Posts by Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met and Manager of My Modern Met Store. She is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art where she earned her BFA in Illustration and MFA in Illustration Practice. Sara is also an embroidery illustrator and writer living in Seattle, Washington. She runs Bear&Bean, a studio where she stitches pet portraits and other beloved creatures. She chronicles the creativity of others through her website Brown Paper Bag and newsletter, Orts. Her latest book is Threads of Treasure: How to Make, Mend, and Find Meaning Through Thread, published in 2014. Sara’s work has been recognized in Be Creative With Workbox, Embroidery Magazine, American Illustration, on Iron and Wine’s album Beast Epic, among others. When she’s not stitching or writing, Sara enjoys planning things that bring together the craft community. She is the co-founder of Camp Craftaway, a day camp for crafty adults with hands-on workshops in the Seattle area.
News
October 2, 2025

RIP Jane Goodall: Revered Primatologist and Conservationist Dead at 91

Dr. Jane Goodall, the pioneering naturalist whose observations of chimpanzees changed how we see nature, animals, and ourselves, has died. She was 91 years old. On Wednesday, October 1, 2025, the Jane Goodall Institute announced her passing on its Instagram page. “Dr. Goodall’s discoveries as an ethologist revolutionized science,” the institute wrote, “and was a tireless advocate for the protection and restoration of our natural world.

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Installation
September 29, 2025

Laser-Cut Cube Immerses Visitors in Light and Pattern at the Seattle Asian Art Museum

Artist Anila Quayyum Agha is making her debut in the Pacific Northwest. Her illuminated, large-scale installations are currently on display at the Seattle Asian Art Museum (SAAM), cloaking its galleries in intricate projections that immerse the viewer in patterned worlds. The exhibition, titled Anila Quayyum Agha: Geometry of Light, marks the first solo exhibition of a Pakistani-American artist in the Seattle Art Museum’s 90-year history. Light and shadow are equal participants in Agha’s sculptures.

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Hotels
September 25, 2025

Populus Denver: A Climate-Positive Hotel Combining Comfort With Stunning Contemporary Design

Stunning design and sustainable living aren’t mutually exclusive. The two can support and inform one another, creating something that is climate-neutral or even climate-positive. The luxury hotel Populus Denver strikes a balance between stellar architectural design and environmental consciousness. As an impressive addition to the Denver skyline, the exterior celebrates nature with white, round forms and eye-shaped window cutouts.

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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.