Quantcast
Channel: Culture & Arts
Viewing all 18485 articles
Browse latest View live

Art Book Chronicles The Badass Women Who Changed The World In 'A History Of Sluts'

0
0
Frida Kahlo. Nan Goldin. Hatshepsut. Lena Dunham. Hannah Hoch. Wallis Simpson. Emilie Du Chatelet. Stevie Nicks. These are just some of the women who, through their various life's work, changed the course of history forever. They also, at some point in their lives, were called sluts.

nan
Nan Goldin


A project entitled "A History of Sluts," a collaboration by artists Chelsea Dom and Alice Lancaster, presents a visual compendium of the badass women who were criticized and reviled for their open sexuality and fierce femininity, and prevailed as powerful nonetheless.

"My project is an exploration of slut-shaming and how it relates to society today," Dom explained to The Huffington Post."I was first inspired to do the project while working on a photo series about prostitutes and strippers. I was documenting the slut shaming stigmas that they experienced and realized that this isn’t an isolated issue. I have been slut shamed and so have most, if not all of my female friends. It’s an important theme to explore."

Through "A History of Sluts," Dom hopes to dislodge the fallback method of female oppression, exposing slut shaming for the prejudiced method of silencing it always has been all along. "Slut-shaming has become so engrained in our culture that it’s now a normal and accepted practice. Women are taught to see their bodies as something shameful. I wanted to show through my project that some of the most powerful and influential women in history have been slut shamed. It’s okay to be confident and empowered. We have to take away the fear associated with the female body, and not ostracize those who openly express their sexuality."

hannah
Hannah Hoch


To accompany her text, Dom enlisted artist Alice Lancaster to create slinky line drawings of the various heroines. "I love her work," Dom said. "I wanted to use her illustrations in the book because she has such a great sense of line and proportion, which really give the portraits a unique character and perspective. I wanted to give her as much freedom as possible with the illustrations so that her honest interpretations of the women could come through. I like that she draws people she admires, and this philosophy really helps to humanize the individuals she illustrates."

The minimalist drawings align inspirational female figures from varying eras, origins, disciplines and effects. The one thing they all have in common is, sadly, the discrimination they faced during their lifetimes. "Some of the women in the book are well known, while others I had to learn about for myself. I wanted to open the discussion of viewing these women not by how they’re labeled, but rather as human beings who have lived unique lives. There are women in the book who people will be quick to characterize as 'sluts' but others might be surprising. With these historic figures, I want to express that slut shaming effects all women whether it be someone well known or someone you know."

Needless to say, we love this project. Check out the powerful sluts who took no prisoners in the images below and see more on Instagram. The book "A History of Sluts" will be released Spring 2015.


Tom Petty Calls 'Stay With Me' Similarities A 'Musical Accident'

0
0
Earlier this week, The Sun learned that Sam Smith would pay Tom Petty royalties for "Stay With Me," which contains similar notes, chords, rhythms and pitches to Petty's classic track, "I Won't Back Down." Petty released a statement on his website, noting that he has "never had any hard feelings toward Sam," and that the two artists never used the word "lawsuit" when discussing the mishap:

About the Sam Smith thing. Let me say I have never had any hard feelings toward Sam. All my years of songwriting have shown me these things can happen. Most times you catch it before it gets out the studio door but in this case it got by. Sam’s people were very understanding of our predicament and we easily came to an agreement. The word lawsuit was never even said and was never my intention. And no more was to be said about it. How it got out to the press is beyond Sam or myself. Sam did the right thing and I have thought no more about this. A musical accident no more no less. In these times we live in this is hardly news. I wish Sam all the best for his ongoing career. Peace and love to all.


Smith's camp spoke to Rolling Stone earlier this week, acknowledging the similarities between the songs. They also confirmed that "Stay With Me" is now co-credited to Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne, who wrote "I Won't Back Down." At the time, they called the likeness "a complete coincidence."

At least we got this mashup out of the whole ordeal:

How Yanni Got His Very Own Panda (VIDEO)

0
0
Instrumental musician and composer Yanni has performed at some of the greatest sites in cities and countries all across the globe. He's held concerts in places such as India's sacred Taj Mahal, produced chart-topping albums and received praise from critics throughout his decades-long career. But there's one big -- and rare -- honor that has particular meaning for the renowned pianist.

"One of the things that really touched me a lot was China giving me a panda," Yanni tells "Oprah: Where Are They Now?" in the above video.

In 2011, the China Olympic mascot panda, Mao Mao, gave birth to a female giant panda cub at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. Two months later, officials from the base allowed Yanni to symbolically adopt the cub, the first time a western artist had been given such an honor. He named his panda Santorini after the island in his native Greece.

yanni and his panda santorini

"A lot of people may have heard of it, but they don't realize that the panda is a symbol to the Chinese," Yanni explains. "They only lease pandas to nations. They're reserved for countries only, not for individuals or personalities."

