February 15, 2020

Hagia Sophia: Explore the Rich History of Istanbul’s Architectural Gem

The Eurasian city of Istanbul, Turkey has a rich history. Its pivotal location on the Bosporus strait makes it a transcontinental city that links the east and west. For this reason, it was an important capital to two great empires—the Byzantine and the Ottoman. Remarkably, this legacy of different cultures and movements can still be seen throughout Istanbul today. One of the best examples of this historical fusion is the architectural structure called Hagia Sophia.

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February 14, 2020

Finland Solves Its Homelessness by Providing Apartments for Anyone Who Needs One

Homelessness is a problem all over the world, but Finland is leading the way with an initiative that could provide a long-term solution. In 2008, the Northern European nation introduced the “Housing First” policy. The concept is simple: everyone is entitled to a small apartment, even those with mental health and financial issues. Since then, the number of homeless people has fallen drastically, and continues to decline.

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February 14, 2020

Artist Combines Old and New Techniques to Create Vibrant Knit Portraits

Mixed media artist Faith Humphrey Hill combines modern tools with age-old creative traditions in her innovative knit portraits. These dynamic portraits contain traditional drawing techniques made on digital apps as well as knitted textures made by hand. Hill spent 20 years working in a variety of creative roles in galleries and community arts organizations until she finally made the decision to fully commit to her studio practice in 2016.

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February 12, 2020

Artist Gives New Life to Old Forgotten Photographs With Colorful Hand Embroidery

More and more, contemporary embroiderers are pushing the boundaries of the age-old craft to produce unique hand-stitched pieces. Such is the case for calligrapher and fiber artist Han Cao, who combines her chromatic embroidery with found vintage photographs in her series Forgotten Photos. Although based in Palm Springs, Cao collects black and white and sepia-toned pictures from estate sales, antique stores, and flea markets from around the world.

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