History
January 5, 2022

103-Year-Old “Aunty Moser” May Have Been One of the Earliest-Born People Ever Photographed

The development of photography in the 19th century changed the art of portraiture. While etchings, paintings, and sketches remained commonplace, the earliest photographic portraits began to be captured on daguerrotype plates. This new method spread fast and wide so that by mid-century a studio portrait was accessible to middle-class sitters. Such portraits were a new way to memorialize history and its people—including everyone from famous presidents to ordinary folks.

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Podcast
January 5, 2022

Artist Brian Peterson on Using Art To Help People Experiencing Homelessness [Podcast]

Artist Brian Peterson is using his creative talents to actually change lives and uplift people in his community. He paints his neighbors experiencing homelessness and uses the proceeds from sold portraits to support their rehabilitation. This week on the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast, we interview Peterson about his non-profit—called Faces of Santa Ana—that was founded on this process.

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Birds
January 4, 2022

White-Necked Raven Can Accurately Mimic Human Voices

Ravens are extremely intelligent birds. Members of the Corvus genus, their behavior has long fascinated birders, scientists, and even authors such as Edgar Allen Poe. Studies have demonstrated that at four months old the sleek black birds have intelligence equivalent to that of adult apes. They can be trained to perform a number of clever tricks—including matching colors, retrieving objects, and even mimicking human voices with shocking realism.

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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.