China has long practiced "panda diplomacy," loaning the rare creatures to select countries to help foster relationships, strengthen bonds and bestow honor. It's a gift whose gravity isn't lost on a grateful Yanni.

"That really touched my heart because it's their version of the Nobel Peace Prize," Yanni says. "Every time I've gone to China, they honor me.

"I'm probably the only human being on the planet that is walking that has a panda!" he adds.

Also See: He kept this secret for 32 years -- now meet Yanni's daughter, Krystal Ann.

"Oprah: Where Are They Now?" returns with all-new episodes in March. Find OWN on your TV.



Like Us On Facebook |
Follow Us On Twitter

How Ryan Scott Oliver Is Shaking Up Musical Theater With His Dark, 'Twisted And Genius' Work

0
0
Ryan Scott Oliver could very well be musical theater’s answer to an auteur filmmaker or a gothic novelist, and for good reason: the 30-year-old composer-lyricist says he’s equally inspired by the likes of Quentin Tarantino and Stephen King as he is Stephen Sondheim.

“I like to think of my artistic perspective as being morbidly optimistic,” Scott told The Huffington Post in an interview. Like Tarantino and King, he sees darkness as the common denominator in all of his work, noting, “I believe in happy endings, but I also believe that there’s a lot of really, really awful sh*t that people have to go through in order to get there.”

New Yorkers who aren’t familiar with Scott's shows, like 2014's “Jasper In Deadland” and 2009’s "Mrs. Sharp,” will get an opportunity to be introduced to the scope of his musicality at Manhattan nightspot 54 Below on Feb. 2. The composer will join Broadway veterans Jay Armstrong Johnson, Lindsay Mendez, Andy Mientus and Derek Klena (among others) for two back-to-back concerts showcasing his eclectic -- and occasional eccentric -- melodies.

Jay Armstrong Johnson sings a tune from "Jasper in Deadland."



Though he’s yet to be produced on Broadway, Oliver has already garnered a cult-like following among legions of theater fans, as evidenced by the fact that both performances were nearly sold out at the time this story was first published. That comes as little surprise to Johnson, who praises Oliver’s music as “deep, rich, innovative and new.”

“His stuff is never based on a movie or a book -- the source material is always his brain, which is twisted, genius and exciting,” Johnson, who is currently starring in the Broadway revival of “On The Town,” said. "He’s always dealing with religion, he’s always dealing with sexuality … things that are dark and semi-uncomfortable, but which always make you think. As an actor, you don’t really come across many composers of that breadth and depth.”

Oliver, who set out to become a composer in high school and aims to pen at least one new show every year, also acknowledges the inherently queer themes that thread his work. One example is his 2010 musical “Darling,” which put a “dark, jazzy and sexy” spin on the story of “Peter Pan” by, among other things, recasting the Lost Boys as male hustlers. He says he’s most drawn to narratives that feature the “fabulousness” and “shimmer” of traditional musical theater, but also that highlight the triumph of an underdog.

“I really like creating underdogs as well as the people who will suppress them and aim to destroy them,” he said. “I’m really fascinated by monsters that take human form.”

Oliver married photographer Matthew Murphy (left) in 2014.

matthew murphy ryan oliver

Fortunately, Oliver has found an ideal personal and professional partner in the form of dance and theater photographer Matthew Murphy. The couple collaborated on an experimental multimedia exhibition, “35MM,” in New York in 2010 and 2012; Murphy has since gone on to shoot many of Oliver's shows, including “Deadland.” In May 2014, they tied the knot in a Brooklyn ceremony officiated by Mendez.

Noting that he and Murphy have a “loving creative competition” with each other, Oliver added, “Our relationship is never jealousy-inducing, but I’m always aware of the fact that I'm married to very talented, driven person. We set a good example for one another, and that’s a very, very special thing. He's a genius, so that doesn't hurt either.”

Actress (and longtime pal) Lindsay Mendez sings from "35MM."




So what's next for Oliver following his 54 Below engagement? These days, much of his creative energy is focused on a new, folk-driven musical called “Rope.” A production of “Jasper in Deadland” opens in Seattle in May, and Oliver says he is hopeful a full-scale production of “Darling” will be staged in New York in the imminent future, following a reading in late January.

For now, however, Oliver is content to be creating the niche musicals he wants to make, even as mainstream Broadway audiences flock to jukebox shows like “Mamma Mia!”

“There’s a crowd who wants to go to a musical for a good time, and there's a crowd who wants to see a musical to be changed,” he said. “For me, if I write a good story, I think people will want to see it. You have to write the show that speaks to your heart in a given year.”

