Ancient Art
December 27, 2020

What Is Ancient Assyrian Art? Discover the Visual Culture of This Powerful Empire

Arising from the Fertile Crescent, the Assyrian Empire once ruled over Mesopotamia with powerful armies and grand stone palaces. This advanced civilization greatly predated the Roman and Greek Empires but produced works of art as delicate as Greek amphorae and as monumental as Roman statuary. Leaving behind a rich archeological record and a wealth of written records, the Ancient Assyrians are an important facet of any introduction to ancient art.

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Woodworking
December 26, 2020

Artist Transforms Ordinary Wooden Benches Into Dynamic Curling Works of Art

French-Argentine artist Pablo Reinoso believes that art always changes the space it inhabits. “It can provide the environment in which it is inscribed a new meaning, a new function, and a new angle of vision,” he explains. Reinoso’s dynamic benches certainly explore the spaces they inhabit in unexpected ways. Strips of wood and metal seem to break away from traditional benches or frames to complete dramatic gestures across a room or public space.

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History
December 24, 2020

Gingerbread: The Romantic Medieval History and Its Festive Use Today

For centuries, gingerbread has been an important part of holiday tradition. It has also provided an opportunity for creatives to impress friends and family with intricate cookies or edible structures. Dabbling in an artistic baking experiment is always fun, but at the end of the day, gingerbread is best when shared with loved ones. Did you know that intricate gingerbread cookies in the shape of your partner symbolized romantic love in medieval times?

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Science
December 23, 2020

Study Finds That All Blue-Eyed People Share a Common Ancestor

A group of scientists at the University of Copenhagen has determined that all blue-eyed people share one common ancestor from 6,000–10,000 years ago. “Originally, we all had brown eyes,” explains professor Hans Eiberg from the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine. “But a genetic mutation affecting the OCA2 gene in our chromosomes resulted in the creation of a ‘switch,' which literally ‘turned off' the ability to produce brown eyes.

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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.