🌍 Culture Making

• 🌿Child-proof

  Reflecting on the evolving landscape of childhood freedoms in America, Michael Chabon explores the impact of modern fears on the imagination of our children.

• 🌍日々の音色 (Hibi no neiro), video by SOUR and friends

  Celebrate Friday with a unique blend of crowdsourced creativity and J-pop by SOUR, featuring fans from around the world.

• 📜Fourth century Bible goes digital

  A celebration of the cultural preservation efforts at the monastery on Mt. Sinai, highlighting the digitization of the Codex Sinaiticus, the oldest existing copy of the Bible.

• 🎨Man on Flying Machine, by Yinka Shonibare

  Yinka Shonibare's captivating sculptures challenge notions of race and class through the lens of historical European fashion and contemporary African identity.

• 🌱The power of weakness

  From Xavier Le Pichon, a reflection on the strength found in fragility and human connection.

• 🗺️U.S. states as nations of equal population, map by James Richards

  A fascinating map combining US states and countries of equal population, perfect for a July 4 reflection from Culture-Making.com's curators.

• 🍷Great wine, but what’s it taste like?

  A thought-provoking perspective on the complex nature of sensory experiences by Robin Goldstein.

• 🎨Untitled, by Joseph Cornell

  A reflection on the art of Joseph Cornell through the lens of Octavio Paz's poetry.

• 🏢Making the stairs more inviting

  Exploring how building design and small nudges can encourage more people to take the stairs rather than the elevator.

• 🍳Light breakfast, by David Sykes

  One of my favorite questions in the world is "What did you have for breakfast this morning?"

• 🩺Face time

  An exploration of how adding a personal touch to patient diagnostics can enhance the connection and meticulousness in medical practice.

• 📦Shaolin monks rehearsing, photo by Wong Maye-E

  Inside wooden boxes, Shaolin monks rehearse a unique dance, showcasing their art at the Singapore Arts Festival.

• 🌊One works and works for something, which then happens of its own accord

  Reflecting on the nature of political transformation and the interplay of effort and grace, Weschler captures the essence of spontaneous uprising in his writings.

• 📝Into the scrum

  From Ethan Zuckerman, a reflection on the power of grassroots blogging and community storytelling.

• 📸Sámi, The People, by Erika Larsen

  Erika Larsen's stunning photographs beautifully illustrate the vibrant culture and relationship of the Sámi people with the Arctic landscape.

• 🎧File sharing

  A fascinating glimpse into exclusive listening parties where music meets community in a cozy setting.

• 👗Fashion fasts and feasts

  Exploring the concept of sustainable fashion through creativity and an enduring uniform, Sheena Matheiken's Uniform Project champions both style and social impact.

• 🎨Making makes you care

  Quoting Louis Menand.

• 📚A reading language

  Kerala's near-100% literacy has fostered a rich culture of literature and reading, creating a vibrant community of writers and readers.

• 🏡Verda with Her Yard Art, by Dave Jordano

  I love how the porch's shadow elegantly mirrors the stairs below it.

• 🚫Too much information

  An exploration of how highlighting negative behaviors can inadvertently reinforce them.

• 🏥Neither shall there be any more pain

  One of my favorite lunchtime outings in Boston was a walk to the corner of the Public Garden, where the Ether Monument stands, commemorating a pivotal moment in the history of medicine.

• 🕺Powers of three

  An analysis of how a simple dance becomes a lively celebration through group dynamics.

• 🎬Looks like work

  An exploration of the creative challenges filmmakers face in portraying everyday digital interactions dramatically.

• 🎨The way the present looks like the past

  Quoting Jonathan Lopez.

• 🧸West African teddies, by Glenna Gordon

  A fascinating look at the sentimental value of second-hand stuffed animals, affectionately known as "teddies," in Monrovia, Liberia.

• 🌾A tale of two counties

  A conversation between two friends exploring the complexities of local culture and its impact on community health in small-town Kansas.

• 🎉Can’t say no to that!

  Improv Everywhere orchestrated a delightful surprise wedding reception for a couple tying the knot at City Hall in New York City.

• 🖼️David Hockney’s mother

  Reflecting on the depth captured in art, David Hockney explores time and observation through his photocollages.

• 🧠A Gestures and postures triple-header

  Exploring psychological interventions that boost academic performance and creativity through simple yet profound actions.

• 🗺️More delicate

  Quoting Elizabeth Bishop.

• 🧠Eat when you eat

  This insight by Joshua-Michéle highlights the paradox of digital distraction in our interconnected world.

• 📱What do 80 texts a day add up to?

  A look into how texting affects the development of teenage autonomy, with insights from psychologist Sherry Turkle.

• 🌊Astoria Pool, by Angie Smith

  Memorial Day marks the beginning of summer, and this beautiful image captures the essence of the Astoria Pool in Queens, NY.

• 🍷Drinking less, online

  This exploration highlights a novel approach to temperance and addiction through a self-help program that emphasizes moderated drinking over complete abstinence.

• 🎨Our national art project

  A reflection on the relationship between great art and the greatness of a nation.

• 🎨Jennifer Daniel for the Baltimore City Paper

  Darn good advice captured in a creative illustration about storytelling and genre.

• 🤔Nothing succeeds like failure?

  The persistence of quack medicine highlights the complexities of belief and human psychology in health practices.

• 🐍São Paulo, Brazil, by Carlos Cazalis

  Exploring the Minhocão, a unique elevated expressway in São Paulo, transformed into a vibrant public space on Sundays.

• 🔧Kranzberg’s 2nd

  Exploring the profound relationship between invention and necessity.

• 🎨Cocktails with Picasso, by Mimi Jensen

  A chance encounter with familiar objects in art inspires reflection on personal connections to artwork and memories.

• 🏺Why loot when you can fake?

  A fascinating shift in the antiques market is explored, highlighting how eBay's influence changed looting dynamics.

• 🌊Storm King Wavefield, by Maya Lin

  An exploration of Maya Lin's stunning earthworks at Storm King Art Center.

• 🌍Mongolian Bling

  A reflection on the irony of cultural exchange in a project celebrating nomadic hip hop.

• 🏛️That’s one way to fight the war on cliche

  Liz Glynn and her team created and then dismantled a model of Rome in a day at New York's New Museum.

• 🕍Six days shalt thou offer unmatched prices and customer service

  Fascinating trivia (and not-so-trivia) about one of the iconic advertisers of my video-camera-obsessed early adolescenceH; is not just a camera store; it's a fascinating blend of personal service, community values, and unique business practices.

• 🎤Auto-Tune and the cyborg embrace

  Embracing the artifice of Auto-Tune can lead to innovative musical expressions, making it a fascinating tool in modern production.

• 🎥D.W. Griffith and the Watson Twins

  I rented _Intolerance_ only to find a lackluster public domain cut, but I turned it into a unique experience with my own soundtrack.

• 😷Who was that masked man?

  A reflection on the social impact of masks during the swine flu outbreak.

• 🙏Merci

  A beautiful exploration of faith and gratitude captured in tiles at a Catholic shrine in France.