"RSO at 54 Below" opens at New York's 54 Below on Feb. 2. Head here for more details.

Holy Crap! British Artist Magnus Irvin Will Cast Your Anus In Bronze (NSFW)

0
0
A British artist who makes chocolate candies in the shape of human anuses is making a new impression on the world of butthole art.

Since 2006, Magnus Irvin has been selling anus-shaped candies at the aptly-named EdibleAnus.com.

Recently, Irvin got behind a new project: Casting personalized bronze anuses for $1,900 a pop.

“Having made chocolate anuses now for a fair while, we've moved into the more permanent anuses made of casting metal or glass," he told Riot TV. “These are available to anyone who wants their own anus cast, or a copy of someone else's anus."

The video below includes graphic images of Irvin at work. It bears mentioning once again: Some people will find this disturbing. Once you see this you can't un-see it.

WATCH: Magnus Irvin In Action (Warning: NSFW)



The process of having a butt bronzed can be a real pain in the rear, according to blogger Alexi Duggins, who had his posterior immortalized for posterity for a Time Out London article.

Duggins said Irvin made him grease the area being bronzed before lying down on his back with his knees curled toward his face. Irvin then poured a gel into some intimate areas.

A few minutes later, Irvin had a cast of Duggins' derriere that he described as looking a little like a scallop. That piece was sent to a foundry to be cast into a bronze "arthole."

So far, Irvin has only made a few bronze bottoms, including one of his own tush.




Like Us On Facebook |
Follow Us On Twitter |
Contact The Author

Yes, 'Clinton: The Musical' Is A Very Real Thing

0
0
NEW YORK (AP) — Kerry Butler's next role will take her to the White House — the Clinton White House, that is.

The Tony Award-nominated star of "Xanadu" said Thursday she will play Hillary Rodham Clinton when the irreverent show "Clinton: The Musical" lands at New World Stages. Performances begin March 25. The show explores and lampoons the Clinton presidency with appearances from actors playing Monica Lewinsky, Newt Gingrich, Dick Morris and Kenneth Starr. Bill Clinton is portrayed by two actors at the same time, one serious and the other randy.

Butler, who volunteered for Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign for president, was initially hesitant about mocking the politician but was assured by people who know Clinton that it would be better to have someone onstage willing to protect her.

"I have pushed them to make her stronger," Butler said. "I feel like she gets a bad rap. I've been doing so much research and a lot of the interviews I've seen she comes off as very sweet. I think that people are intimidated by her education and that she's a lawyer. And because she's a woman, they just put her in this category. In all the things I've watched, it doesn't seem that she's like that."

The story is by Australian brothers Paul and Michael Hodge and Paul Hodge wrote the music. It's directed and choreographed by Dan Knechtges, who also choreographed "Xanadu."

It arrives as Clinton is the leading Democratic candidate should she run for president in 2016. "If it's going to go, it should go now," Butler said. "It's really funny and timely."

The musical was nominated for Best New Musical at the 2012 Edinburgh Festival Fringe and transferred to London's King's Head Theatre in 2013. Last year, it played the New York Musical Theatre Festival.

Butler's other Broadway credits include "Catch Me If You Can," ''The Best Man" and "Rock of Ages." She was also recently seen off-Broadway in "The Call," ''Big" and "Under My Skin."

___

Online: http://www.clintonthemusical.com

___

Follow Mark Kennedy on Twitter at http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits

What Art Reproductions Sell Best in Which Cities?

0
0
OverstockArt.com sells hand-painted reproductions of more than 10,000 works. The paintings, mostly of well-known masterpieces, are made by painters under contract in China and Vietnam and sold via the company’s website and those of retailers including Gilt Groupe, J.C. Penney Co., Kohl’s Corp. and Home Depot Inc.

Watch Angels & Airwaves 'Tunnels' Video, A Song Dedicated To Tom DeLonge's Father

0
0
While things have gotten a little ... hot for Tom DeLonge when it comes to his position in Blink-182, DeLonge's other musical venture, Angels & Airwaves, recently released a fifth album, "The Dream Walker." On Wednesday, A&A released the video for the song "Tunnels," combining shots of the band playing with clips from "Poet Anderson: The Dream Walker," an animated film that is brain child of DeLonge:



In an interview with Rolling Stone, DeLonge discussed how "Tunnels" was originally written about doubting religion, but took on a whole new meaning after an extraordinary experience surrounding the death of his father:

It was the first song that we wrote, and I wrote the whole song up until the chorus, lyrically, about doubting religion. So, flash forward a year-and-a-half later and about two or three months ago, my dad passed away. The night that he passed away, I woke up from my sleep with an extraordinarily massive amount of energy, and I can only describe it as though someone injected me with a gallon of methamphetamines and Ecstasy with electricity. My heart is going 1,000 miles per minute, and something is in the room and I can't figure out what this is. I reach for my phone, and there's nothing on my phone. Mind you, I just left my dad at hospice a couple of hours before that.

