s known, bears a sword and wears a helmet at…
Ben East Books 