This holiday weekend is a strange one. As heatwaves sweep across the United States, so do mixed feelings towards the nation’s 250th birthday, punctuated by rays of hope like the Supreme Court upholding birthright citizenship this week.

Hyperallergic’s coverage embraces moments of possibility and discovery. John Yau’s review of Philip Guston’s works influenced by his wife poet Musa McKim highlights the ever-yielding worlds within art history.

Aruna D’Souza’s feature on artists who have subverted the meaning of Lady Liberty, such as Abigail DeVille’s “Light of Freedom,” reimagines the iconic torch as a symbol of protest. It represents people hooking each other arm-in-arm to fight for what this nation was supposedly founded on.

The article also highlights aid efforts in Venezuela and Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s record budget for the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, showcasing the power of creative communities. Even a new statue of Messi installed in Argentina serves as a reminder that art can bring laughter even amid solemn moments.