News
November 2, 2020

Japanese University Awards the First Ninja Studies Degree in New Program

Being a ninja is about more than just swinging swords and throwing ninja stars. Popular culture fantasies of ninjas present only one facet of the complex history of these legendary warriors. In feudal Japan, ninjas were highly trained and distinct from higher-class samurai; among a ninja's duties were espionage, assassinations, and other covert operations.

Read Article

Crafts
November 1, 2020

Learn About the Ancient Art of Basket Weaving and How You Can Make Your Own

There are few arts with longer or more global histories than basket weaving. Pre-dating pottery, baskets were useful for Neolithic hunters and gatherers. Over the millennium, woven containers and furniture became important throughout global cultures for spiritual and aesthetic reasons. Today, basketry is an important and useful cultural practice in many societies. There are countless materials which can be woven into containers of varying size and designs.

Read Article

Modern Art
October 31, 2020

Learn the History of Color Field Painting and the Artists Who Pioneered It

Modern art had a number of stylistic shifts, but few were as sublime as color field painting. The term applies to artwork featuring large areas of flat, single hues. The method first emerged during the late 1940s when several abstract artists attempted to create a new form of art. They wanted to evoke emotion and ideas purely through color itself rather than render recognizable, illustrative scenes and forms.

Read Article

Painting
October 30, 2020

Artist Adds ‘Star Wars’ To Discarded Paintings He Finds in Thrift Stores

While many people may overlook old thrift store paintings, Dave (of Arrowhead Vintage & Goods) actually seeks them out to transform the outdated landscapes into surreal sci-fi scenes. He alters old, forgotten artworks by adding pop culture characters that seem to blend seamlessly within the painterly scenes. From the Iron Giant treading through a forest to Godzilla at the beach, Dave adds characters from a whole host of fantasy films.

Read Article

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.