I lay back down, and for 30 minutes I'm trying to fall back asleep, but I can't because I'm literally high. Then my phone buzzes and it's the hospice nurse and she said, "Please call me." I called her, and she said, "Your dad passed away 30 minutes ago." It was the most insane feeling ever. It was so supernatural that it literally changed my life, because it was so strong. Then I went back and I wrote the chorus for this song doubting the existence of God. It's a juxtaposition within the song itself. That song, "Tunnels," it sounds a little Motown or it sounds folky but anthemic. It's so different than any song I've ever done. This is probably of the top two songs I've ever been a part of in my entire career.


"The Dream Walker" was written by DeLonge and Ilan Rubin, and ties into a larger project that combines music, film and comics, all centered around the character Poet Anderson. The film "Poet Anderson: The Dream Walker" recently won the Best Animated Film at the Toronto International Short Film Festival, and DeLonge has described the story as a "new version of Peter Pan."

'POWERED,' NYC Dystopian Artist Showcase, Presented By Issa Israel

0
0
A relatively unknown space in Brooklyn, New York will house a showcase of multimedia art tonight in an attempt to elevate the work of artists involved in nightlife outside of a club context.

Curated by Brooklyn-based artist Issa Israel, "POWERED" brings together artists from across the spectrum of performance, visual installation and sound to create a technological, dystopian environment of cinematic grandeur. The framework of "POWERED" is designed to take users on a distorted and dynamic journey that reflects the technologically-informed age that we live in.

powered

Many of the artists involved in "POWERED" operate in some capacity within the realm of New York City nightlife. Like other party curators, such as Susanne Bartsch with "bARTsch" At The Hotel Chelsea Storefront Gallery, Israel wants to showcase the work of individuals outside of a club context where the value of their work is oftentimes lost.

"By no means is 'POWERED' a party, it is an artist showcase with elements of nightlife," Israel told The Huffington Post. "I think [taking the art out of nightlife] is a trend being attempted because there are many aspects of a party that could be seen as art-oriented. New York City nightlife, in particular, focuses a great deal on persona and the perpetual interaction between it and environment -- predominantly through fashion, trademarks, pseudonyms, and performance. The total-self embodiment of one’s artistic work, or idea, is something that has been integrated in the lives of such artist’s like Kenny Kenny and Andy Warhol. Many of the artists who will showcase in 'POWERED' work between nightlife and more conventional art world settings. This is something I wanted to capture, along with some traditional party elements, put in a gallery-esque setting."

Among those involved in "POWERED" is multi-media artist and VECTOR Gallery Oracle Julie Sinelnikova, whose current body of work, "Fairy Organs," considers what it would mean if we could one day swap out organs as accessories.

julia

"The group that coagulated around 'POWERED' is alchemical," Sinelnikova explained. "I feel the artists in this unique multimedia showcase work across genres freely, dealing bravely with subversive themes. The space... is the perfect setting for a new kind of exhibition in which light can be a guiding force, both aesthetically and conceptually. As an artist working in sculpture, installation, video and performance, I am excited to contribute site-specific light sculpture amongst a variety of non-traditional media -- the opposite of a traditional gallery setting. Brooklyn underground has a lot to show the world in terms of high-concept interdisciplinary work and 'POWERED' will be a very special opportunity to glimpse that."

"POWERED" also leans not-so-subtly towards elements of the dystopian, a thematic framework that has been evident recently through other showcases attempting to bridge the art world and nightlife, such as Ladyfag's SHADE: 2084. However, in Israel's eyes, this cultural fascination with life in a dystopian age is nothing new. "This dystopian, apocalyptic state has always been a theme throughout art and culture from the ancient Sumerians, The Book of Revelations, to William Blake and Michelangelo," Israel stated. "The destruction of society, dictatorial leadership, catastrophic weather, man vs. technology. Dystopia will always be culturally relevant and captivating. It plays off of what we are all scared of, and as humans, are capable of causing."

ethan

The space housing "POWERED," Cantina Royal, is popularly utilized for experimental events. With three large-scale projector screens, the event promises to be both visually captivating and fully immersive.

