June 12, 2026 - Week in Review: Sagrada Família, the Kennedy Center, and David Hockney

About this episode

The episode discusses major arts and culture headlines including the completion of Sagrada Família, the Kennedy Center renaming, and the legacy of David Hockney.

This week on The Culture Show, Jared Bowen is joined by Culture Show co-host Callie Crossley and Culture Show contributor James Sullivan, a journalist and author specializing in popular culture and Americana who is also on the faculty of Emerson College, for a look at the week’s top arts and culture headlines. In Barcelona, Gaudí’s Sagrada Família reaches a milestone 144 years in the making, with the completion of the central tower dedicated to Jesus Christ — making the basilica the tallest church in the world. In Washington, President Trump’s name is coming down from the Kennedy Center after a federal judge ruled the renaming illegal, even as the institution prepares to award Bill Maher the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. David Hockney, one of the best-known contemporary artists, has died at age 88. We reflect on his legacy, which included his famed sun-soaked swimming pools of Los Angeles, the landscapes of his native Yorkshire and his innovative works with digital media. With World Cup matches headed to Foxborough, Boston faces a civic stress test as the tournament brings questions about traffic, transit, late-night crowds, fan culture and protest.

People in this episode

Host: Jared Bowen

Guests: Callie Crossley, James Sullivan

Topics covered

• arts and culture
• Sagrada Família
• Kennedy Center
• David Hockney
• World Cup
• traffic and transit
• fan culture

Keywords

• Sagrada Família
• Kennedy Center
• David Hockney
• Bill Maher
• World Cup
• traffic
• transit
• fan culture

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Kennedy Center

Books & works: Sagrada Família

Places: Barcelona, Washington, Boston

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