The best of the best
via Prospero by L.F.
A new exhibition at the Carnegie Museum collects more than 200 objects made for world’s fairs ranging from London’s Great Exhibition in 1851 to New York World’s Fair in 1939. Beauty and craftsmanship can be seen in the furniture, metalwork, glassware, ceramics, textiles and jewellery on show.
At today’s expos, each country hosts elaborate pavilions which focus on nation branding and cultural exchange. But the fairs of yesteryear were an international showcase for industrialisation, innovative design and advancements in modern living. These objects are the shining stars of times past.
Inventing the Modern World: Decorative Arts at the World's Fairs, 1851-1939 is at the Carnegie Museum, Pittsburgh, until February 14th.
And in lieu of being able to go to Pittsburgh between now and 14th February you can enjoy images of some of the exhibits online here.
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Arts & Letters Daily – ideas, criticism, debate
The Economist, Michael Lewis once said, “is written by young people pretending to be old people”. That voice – slightly creaky, sophisticated, at times offbeat - is now that of the new global elite... more
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In Search Of… Glenn Miller
via Boing Boing by David Pescovitz
On December 15, 1944, big band pioneer Glenn Miller was flying from the UK to Paris to perform for soldiers. His plane reportedly vanished over the English Channel without a trace. There are many theories about what became of Glenn Miller. Some suggest that his plane was destroyed by RAF bombs jettisoned by war-planes short on fuel that were flying above Miller’s single-engine plane. Another theory posits that Miller made it to Paris but died from a heart attack while having sex with a prostitute, leading the US government to let his death remain a mystery. Intrigued?
For starters, check out the video above, a great episode of one of my favourite TV series.
On March 7, 1980, Leonard Nimoy and team went “In Search Of… Glenn Miller”
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10 Cave Homes We’d Like to Live In
via Flavorwire by Alison Nastasi
Four teenagers stumbled upon an incredible collection of prehistoric cave paintings in 1940. While historians, conservationists, and archaeologists discuss the importance of the 17,000-year-old Lascaux [in French] caves this week [of 11 September 2012], we felt inspired by the underground complex to explore homes that have been tucked away in caves across the world. Eco-friendly, earth homes have become increasingly popular, so it should come as no surprise that home owners are writing their own page in a Tolkien tale by setting up camp in these natural shelters. The green benefits are a big draw, but several modern cave people are proving that the alternative dwellings don’t have to sacrifice style and comfort.
Check out a few amazing cave homes we'd totally live in.
Feel free to share your favourites in the comments.
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Arts & Letters Daily – ideas, criticism, debate
Tom Stoppard is a connoisseur of stories, not topics. A play is not the product of an idea, he says. “The idea is the end product of the play”... more
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Lovely Stained Glass-Style Illustrations for Lord of the Rings
via Flavorwire by Emily Temple
Traditionally, stained glass windows are meant to immortalise great deeds and heroic acts, not to mention give life to magic and mysticism. So obviously, if you’re geeky like us, they strike you as the perfect medium to depict the grand events of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. Jian Guo’s stained glass window-style illustrations, which we spotted over at i09, give Tolkien’s tale its due, depicting five scenes from the series in such lovely colors and intricate patterns that it almost feels like we can already see the light coming through them. Now if only someone would turn these into real windows!
Check out Guo’s illustrations after the jump (original post), and check out more of his artwork here.
Rest in Gildor’s Forest
Image credit: Jian Guo
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Jim, Joe and Harry: 1900
via Shorpy Historical Photo Archive – Vintage Fine Art Prints by Dave
Memphis, Tennessee, circa 1900
“Mississippi River levee from the custom house. Steamboats James Lee, Harry Lee and City St. Joseph”
8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company
View original post
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Arts & Letters Daily – ideas, criticism, debate
What’s a national writer to do in a global literary marketplace? Keep telling tales from the margins, says Irvine Welsh. Express your culture, “however movable a feast that is”... more
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Dynamite Train
via How-To Geek by Asian Angel
This game involves an “explosive” combination of trains, bridges, and dynamite! Your mission is to stop these trains from crossing the various bridges using ingenuity and a limited supply of explosives. Can you destroy all the bridge designs and building materials you encounter or will your carefully thought-out plans of destruction fail?
Asian Angel’s walk-through is here but if you think you can blow up bridges without any help then you can go straight into the game here.
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20 Famous Authors’ Adorable School Photos
via Flavorwire by Emily Temple
It’s back to school season, which means new books, new classes and yes, new photos, yearbook and otherwise. But don’t worry – your favourite authors had to go through it too. To celebrate the new season of scholarship, we’ve collected a few pictures of some of our favourite authors’ school photos, ranging from proud snapshots of the first day of kindergarten to writers-to-be goofing off behind a desk to posed high school graduation photos.
Check out our collection, find out which author was voted class clown, and ruminate on what your own education might lead to.
I felt that 20 was too many to list but as an example of the formal style here is:
Angela Carter (middle row, third from the left) and her classmates in high school
Image c. Streatham and Clapham High School via the Guardian
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