"Issa has brought together a really diverse group of artists whose work all speak to each other in part because of our divergent practices," visual artist Ethan Weinstock told The Huffington Post. "I don't know of a lot of curators who would have come up with such a unique format to showcase video artists, performers interacting with those videos and an artist doing a site specific installation. Hour to hour it will evolve into something completely new as the videos switch out."

ben

Other artists involved in "POWERED" include Ben Copperwheat, Christopher John Conry, Erica Kenia, Gerard Garvey, Nome, Rafael Foster, Tiny Legs and 411YE. Collectively, their work creates a valuable narrative of art informed by nightlife and, in the words of Israel, will "take the viewer on a distorted and vibrant journey through a reflection of our times."

"POWERED" will take place at the Cantina Royal at 53 N. 3d Street in Brooklyn, New York from 6 p.m.-10 p.m. $10 suggested donation.

Passion Pit's New Album, 'Kindred,' Is Due Out In April

0
0
Passion Pit will release their third studio album, "Kindred," in April via Columbia Records. After much speculation, the group posted the news to their social media accounts and wrote "The flicker light's just a flame," directing fans to PassionPitMusic.com.



On Wednesday, they posted a cryptic tweet, which said, "KINDRED I PUT MY HANDS IN THE AIR AND MY KNEES TO THE GROUND," in morse code.




Lead singer Michael Angelakos confirmed that the band was working on a new album back in June, and Passion Pit had been teasing its release on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, posting photos with the caption, "Passion Pit 2015."

The band hasn't released a full record since 2012's "Gossamer," though they put out an EP, "Constant Conversations," in 2013 via Columbia.

Eddie Murphy Is Returning To 'SNL' For The First Time Since 1984

0
0
The last time Eddie Murphy made an appearance on "Saturday Night Live" was Dec. 15, 1984. Thirty-one years later, it appears Murphy will finally return to the show that helped make him a star. In an interview with Roland Martin for NewsOne Now, Murphy said he'd appear on the forthcoming 40th anniversary special for "SNL" that NBC will air on Feb. 15.

"It just never worked out where the timing was right for me to do it," Murphy said when asked why he hadn't appeared on "SNL" in decades. "They're actually having a 40th anniversary, I think, in two weeks. I'm going to that, and that'll be the first time I've been back since I left."

A representative for NBC was not immediately available for comment.

Murphy's acrimonious history with the show dates back to a joke David Spade made about him on Weekend Update during the 1990s, when Murphy's career had hit a low point after "Vampire in Brooklyn." ("Look, children, a falling star.")

"[T]hey were shitty to me on 'Saturday Night Live' a couple of times after I'd left the show. They said some shitty things," Murphy said in an interview with Rolling Stone in 2011. "There was that David Spade sketch. I made a stink about it, it became part of the folklore. What really irritated me about it at the time was that it was a career shot. It was like, 'Hey, come on, man, it's one thing for you guys to do a joke about some movie of mine, but my career? I'm one of you guys. How many people have come off this show whose careers really are fucked up, and you guys are shitting on me?' And you know every joke has to go through all the producers, and ultimately, you know Lorne or whoever says, [Lorne Michaels voice] 'OK, it's OK to make this career crack.'"

Murphy added that he felt unhappy about that for years. "I wouldn't go to retrospectives, but I don't let it linger," he added. "I saw David Spade four years ago. Chris Rock was like, 'Do you guys still hate each other?' and I was like, 'I don't hate David Spade, I'm cool with him.'"

For the full interview with Murphy, head to NewsOne Now.

Recreating the Odyssey, With An iPhone

0
0
If Homer had his own iPhone, he might've snapped shots of Ulysses on all his adventures, documenting every step of the hero’s long voyage. He might've taken pictures of the Proci, Penelope’s suitors, the Argo and Penelope herself. But his epic poem would never have been shrouded in mystery, legend and the oneiric atmosphere that has been inspiring writers and artists for centuries.

One such artist is photographer Stefano De Luigi, who followed the twelve legs of the journey narrated in the Odyssey, crossing the Mediterranean. The voyage took two full years, from Troy to Ithaca, crossing through Turkey, Tunisia, Italy and Greece.

The award-winning photographer left all his heavy photographic equipment behind, leaving home with nothing more than two iPhones in his pockets. His contemporary odyssey is entitled iDyssey, a photographic and multimedia project (including 90 photographs, 10 videos and one short film) that brings distant eras closer together through the use of new technologies and that most contemporary technological medium: the smartphone.

The Odyssey has been told in a thousand different ways, but never before has someone used an iPhone and Hipstamatic app to retell Homer's words. As De Luigi explains, “It’s the thinking, the story, your own view of reality that count. That’s the power of photography.” This is the spirit that gave rise to iDyssey, and it’s in that same spirit that Officine Fotografiche defends the idea that with a smartphone in your pocket, anyone can be a narrator. The important thing is to ask oneself questions about the meaning of a voyage, both exterior and interior, exploring its hidden nuances and the implications it may have for our daily existence, our lives and the challenges inherent in them.

