The Animal Wonderland of Les Lalanne
Blending zoomorphic elements with a fanciful aesthetic, the artist duo’s functional animal sculptures evoked a sense of wonder and enchantment.
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Here’s What’s Worth Seeing at Frieze New York
The East Asian art of paper cutting, drawings inspired by Brazilian woodworking, and cunty ceramics are among the standouts of a mostly uninspiring affair.
A View From the Easel
“I spend some moments quietly observing the work in my studio and try to listen to what the work needs.”
Billions in Debt Forgiven for Students of Defunct Art Institutes
The shuttered art school network was accused of defrauding and misleading its students.
Ancient-ish Woolen Dutch Hats
Nothing more exciting than knitted items! This isn’t news, but a relative sent it to me recently, and I see it also made the rounds on Reddit a few days ago. Here’s the gist, per the Rijksmuseum : In 1980 archaeologists investigated the graves of 185 Dutchmen — whale hunters,
A New Video Captures Mossy Corona in the Sun’s Atmosphere in Extraordinary Detail
A new video released by the European Space Agency (ESA) reveals the riotous activity of the sun’s atmosphere in unprecedented detail. Taken by the Solar Orbiter in September, the footage captures a lush blanket of “corona moss” met by bright arches, or the magnetic field
Sorry to link to a paywall, but if you like my comics,...
Sorry to link to a paywall, but if you like my comics, you might really like Gabrielle Bell’s on Patreon, if you don’t already. Her latest post was especially excellent. (Or, for free from her Instagram: “ New Patreon Tiers .”) 💬 Join the discussion on kottke.org →
Copy the Shrug Emoji. A website for copying the shrug emoji. Too...
Copy the Shrug Emoji . A website for copying the shrug emoji. Too cute? Ruins it? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 💬 Join the discussion on kottke.org →
Reading About Listening to J.S. Bach
For the past couple months I’ve been enjoying CFO and real estate developer Evan Goldfine’s newsletter about listening to J.S. Bach. Called Year of Bach , it often includes more Bach than I can handle, but in a good way, and I like letting it wash over me. Yesterday’s
In an Emoji History of Art, ND Stevenson Playfully Recreates Iconic Paintings
More than 100 years after it was first exhibited, art historians still debate whether Marcel Duchamp ’s “Fountain,” submitted to the 1917 Armory Show in New York, was a wry joke or sly commentary on modern art—or both. That’s because the sculpture, a urinal the artist signed
Can’t resist an I Called Off My Wedding essay! (“On another plane...
Can’t resist an I Called Off My Wedding essay! (“On another plane ride, I watch Pride and Prejudice. Despite my tendency to be gay, Mr. Darcy makes my heart leap.”) 💬 Join the discussion on kottke.org →
Nothing Could Prepare Me for the Bizarre ‘Live Birth’ Experience at Babyland Hospital
"I took my kids to the Cabbage Patch Kids' museum-meets-nursery in rural Georgia. Here's what happened."
Diary Comics, Dec. 19 & 20
It’s another Thursday Afternoon With Edith! Here are some more comics from my journal, from last fall. ( Previously .) Tags: diary comics 💬 Join the discussion on kottke.org →
The Native Youth Olympics
Since the early 70s, the Native Youth Olympics have showcased the traditional games of the Alaska Native people: Our Alaska Native ancestors developed traditional games in order to test and prove crucial abilities that governed everyday life. Competition was created with each
An FAQ About Your New Birth Control: The Music of Rush. “Imagine...
An FAQ About Your New Birth Control: The Music of Rush. “Imagine taking the most annoying parts of science fiction and Libertarianism, isolating them, and then somehow blending them up into a cursed musical slurry.”
Video of a tornado in Nebraska going right over a train, filmed...
Video of a tornado in Nebraska going right over a train , filmed by the conductor. “The tornado blew over and derailed 31 cars. The engineer and I were unharmed.” 💬 Join the discussion on kottke.org →
Rock stars that sound like… (Kurt Cobain as a coffee grinder, Ozzy...
Rock stars that sound like… (Kurt Cobain as a coffee grinder, Ozzy Osborne as windshield wipers). Genuine LOL at Henry Rollins. 💬 Join the discussion on kottke.org →
This Sliding Door Sounds Like a Screaming R2-D2
My therapist and I have yet to figure out why, but I have a soft spot for objects that do unexpected impressions of other things and people. Like this sliding door that sounds like R2-D2 screaming. Or the falling shovel that plays Smells Like Teen Spirit . Or the door that can
Used Envelopes Hold Thriving Potted Plants in Fidencio Fifield-Perez’s ‘Dacaments’
Fidencio Fifield-Perez ’s Dacaments series began as a response to the bureaucracy of the U.S. immigration system. The Oaxaca-born artist immigrated with his family as a child, making him eligible for DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals). To qualify and retain his
Witch: a tag that shapes social networks
A novel study in rural China suggests that witchcraft accusations may have arisen as a means of damaging female competitors - by Aeon Video Watch at Aeon
The Most Infamous Cop in New Orleans History
In 1994, a corrupt cop ordered a hit on a civilian. He went away for murder, but he left a trail of other victims in his wake. They are still crying out for justice.
India and indigeneity
In a country of such extraordinary diversity, the UN definition of ‘indigenous’ does little more than fuel ethnic violence - by Dikshit Sarma Bhagabati Read at Aeon
RIP Paul Auster: Hear the Master of the Postmodern Page-Turner Discuss How He Became a Writer
In the Louisiana Channel interview clip from 2017 above, the late Paul Auster tells the story of how he became a writer. Its first episode had appeared more than twenty years earlier, in a New Yorker piece titled “Why Write?”: “I was eight years old. At that moment in my life,
Comfort and convenience
For the last thirty years, the easiest shortcut has been convenience. If a marketer or a politician or an institution wants to gain acceptance, make it convenient. Tim Wu has pointed out that we’ll trade almost anything to save a few moments of hassle or thought. But that
Artist Draws 9 Portraits on LSD During 1950s Research Experiment
During the 1950s, a researcher gave an artist two 50-microgram doses of LSD (each dose separated by about an hour), and then the artist was encouraged to draw pictures of the doctor who administered the drugs. Nine portraits were drawn over the space of eight hours. We still
Loving Him Meant Facing My Greatest Fear
"Living with a disability, I shielded myself from dance. Then I met him."
8 Art Shows to See in New York City This May
Vibrant colors and fantastical creatures are in abundance in shows by Sanam Khatibi, Julia Bland, Claude Lawrence, Annette Wehrhahn, and others.
The Man Who Turned His Home into a Homeless Shelter
"[S]ince 2020 he has offered hundreds of homeless people a bed in his small flat – and for many of them, it has been life-changing."
A March Across Manhattan’s Student Encampments
“I think the power of the artist — the student artist — is to envision a new world and actually embody it," said a Parsons sophomore.
Who Is the Cartoon Child Seen on Palestinian Protest Signs?
Created in 1969 by late political cartoonist Naji al-Ali, the figure known as Handala has long symbolized Palestinian identity and resilience.