May 13, 2022

Middle-Schooler Starts Book Club to Fight Back Against Banned Books

When the American Library Association published its annual report, a troubling trend was clear—more books than ever are being banned in the United States. In 2021, the association reports that there were 729 challenges to 1,597 books, which is the highest number since the organization began tracking book bans 20 years ago. These challenges affect books in libraries, schools, and universities.

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May 13, 2022

Nigerian Artist “Draws” Hyperrealistic Portraits by Burning Wood

Nigerian artist Alex Peter Idoko creates exquisite drawings without the use of a pencil, pen, or paintbrush. Instead, the 30-year-old artist utilizes pyrography—or wood burning—to bring his subjects to life. With this unconventional technique, he masterfully renders the delicate textures of people's skin and hair with fire until they resemble hyperrealistic portraits. Originally, from Lagos, Nigeria, Idoko has been passionate about portrait art since he was a student.

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