Therefore, in occasion of the iDyssey exhibition (on display in the Roman offices of Officine Fotografiche from February 6-22), a media partnership between Instagramers Roma and HuffPost Italia is sponsoring the “Who is Our Modern-Day Ulysses” challenge.

Participants are invited to take part by sending an image from daily life taken using a smartphone and send it in from January 19 to February 15. The images (along with name, last name, title and Instagram account name) have to be sent to contest@officinefotografiche.org and shared on an individual Instagram account, using the hashtags #UlisseOggi and #huffpostitagram. The best images will be selected by February 25, and shown during the closing ceremonies for the iDyssey exhibition.

As the great film director Andrei Tarkovsky once said, “There is only one possible voyage: the one we take into our interior world.”



This post was originally published on HuffPost Italy and was translated into English.

16 Breathtakingly Beautiful Libraries From Around The World

0
0
What book lover doesn't cherish warm memories of browsing stacks at her college, or attending story time in his hometown? The knowledge housed in libraries can be a comfort, but the delights to be had when visiting them are many. Getting lost in their literary treasures is uniquely satisfying, but they are also places that radiate aesthetic beauty, often showcasing bold architectural experiments.

Last month, we collected photos of some of the world's most stunning libraries, as captured by photographer Franck Bohbot. The list included the Bibliothèque Nationale de France with its dramatic lighting, and the Biblioteca Vallicelliana with its ornate ceilings. Commenters responded with impassioned cases for the beauty of their local libraries, so we asked readers to submit photos of their favorites. We issued appeals for submissions in multiple languages and received pictures from libraries all over the world. Below are 16 more photos of breathtaking libraries, from Amsterdam to Zurich:

Suzzallo Library at the University of Washington - Seattle, Washington, USA










Library of Parliament - Ottawa, Canada




Library of Parliament by night!

A photo posted by Karine Scott (@k_girl883) on







Seattle Public Library - Washington, USA










Stadtbibliothek Stuttgart - Stuttgart, Germany




Wisdom #Photographersparadise #booksandcameraseverywhere #justcameforthatpicture

A photo posted by @jeinhard on







Birmingham Central Library - Birmingham, England










New York Public Library - New York City, USA










Trinity College Library - Dublin, Ireland




Trinity college library. Dublin. Ireland. The most beautiful library I've ever been in. It is the largest library in Ireland. The library is the permanent home to the Book of Kells. Two of the four volumes are on public display in this library. The 65-metre-long main chamber (The long room) was built between 1712 and 1732 and houses 200,000 of the library's oldest books. A library worth visiting for any lover of books. @instagram #vsco #allshots_ #travel #nature #books #library #instalike #inspireland_ #insta_ireland #ireland #discoverireland #featuremeinstagood #allshots_ #architecture #travelling #arch #madewithfaded #simplyadventure #GtaroundDublin #vscosnaps #vscoaward #huffpostgram #Ireland_Gram #hplibrary

A photo posted by Kayla Hickey (@michaelasarahjade) on







Strahov Monastery Library - Prague, Czech Republic




#HPlibrary, #StrahovMonasterylibrary

A photo posted by Tricia Centracco (@tbcentracco) on







The University of Michigan Law Library - Michigan, USA










RWI Bibliothek - Zurich, Switzerland










Rijksmuseum Research Library - Amsterdam, the Netherlands




Library in the @rijksmuseum. #HPlibrary #Amsterdam #Netherlands #Books #Art

A photo posted by AP.MA (@ap.ma) on







The Boston Public Library - Massachusetts, USA










The New York Public Library - New York City, USA










John Rylands Library - Manchester, England




#allhailsymmetry

A photo posted by Euysuk Simon Kwon / 의석 / 義錫 (@es_kwon) on







William Oxley Thompson Memorial Library - Ohio, USA




Stacked #thisisohiostate Good luck to all the students during finals week.

A photo posted by Brian Kaiser (@brianmkaiser) on







Library of Parliament - Ottawa, Canada




our national library is like a fairytale #ottawa #books #library #cardcatelogue

A photo posted by courtenay jean (@yantrouc) on


16 Things We Saw In The First Official 'Game Of Thrones' Season 5 Trailer

0
0
"Game of Thrones" exploded in IMAX on Thursday night, and beyond experiencing the last two episodes of Season 4 on the giant screen, HuffPost Entertainment got to see the world premiere of the Season 5 trailer. The trailer doesn't yet have an official release date. (You can see it at the "Game of Thrones" The IMAX Experience until Thursday, Feb. 5, or on YouTube where it's already leaked.) But here's what it revealed:

(Serious spoilers follow for the show and books!)

