Simone Forti, the late performance artist and friend to Yoko Ono, has shared her thoughts in a never-before-published interview. Reflecting on her long career and personal history with Ono, Forti reveals the charm and humility that defined her.

In 1961, Forti's Five Dance Constructions debuted alongside Yoko Ono’s famous screaming piece in Manhattan. Born only two years apart, these iconic artists faced similar challenges as transcultural migrants, navigating the deprivations of fascism and war, and overcoming discrimination.

Forti also discusses her approach to art, emphasizing touch as a mode of connection and incorporating everyday objects into her work. The interview provides insight into an artist who continually broke boundaries in sound, drawing, poetry, movement, new media, and sculpture.

Elsewhere in the news today, activists in Washington DC protested against ICE with portraits of victims, while Smithsonian museums closed due to a cooling system malfunction. Meanwhile, Anna Boghiguian weaves Armenia's history into her tapestries, adding a cultural depth to contemporary art practices.