| Photographer Akasha Rabut captured Caramel Curves’ pink-hued rides. No Images? Click here   When photographer Akasha Rabut moved to New Orleans in 2010, she was taken by the city’s traditions ― the parades, especially. While photographing one, she noticed two women on motorcycles and decided to introduce herself. Their names were Tru and Love; immediately, Rabut was enamored. The pair invited her to a meeting for their all-women motorcycle crew, Caramel Curves, which took place in a member’s nail salon. Rabut took the women’s portraits, and has been doing so ever since. What’s really going on in the middle of the country? To writer and critic Mark Athitakis, it’s not so difficult to understand ― at least if you’ve been paying attention. His slim new book, The New Midwest: A Guide to Contemporary Fiction of the Great Lakes, Great Plains, and Rust Belt, dives deep into Midwestern literature, unpacking the mythology of the region and how today’s writers are complicating our simple idea of the Heartland.   For over 40 years, Aline Kominsky-Crumb has chronicled agony and ecstasy through brutally honest portraits. A nasty woman to the core, she changed the game for women comics ― not to mention women comedians, authors and artists. In honor of her upcoming exhibition, we reached out to Kominsky-Crumb to tell her story.   Watching baby iguanas run for their lives across a beach looming with deadly snakes ― snakes that would love nothing more than to strangle the tiny hatchling bodies in a wildly violent display of team acrobatics ― is a startling experience. Producer Liz White explains how a "Planet Earth II" crew captured the epic chase scene.   In the face of prejudice, New York’s museums are not remaining silent. The Museum of the City of New York is the latest cultural institution using art to challenge President Trump’s travel ban ― which targets citizens of seven majority-Muslim nations ― with the photography exhibition “Muslim in New York.” The show communicates in no uncertain terms that Muslim life is an essential aspect of New York’s culture.   For Fatimah Asghar, poet and creator of a new web series called “Brown Girls,” political acts aren’t always so overt. Her show, which premieres this month on OpenTV, is a comedy about two friends, Leila and Patricia, navigating dating, sexuality, personal finances and other millennial woes. But the show, while personal, is also political, Asghar says.   Bangalore-based student Priyanka Shah’s series depicts how roaming city streets is an emotional battle.  In her series “Brown,” Erica Deeman photographs men of the African diaspora against a brown backdrop. The straightforward series addresses the omission of black men from the tradition of formal portraiture, revealing the simple power of a photographic depiction.  Level up. Read this email and be the most interesting person at your dinner party. Like what you see? Share with a friend. Can't get enough? Here are two other newsletters you'll love: HuffPost's Entertainment newsletter and HuffPost Must Reads.
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These photos of an all-women motorcycle crew are ⚡️⚡️⚡️
This #ShePersisted drawing resonated with women around the world
| Artist Courtney Privett made a drawing with her daughters in mind. To her surprise, it resonated with women around the world. No Images? Click here   To express her fears and frustrations this week, artist Courtney Privett began to draw. “Drawing has been my way of not getting overwhelmed recently,” she explained. “Then I can put it on paper and set it aside.” Jeff VanderMeer, Lidia Yuknavitch and others discuss solutions to the urgent problem.   These real and fictional heroines were warned. They were given an explanation. Nevertheless, they persisted.   At a time of uncertainty, both personally and politically, spiritual sources of comfort can come in handy.   The New Age category, with its history of appropriation, outlives those dedicated to cultural traditions.  Every Friday, HuffPost's Culture Shift newsletter tells you which books you should read, art you should check out, movies you should watch and music should listen to. Like what you see? Share with a friend. Can't get enough? Here are two other newsletters you'll love: HuffPost's Entertainment newsletter and HuffPost Must Reads.
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