Arts
Creative achievements in literature and the visual and performing arts
Events April 30-May 2: Origins of the Renaissance, Native Crafts and History Reanimated
This week, hear how a Roman emperor may have started the Renaissance, make your own Native art and meet digital animation artist Kota Ezawa
April 29, 2013 |
By Paul Bisceglio
How a Pizza Maker Revolutionized the Stunt-Kite-Flying World
First, let's establish the fact that there is something in the United States called the American Kitefliers Association. And there's something called competitive stunt kiting
April 26, 2013 |
By Rose Eveleth
The Strange Beauty of David Maisel’s Aerial Photographs
A new book shows how the photographer creates startling images of open-pit mines, evaporation ponds and other sites of environmental degradation
April 26, 2013 |
By Megan Gambino
Decoding The City: The Road Graffiti Placed by Utility Workers
These infrastructural lines mark the pathways of pipes and wires beneath the paved surface -- but what does each color mean?
April 26, 2013 |
By Jimmy Stamp
How Do You Say ‘Star Wars’ In Navajo?
The Navajo Nation teamed up with Lucasfilm to translate the classic space opera
April 25, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
The Story of Elizabeth Keckley, Former-Slave-Turned-Mrs. Lincoln’s Dressmaker
A talented seamstress and savvy businesswoman, she catered to Washington's socialites
April 24, 2013 |
By Emily Spivack
Microbe Hunters
Deep in the Amazon Rainforest, scientists search for the micro-organisms that lived inside ancient humans
April 23, 2013 |
By Elizabeth Quill
The Eyes Have It
In the wake of the Boston bombing, Amy Henderson explores parallels between Edison's revolution of electricity and today’s mediascape that helped solve the crime
April 23, 2013 |
By Amy Henderson
Before and After: America’s Environmental History
For the EPA's State of the Environment Photography Project, people are returning to sites photographed in the 1970s. They are snapping the scenes yet again—to document any changes in the landscape
April 22, 2013 |
By Marina Koren
VIDEO: Earth Art on the Mall
Four artists left their mark for the Smithsonian's first ever land art installation as part of a new exhibit about African artists and the earth
April 22, 2013 |
By Leah Binkovitz
Events April 23-25: Cyrus Cylinder, Collage Art and a Craft Show
This week, hear about one of history's most important artifacts, see how assemblage changed the definition of art and peruse crafts by 121 artists
April 22, 2013 |
By Paul Bisceglio
Intriguing Science Art From the University of Wisconsin
From a fish's dyed nerves to vapor strewn across the planet, images submitted to a contest at the university offer new perspectives of the natural world
April 19, 2013 |
By Megan Gambino
What Modern Art Looks Like As Yummy Dessert
Pastry chef Caitlin Freeman uses inspiration from modern art to whip up cakes, cookies and other desserts
April 19, 2013 |
By Marina Koren
Collage Turns 100 and Continues to Inspire
From Georges Braque to a suit of easter baskets, mixed media remains a potent form of visual expression
April 18, 2013 |
By Leah Binkovitz
Athletes and Movie Stars Really Do Live Harder, Die Younger
Famous athletes and other performers are more likely to die young than their famous business, political, or academic counterparts.
April 18, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Events April 19-22: Native American Dolls, Finding Your Way, A Troubled Korean Family and Earth Day
This weekend, meet Native doll makers, learn how clocks help us navigate, watch a mother and son reconnect and reduce your carbon footprint
April 18, 2013 |
By Paul Bisceglio
The 64-Square Grid Design of ‘Through the Looking Glass’
The sequel to Alice's Adventure's in Wonderland was designed to be a playable, albeit whimsical chess problem
April 17, 2013 |
By Jimmy Stamp
What Was the First Book Ever Ordered on Amazon.com?
Amazon wasn't always a multi-billion dollar company. Their first non-internal order came in 1995, and it was a science book
April 17, 2013 |
By Rose Eveleth
An Artist Creates Artificial Fog in San Francisco
Fujiko Nakaya works with an unusual medium. The Japanese artist is sculpting fog clouds at the Exploratorium's new site at Pier 15
April 17, 2013 |
By Aleta George
