Posts by Sage Helene

Sage Helene

Sage Helene is a contributing writer at My Modern Met. She earned her MFA in Photography and Related Media and an MST in Art Education from the Rochester Institute of Technology. She has since written for several digital publications, including Float and UP Magazine. In addition to her writing practice, Sage works as an Art Educator across both elementary and secondary levels, where she is committed to fostering artistic curiosity, inclusivity, and confidence in young creators.
Photography
August 13, 2026

100+ Iconic Photos Explore the Power of Presence in This Traveling Exhibition

Photography, as theorist Roland Barthes once argued, functions as a kind of proof, a “certificate of presence” confirming that a moment, person, or place truly existed. That idea anchors Presence: The Photography Collection of Judy Glickman Lauder, a new traveling exhibition organized by the American Federation of Arts (AFA). It features more than 100 photographs by over 50 artists, all drawn from one of the most significant private photography collections in the United States.

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Inspiring
August 11, 2026

Indigenous Man From the Amazon Travels to Hong Kong and Experiences Modern City Life for the First Time

Before Wareka had ever seen a Hong Kong skyscraper, he lived deep in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Then an unexpected friendship took him thousands of miles from home and into one of the world’s busiest cities. Wareka is an Indigenous Waorani man from eastern Ecuador. He met Arieh Smith, the language enthusiast and YouTuber known as Xiaoma, when Smith traveled to the Amazon and spent time with his community.

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Inspiring
August 10, 2026

Meet the Women Over 64 Cleaning Up Cape Cod’s Ponds One Dive at a Time

Every summer, a group of women over 64 dives into Cape Cod’s freshwater ponds to remove trash from the bottom. The Old Ladies Against Underwater Garbage, or OLAUG, estimates that it has removed 6,000 pounds of garbage since forming in 2017. The group now has about 30 members and organizes around 20 formal dives each year, with each cleanup requiring careful planning around water conditions, wildlife, and safety.

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Installation
August 6, 2026

Giant Oyster-Shaped Installation Made of Recycled Shells Pops Up on Governors Island

A monumental oyster now rises from the waterfront at Governors Island. Aptly titled The Oyster, the new public artwork by Mohawk artist Alan Michelson invites visitors to step inside an immersive sculpture. It reconnects New York Harbor’s Indigenous history with one of its largest environmental restoration efforts. The location carries particular significance. Governors Island sits within an estuary that once supported vast oyster reefs and shell middens built by Lenape communities over generations.

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My Modern Met

Celebrating creativity and promoting a positive culture by spotlighting the best sides of humanity—from the lighthearted and fun to the thought-provoking and enlightening.