Art

January 11, 2019

Interview: Museum’s Artist-in-Residence Promotes Conservation with Wildlife Watercolors

Painter Peggy Macnamara is no ordinary watercolorist. As the Chicago Field Museum‘s artist-in-residence, Macnamara's muses include ancient vases, animal specimens, and other priceless artifacts that surround her on a daily basis. This fascinating career has led to an even more unique opportunity, as Macnamara's art now aids in the crucial conservation efforts of the museum's Keller Science Action Center.

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January 9, 2019

Interview: Researcher Creates Free Archive of Over 3,000 19th-Century Shakespeare Illustrations

There is perhaps no other author as synonymous with English literature as William Shakespeare. His works—from the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet to the wicked ambition of Macbeth—continue to capture the imagination of the public. Though many academics have studied the playwright, Dr. Michael John Goodman approached his work from a new angle. As part of his Ph.D., Goodman created the Victorian Illustrated Shakespeare Archive (VISA), a database of over 3,000 Shakespeare illustrations.

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January 7, 2019

Artist Turns Beauty of Seasonal Woodlands into Colorful Ceramic Vases and Bowls

Inspired by majestic woodlands, Montana-based ceramic artist Heesoo Lee hand-sculpts ceramic vessels that look like forests of colorful aspen trees. Porcelain branches seem to grow and twist from vases, bowls, and trays, while countless colorful clay leaves adorn their glazed surfaces. With a background in painting, Lee’s eye-catching pieces look just like three-dimensional landscape paintings that you can hold in your hand.

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January 6, 2019

Multilayered Oil Paintings Visualize Motion and Time Passing in Busy Cities

Inspired by everyday moments, British artist Clive Head captures the often dizzying urban environment in his multi-perspective oil paintings. From hurried commuters on public transport to busy coffee shops, each painting features fractured layers that suggest movements through space and time. Throughout Head’s lengthy career, his style has evolved from traditional realist works to that of his current large-scale, math-inspired compositions.

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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.