History
September 21, 2024

The History of Halloween: Exploring the Age-Old Origins of the Enchanting Holiday

For centuries, people young and old have reveled in the fun and frightening festivities of Halloween. Occurring every year on the last day of October, the haunted holiday is a festive way to celebrate the fall season and an exciting way to embrace the occult, making it one of contemporary culture's most exciting annual events. But what is the true history of Halloween? Though it's wildly popular today, Halloween is not merely a modern phenomenon.

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Art History
September 20, 2024

Kintsugi: The Centuries-Old Art of Repairing Broken Pottery with Gold

Poetically translated to “golden joinery,” kintsugi, or Kintsukuroi, is the centuries-old Japanese art of fixing broken pottery. Rather than rejoin ceramic pieces with a camouflaged adhesive, the kintsugi technique employs a special urushi lacquer, made from tree sap, dusted with powdered gold, silver, or platinum. Once completed, beautiful seams of gold glint in the conspicuous cracks of ceramic wares, giving a one-of-a-kind appearance to each “repaired” piece.

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Tiny Living
September 20, 2024

Couple Buys Uninhabited Island Because It’s Cheaper Than Purchasing a House

High housing prices are an issue around the world. That's why many people are turning to some unorthodox alternatives, such as tiny living. Others, like Oliver Russell are taking even wilder avenues. The 24-year-old Finnish-American man and his girlfriend Helena Tomaszewska bought a tiny island in Finland after realizing it was cheaper than putting down a deposit on a house. Russell, who grew up in the U.S.

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Sculpture
September 20, 2024

Giant Butterfly Sculpture Unites Burning Man Festival-Goers Beneath Its Glowing LED Wings

Every year, thousands of people head to the Black Rock Desert in Nevada for the one-of-a-kind Burning Man festival. The week-long celebration of art, music, and community is famous for its otherworldly sculptures that turn the desert into a magical playground for grown-ups. One of the standout pieces from 2023 is Mariposa, a giant butterfly installation created by Christopher Schardt.

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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.