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.
Design
September 28, 2016

Real Size of Large Wonders of the World Are Put Into Perspective through Visual Comparisons

It’s hard to understand just how big (or small) something truly is, especially when it appears in an unfamiliar context. Kevin Wisbith has put some exceptionally “large” things into perspective by placing them into situations where we have a better grip on scale. So for those of us who cannot conceptualize the true width of a B-2 Bomber or the world’s largest oil tanker, Wisbith’s comparisons will provide clarity and even surprise you.

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Animals
September 23, 2016

Macro Photos Capture the Dazzling “Mirror Spider” with Its Changing Mosaic of Reflective Panels

For the past several years, Nicky Bay has carefully observed the dazzlingly odd-looking arthropod known as the “mirror spider” (scientifically: “Thwaitesia argentiopunctata”). The Singapore-based photographer has concentrated his macro lens on this small creature whose midsection is cloaked in silvery, mosaic-like panels that reflect light. From certain angles, it looks like it’s wearing fabulous, tiny sequins. Thanks to Bay’s continued documentation, he has noticed that their appearance changes depending on the environmental circumstances.

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Art
September 21, 2016

“Lattice Hair” Trend Gives Ordinary Braids a Boost with Stunningly Intricate Weavings

From mermaids to secret rainbows to hidden undercuts, it’s been a good year for hair. One of the latest trends that can only be described as “hair art” is lattice braids. Think of them like ordinary braids cranked to 11—they feature a similar criss-crossing structure but use smaller, intricately woven pieces to form complex arrangements that trail down the back or side of the head.

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Art
September 16, 2016

Complex Web of Red Thread Swarms Above Stranded Boats as a Meditation on Fate

Artist Chiharu Shiota is known for her intricate, immersive installations that are meditations on the human brain and memory. Last year, she illustrated this idea by collecting 50,000 keys and stringing them along thread that engulfed the ceiling of a gallery. In a similarly awe-inspiring fashion, Shiota has created Uncertain Journey, a site-specific exhibition in which a dense web of scarlet-colored yarn swarms above stranded skeletal boats.

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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.