  1. Sand Snakes! Without context, you can't necessarily confirm their presence, but it appears we have a Sand Snake sighting. One uses a whip to knock a barrel off a buried man's head. (Obara, is that you?)

  2. Arya is at the doors of the House of Black and White. As predicted, Arya has finally arrived in Braavos, where in the books she goes on to join a certain legendary guild. The trailer also shows a shot of her holding her sword questioningly. Is this the end of Needle?

  3. It looks like a certain dark dragon is back, and he's big!

  4. Tyrion and Varys have escaped safely to a new location. Varys tells Tyrion that he has "a part to play in the war to come," encouraging him to help someone else win the Iron Throne.

  5. But then Varys says, "The Seven Kingdoms needs a ruler loved by millions with a powerful army and the right family name." When Tyrion says, "Good luck finding him," Varys replies, "Who said anything about him?" OH SNAP!

  6. Littlefinger tells Sansa: "There's no justice in this world, not unless we make it. Avenge them."

  7. Tommen and Margaery's wedding.

  8. The Night's Watch appears to burn a body on a giant funeral pyre.

  9. Cersei calls Tyrion a "little monster" and seems very angry that he escaped.

  10. A not-so-happy looking Reek. (What's new?)

  11. Olenna Tyrell telling someone, "They'll never even find what's left of you."

  12. Sansa looks like she's lying down in a dark room. Maybe on a bed? Could this be her "super traumatic" scene?

  13. Daenerys saying, "I'm not going to stop the wheel. I'm going to break the wheel."

  14. Jorah about to fight a man in what is likely Daznak's Pit, which reopens in honor of a special day for Daenerys.

  15. The golden harpy statue atop Yunkai falls and crashes to the ground. Daenerys sent Hizdahr zo Loraq to negotiate with the masters of Yunkai last season after they re-enslaved the freed men, but it looks like things aren't going too well in the next season.

  16. Oh, and the trailer is set to a cover of "Heroes," a song made famous by David Bowie. Because why not? Maybe that will be this year's tagline.


Season 5 of "Game of Thrones" premieres Sunday, April 12, on HBO.

Big Sean Drops 'Blessings' Featuring Kanye West And Drake

0
0
After announcing the title and release date of his new album, "Dark Sky Paradise," Big Sean debuted a new single, "Blessings." Produced by Vinylz, the track features verses from Drake and Kanye West. This is the first song to feature both Drake and West since they ended their "feud" in 2013.

Kanye's verse is particularly boss. It references North West and Snapchat, and includes this "Star Wars" joke: "Even though I get slammed with lawsuits like car doors / See three P.O.'s like 'Star Wars' / They want me by the road holdin' up cardboard / So I go extra hard on the hard floor."

"Dark Sky Paradise" is due out Feb. 24 and reportedly features spots and production from Lil Wayne, Travi$ Scott, PARTYNEXTDOOR and E-40.


Saoirse Ronan's Breakout Is Finally Happening

0
0
Saoirse Ronan speaks with a lovely lullaby accent and is up for talking about pretty much anything -- how she used to think L.A. was "kind of shit," how she doesn’t want to play the teenager who hasn’t been kissed or lost her virginity because she’s past those points in her life, and how "In America" is one of her favorite films.

But what she wants to talk about most is being Irish. Ronan had two films at this year's Sundance Film Festival, including "Brooklyn." In the romance, she plays a young Irish immigrant who journeys to New York in the 1950s in search of a brighter future. Ronan's character navigates her first love, homesickness and learning to fit in when she is very much an outsider. A sudden return to Ireland briefly sets her whole plan off track. The film garnered so much attention at the festival that it became one of this year's top purchases -- Fox Searchlight bought it for $9 million.

"I was waiting for the right Irish project to come along with the right Irish character," she told HuffPost Entertainment in Park City. "I didn't want it to be the stereotypical Irish film. I've been offered a few of those and I haven't felt like they were special enough."

brooklyn
Ronan and Domhnall Gleeson in "Brooklyn."

The film is an adaptation of a book -- something Ronan seems to gravitate toward -- and was written for the screen by Nick Hornby, who is considered one of Hollywood's best writers. Ronan credits him with making “Brooklyn” truly special. So special, in fact, that she was signed on to star a year before they even began shooting.

Ronan’s respect for Hornby is evident. “He’s an English writer and didn’t grow up in Ireland,” she said. “But he was able to capture the Irish spirit so perfectly and so beautifully. He made it nuanced and full of ease.”

“Brooklyn” is a real story that has layers to it, she said. “It wasn’t fucking set on a farm and it wasn’t about the troubles in the North. We’ve seen that; we’ve done that.”

