🌍 Culture Making

• 🎨Austin, Texas, by Christa Palazzolo

  A captivating exploration of Christa Palazzolo's portrait work, particularly its intimate and revealing nature against the backdrop of irony in her other pieces.

• ✍️Written as they should be

  A reflection on the beauty and significance of handwriting in a digital age, inspired by Umberto Eco's thoughts.

• 🦠HIV, by Luke Jerram

  Luke Jerram's striking glass sculptures of viruses echo the beauty and menace of microscopic life forms, evoking powerful emotions in viewers.

• 🎨City, by Tony Fitzpatrick

  Explore the vibrant and intricate world of Tony Fitzpatrick, a Chicago-based artist whose evocative works combine humor and heartbreak.

• 🍈Ode to a mangosteen

  I've always been curious about mangosteens, despite never having tasted one.

• 🌾The man who saved a billion lives

  An insightful tribute to Norman Borlaug and his revolutionary contributions to agriculture.

• 🌳Wakirlpirri Jukurrpa (Dogwood Tree Dreaming), by Liddy Napanangka Walker

  In exploring Warlpiri culture, I discovered this stunning painting by Liddy Napanangka Walker that captures the essence of the ‘wakirlpirri’ tree.

• 🫒Two things you’ve never considered drinking before, but may want to now

  An exploration of unique culinary gems, from unexpected olive oil vendors to cherished Filipino restaurants.

• 📊How jobs stack up

  An exploration of the historical representation of professions in the U.S. Census highlights disparities and trends over time.

• 🗑️garbage is spiritual

  A.R. Ammons reflects on the spiritual significance of garbage and its role in our lives.

• 😊Multi-touching

  A touching customer review highlights the impact of Proloquo2Go on a young woman's communication and integration with peers.

• 🖼️Gold Rush, by Francesca Gabbiani

  Francesca Gabbiani's work captivates with its rococo naturalism and reflective voids, echoing themes found in circular panoramic photography.

• 📚Butterfly in the sky, I could go twice as high

  Reflecting on the impact of _Reading Rainbow_, a beloved show that fostered a love of reading in children, its cancellation marks a shift in educational programming priorities.

• ✍️Beach calligraphy by Andrew van der Merwe

  South African calligrapher Andrew van der Merwe showcases his unique sand carving technique on a Belgian beach.

• 🎤Perils of a great preformance

  In the realm of operatic improvisation, the influence of early recording legends like Enrico Caruso has overshadowed the art of individual expression.

• 📚Moby Dick, a book about computers

  Exploring the whimsical errors in Google Books' categorizations reveals unexpected connections in literature.

• 🕊️Courageous good humor

  Cory Doctorow shares how former KKK leader Johnny Lee Clary was transformed by the courageous and humorous approach of Reverend Wade Watts.

• 📸light-test.com

  A fascinating glimpse into the behind-the-scenes world of professional photography, showcasing how much work goes into creating stunning images with assistants often taking center stage.

• 🏏Only a game, but not just a game

  A thoughtful reflection on the complexities of life mirrored in the nuances of test match cricket.

• 🌴Heart of palm

  This careful schematic cross-section of a palm stem evokes striking similarities to Pacific Northwest art despite the palm’s tropical origins. Based on the content, relevant geolocation coordinates for the Malay Peninsula might be approximately

• 📚There are no televisions here

  In an exploration of Paju Book City, Edwin Heathcole captures the tension between the fantastical vision of a city dedicated to literature and its stark physical surroundings.

• 😇The utility of guilt

  An exploration of guilt's role in shaping morality and behavior in children and adults alike.

• 🦚Like a cheer for an invisible parade

  Quoting Flannery O'Connor.

• 💧Her loosened tongue employ’d

  This newsreel captures the remarkable story of Helen Keller's journey into the world of language, guided by her teacher Anne Sullivan.

• 🛩️On a human plane

  A Spanish novelist explores our relationship with airplanes, urging us to view them more personally, akin to how we interact with living beings or ships.

• 🎶Splendid songs for (next to) nothing

  Discover incredible music deals this week, including Emmylou Harris's album and free world music samplers.

• 📚What I attend to

  This week I've been experimenting with speed-reading and its impact on my attention and enjoyment of literature.

• 📈The not-great, the good, and the awesome

  Sometimes humility can lead to underestimating potential.

• 🎸Les was More

  In remembrance of Les Paul, a pioneer who revolutionized both the guitar and multitrack recording.

• 📜The Shettima Kagu Qur’an

  Exploring the depths of archaic Saharan languages through beautiful Qur'anic manuscripts from Nigeria.

• 📖In the beginning was the story

  A profound reflection on the interplay between human and divine storytelling.

• 🔨Tools = possibilities

  Quoting Kevin Kelly.

• 🎭The blurry border between having a dream and losing one’s mind

  Exploring the intertwining of dream and madness in Herzog's "Fitzcarraldo."

• 🧶Information, patterns, and wool

  This fascinating passage highlights the role of knitting in WWII propaganda and morale-building through the clever design of a British poster.

• 🦋Shelter and daring

  Quoting Eudora Welty

• 🎨So many different kinds of lines

  This exhibition beautifully showcases the informal yet profound artistic expressions of the Middle Ages.

• 🛋️Project Gatsby

  I've just written another essay for Comment Magazine, exploring a love letter to my college couch, accompanied by a short film that captures its essence.

• 🎨Imaginary Happiness, by Ryan McGinness

  Check out the vibrant, slightly edgy collages of Manhattan artist Ryan McGinness, including free desktop wallpapers for your enjoyment.

• 🌌Creative distance

  Exploring how psychological distance can enhance creativity reveals insights about our imaginative processes.

• 🍦Soft Serve, by Kevin Cyr

  It's a hot afternoon in Portland, and I could really go for one of these right now.

• 🎭Parking is such sweet sorrow

  A thought-provoking examination of how infrastructure shapes cultural expectations, particularly in the case of Disney Hall and its parking garage's financial burdens.

• 🗣️The subtle clicks of N|uu

  A fascinating exploration of endangered click languages and cutting-edge imaging technology.

• 🏙️Old cities, still kicking

  A critique of the overview of Varanasi's tourist influx, along with a reference to a more reliable list of ancient cities.

• 🎡Crazymouse, Minnesota State Fair, by David Bowman

  A stunning long-exposure photo captures the essence of the Minnesota State Fair in a unique light.

• 🎙️Flannery’s voice

  Flannery O'Connor's Southern dialect contrasts with Northern literary circles, revealing insights about language and identity in American literature.

• 🎨An Astronaut’s Journey, by Alan Bean

  Reflecting on the intersection of art and space exploration, I discovered the vibrant works of Alan Bean, a moonwalker turned painter.

• 🌜Le voyage dans la Lune, by George Méliès

  Celebrating the 107th anniversary of Georges Méliès' iconic film, Le voyage dans la Lune, and its intriguing connections to the 1969 moon landing.

• 🌍Beautiful litany

  Quoting Wislawa Szymborska.

• 🌍A tool which will unleash the fullest in someone else

  In a thought-provoking exploration, Kevin Kelly argues for the moral obligation to embrace technology for the sake of expanding possibilities for ourselves and others.

• 🎶Music, walking, and the power of presence

  Exploring the profound connection between movement, music, and empathy in Parkinson's disease.