Weekly Roundup: Boston Public Sculpture, Iron & Wine, 'Queer Eye' Stars

Here’s our weekly compilation of arts coverage from all four of WBUR’s radio programs – Here & Now, Only A Game, On Point and Radio Boston.

A ‘Convergence’ Of Public Sculpture

The Christian Science Plaza is now home to over two dozen sculptures created the Boston Sculptors Gallery, a group of 18 artists who promote the role of public sculpture in the community.

Iron & Wine’s Sam Beam, In His Own Words

Sam Beam spoke about his influences, making art and his newest album, "Ghost On Ghost," after performing at the Boston Public Library. The performance was a part of WBUR’s new music series “Off The Record.”

Is Spotify Fair To Musicians?

Stars from Radiohead are boycotting Spotify, saying the site pays next to nothing and doesn't support new artists. We examine how we can pay "creatives" in the digital age.

Fighting Words From Minnesota Rapper Dessa

NPR Music's Stephen Thompson says Dessa's single "Fighting Fish" from her new album "Parts of Speech" includes lyrics about Greek philosophy and emotional turmoil.

Renee Graham’s Off-The-Radar Playlist

Pop culture critic Renee Graham recommends Quadron, Booker T. Jones and Jose James.

Boston’s Mango Blue Mixes Musical Genres

Alex Alvear, a mainstay of the Boston Latino music scene, says his band brings together Afro-Cuban folklore , pop music, salsa, funk and jazz. Mango Blue will be playing at Regattabar on Friday, August 2.

Do Young Adults Read For Pleasure?

Book lover and journalist Danny Heitman offers 10 suggestions for summer reading for the college-age crowd.

In ‘Big Brother’ Lionel Shriver Explores Obesity

Author Lionel Shriver has taken on hot-button topics before. In her new novel "Big Brother," the topic is morbid obesity, and she mines some of her own family history.

A New Look At Kafka

“Kafkasesque” is still the word for so much that is alienating, dehumanizing, disorienting in modern life. We look back on the man who saw it all coming.

Khaled Hosseini’s Latest Bestseller Spans Generations

The author found international fame with his debut novel, "The Kite Runner." Now he’s out with his third book, "And The Mountains Echoed," which tells a story spanning decades and stretching from a village in Afghanistan to Paris and California.

Sportswriter Red Smith Remembered In ‘American Pastimes’

Red Smith spent nearly 50 years writing newspaper sports columns. And he was one of the best at it. We hear from Dan Okrent, who edited a new anthology of the legend’s work.

‘Ruth Bourdain’ Revealed: Poking Fun At Foodies

The man behind "Ruth Bourdain" — the Twitter account that touts itself as a parody mash-up of Ruth Reichl and Anthony Bourdain -- joins us to poke fun at our gourmet foodie fads.

Shakespearean Text Meets New Orleans Jazz

Take Shakespearean texts and set them to music, and the result is a soulful, parade-like performance complete with sets, costumes, shadow puppets and a 15-piece band of players from Emerson and Berklee College of Music.

‘Queer Eye’ Stars Look Back, 10 Years On

"Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" debuted on Bravo a decade ago. Stars Carson Kressley and Ted Allen reflect on stereotypes and the gay rights movement now.

New Tyler Perry Shows Offer Lessons On Finance

"The Have and Have Nots" is a soap opera-like show about the tensions between rich and poor, black and white. “"Love Thy Neighbor" features an African American matriarch who runs her own diner and attempts to help her unemployed daughter and her grandson.

How TV Shows Cope With An Actor’s Death

Cory Monteith, the 31-year-old actor most famous for playing the character of Finn Hudson on the Fox show "Glee," was found dead recently. "To replace the character I think is unthinkable," said television critic David Bianculli.

Comic-Con International Hits San Diego

Comic-Con is the biggest convention of the year for fans of comic books, science fiction and pop culture.

Mexican Theme Park Offers Fake Border Crossing

A simulated crossing run by the indigenous community takes visitors through a fake U.S.-Mexico crossing, complete with smugglers and the threat of border patrol agents.