Posts by Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met, Manager of My Modern Met Store, and co-host of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. As an illustrator and writer living in Seattle, she chronicles illustration, embroidery, and beyond through her blog Brown Paper Bag and Instagram @brwnpaperbag. She wrote a book about embroidery artist Sarah K. Benning titled "Embroidered Life" that was published by Chronicle Books in 2019. Sara is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art. She earned her BFA in Illustration in 2008 and MFA in Illustration Practice in 2013.
Good News
January 2, 2026

Travel Host Rick Steves Saves Seattle-Area Hygiene Center in Amazing “Gift to My Homeless Neighbors”

The Lynnwood Hygiene Center, in a suburb north of Seattle, was slated to shut its doors on December 12, 2025. That is, until one of its community members stepped in to help. Travel writer and TV host Rick Steves pledged to keep the center open and free for people who need it as a resource for hot showers, food, and clothing in south Snohomish County (where the center is located).

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Astrophotography
December 23, 2025

Rare Elves and Sprites Light up the Sky Like a Scene From the Film ‘Independence Day’

Italian photographer Valter Binotto captured a seemingly unreal image—one where two rare forms of red lightning shot into the sky like something out of science fiction. In fact, he compared the scene to the film Independence Day. Upon photographing the scene, it reminded him of the moment in the movie when the alien ship destroys the U.S. White House.

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Modern Art
December 22, 2025

Exhibition Organized by Color Explores Its Use by Artists Across Time and Aesthetics

Color is a powerful force. It’s an element of art and a vital tool for creatives to express themselves. The addition of certain colors can provoke our emotions, making us feel calm and peaceful or even agitated and anxious. An exhibition now on view at Opera Gallery Miami showcases the seemingly endless ways in which artists use color.

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Photo Contest
December 16, 2025

Wondrous Winners of the 12th International Landscape Photographer of the Year Awards

One way or another, we’ve all been witnesses to the stunning beauty of natural landscapes, and one competition is recognizing the photographers who capture incredible vistas from around the world. Now in its 12th year, the International Landscape Photographer of the Year competition recently announced its 2025 winners. The lauded images are a selection of the world’s best contemporary landscape photographs, representing striking mountainscapes, frigid treelines, and fantastic fungi.

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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.