What you missed: CSAs, Us fan theories, the world's top museums

Hello! You're reading the CBC Arts newsletter, and if you like what you see, stick around! Sign up here, and every Sunday we'll send you a fresh email packed with art, culture and a metric truckload of eye candy, hand-picked by our small and mighty team. Here's what we've been talking about this week.

Hi, art lovers!

What are we watching?

Tom Hiddleston's creepy vitamin ad, to be honest, but if I didn't lead this email with the Canadian Screen Awards, this wouldn't be a CBC newsletter. Seriously, though, if you're an awards show junkie, or even just a teensy bit curious about the show, it's now streaming on CBC Gem — and if you're interested in chasing the CSAs with even more Canadian movies and TV, start with CBC Arts series The Filmmakers. Season 2 won the CSA for best talk or entertainment program or series earlier this week. (Yay, team!)

What are we reading?

Never underestimate the appeal of Rihanna wearing a pope hat. The Art Newspaper released its annual report on the world's most visited shows and museums, and The Met's Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination topped the list. (There's plenty of analysis on the cultural trends at the link.) On the subject of art museums, Toronto's AGO has apparently done some light KonMari-ing to its Group of Seven stash, announcing that 17 paintings and sketches by A.Y. Jackson will be auctioned this spring. With the proceeds, they plan to acquire work by underrepresented Canadian artists.

Photographer Chris Donovan (who's originally from Saint John, N.B.) was shortlisted for a 2019 Sony World Photography Award this week, and here's where you can take a closer look at his nominated project, The Only Team in Town. The series follows a Kenyan woman named Tasha Otieno, who plays for the only ice hockey team in East Africa. Ladies: Yoko Ono wants your eyes (photos of them). Warner Music gave a record deal to an algorithm. And because Us had the biggest domestic opening weekend of any original horror movie ever, geek out over this new favourite fan theory before diving into the movie's fantastically brainy costume design.

And because we promised you eye candy

There were a couple ads for this newsletter that went up on Facebook and Instagram the other day, and the comments have been overwhelming in the best way possible. Shoutout to anyone who's here because of them, and thanks to everyone who was so excited about "Hi Art" that they shared their own artwork on the threads. I've really got to include a few of the folks who chimed in. Check them out on Instagram.

Trevor Yardley-Jones (@trevoryj)

Emily Copeland (@e.copeland)

Kamey Eleon (@kamey_eleon)

You've got to see this

Sorry, you're not an 'Abstract Expressionist' - Disagree? Watch Art 101 before you spam us with emails about your acrylic paintings. This week's lesson is all about art movements, Abstract Expressionism included.

Museum guide: Royal Ontario Museum - Take a tour of the ROM with artist Jennie Suddick, whose tips tap into some major childhood nostalgia. (That's especially true if you ever watched The Elephant Show.)

How about some poetry? - Our video series Poetic License returned last week, so in case you missed it, watch performances from eight spoken word poets including Nasim Asgari, Prince Amoako and Nevada Jane Arlow.

Follow this artist

Heidi Berton (@heidiberton) - Already stressed about the work week? When Heidi Berton's overwhelmed by deadlines, she makes GIFs like this to unwind. (The Toronto-based illustrator was our last Exhibitionist in Residence.)

Got questions? Typo catches? Story ideas?

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One more thing before we go, and it might be interesting for any drama-club nerds out there (past, present or future). The CBC Comedy crew is going to Ottawa April 1–4 to cover the Canadian Improv Games. Should you follow their adventures on Instagram? According to improv wisdom, the answer is YES, AND...you should also check their website.

Until next week!

XOXO, CBC Arts