Ronan was born in New York to two Irish parents, but the family moved back to Ireland when she was still a child, and it remained her home through adulthood. But her Irish identity goes far deeper than the sound of her voice.

“We’ve always been a nation of storytellers. And we were pushed down so much as a country for so long, that storytelling and our imagination is what got us through,” Ronan said.

“Storytelling is a huge part of our identity. And we are good at it.”

Clearly the trait did not skip over Ronan. She has had a certain kind of eye for projects and even was nominated for an Oscar for the very first film most people saw her in, 2007’s “Atonement.” She was a mere 13 years old.

Since then, Ronan has chosen intelligent, highbrow films (with the exception of the sci-fi flick “The Host,” which was worth it because she now has a cult following among the teens). She also made a splash in “The Lovely Bones” and “Hanna.”

But she is most widely recognized for Wes Anderson’s latest, “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” which is currently nominated for nine Academy Awards. It is also her highest grossing film.

She’s been somewhat picky with her roles, opting out of the big Hollywood blockbusters, and until recently, choosing to still live in Ireland. But when she heard that Wes Anderson was sending her something, she didn’t hesitate -- “I thought, ‘Well, I’ll just do it! He doesn’t have to send it,’” Ronan said.

But he did send it and she was blown away. “It wasn’t even like I was reading a script, it was more like a novel. It was so complete. It was so detailed,” she said.

grand budapest hotel
Ronan and Tony Revolori in "The Grand Budapest Hotel."

“I’ve never seen anybody prep a film like Wes does,” she continued. “He’s meticulous, organized and prepared before he goes into shooting a film. So much so that he actually will do an animated version of what the film is going to be, shot by shot, so you know how much time each shot is going to have onscreen.”

Ronan’s second film at Sundance, “Stockholm, Pennsylvania,” couldn’t be more different from “Brooklyn.” She plays a young woman who was kidnapped as a child and raised by her kidnapper in a basement. She returns home to her parents and a life she does not remember. Ronan takes on the role with a kind of quiet power that is electrifying.

“I’ve always relied on my instinct pretty heavily. The director is incredibly important. They need to be clear about what they want. I started acting when I was young and even though I was lucky with the people I worked with, and they treated me with a lot of respect and as an equal, I was still the kid.”

But just like her character in “Brooklyn,” Ronan has grown out of the 13-year-old we saw in “Atonement” and left home for greater life roles. She hopes to move to New York one day, as it’s both a big part of her identity and “an inevitable destination.”

“I couldn’t ever go back to just being at home now. It’s different. I’ve changed and had my own experiences.”

Here's Your Definitive Guide To Going To The Opera

0
0
Opera can be a little intimidating.

enchanted island
Luca Pisaroni in The Enchanted Island


But underneath the grandeur (and layers of makeup), are poignantly human stories to the tune of beautiful music. Because opera is not a mainstream form of entertainment, it is often regarded as a pretentious one, something untouchable. However, if you give it a fighting chance, you'll find that opera can be enjoyed by classical musicians and complete newcomers alike -- old to young. Here's our guide to making that happen:

luca pisaroni
Luca Pisaroni and Lisette Oropesa in The Marriage of Figaro


Picking An Opera

When deciding on an opera to see, think about what type of movie you like (or, what Netflix would suggest for you). Rom-com fan? Try "Don Pasquale." Psychodrama? "Lucia di Lammermoor." Bawdy humor? "The Marriage of Figaro." More into big explosions and theatrics? You're probably better off with some Wagner. Then there's always the classic ABCs of opera: "Aida," "La Boheme" and "Carmen."

If you want to see an opera live, you have to look into what's being performed at your local house (or movie theater). Then do a little research -- even just the first sentence on a show's Wikipedia page will help -- on an opera's plot and genre. Don't research too far -- you don't want to spoil the ending, do you?

Opera tickets can run expensive, but there are usually cheaper options to be found -- think about it like a Broadway show or a football game. Aside from standing room and top tier seats, look out for rush tickets and programs for students or seniors, as well as special promotions from places like Gilt. Programs vary at different opera houses.

carmen opera

What To Wear

No, men, you do not have to wear a tux. And unless you ladies plan on going to an extravagant ball later -- or you rabidly enjoy dressing up -- there's no reason to whip out a long gown.

For men, slacks (or, if you're in a pinch, a nice pair of jeans) and a button-down shirt will do. Jacket and tie optional. Please don't wear your dirty gym sneakers.

For women, dress pants or a skirt and blouse work, as does a cocktail or work dress. Heels if you feel like it.

If you're into dressing up, have fun with it and use it as an excuse to get creative. If not, don't worry about it. Just wear something generally presentable and you'll be fine. Oh, and probably layer up, you never know what the temperature will be like inside.

lawrence brownlee

Before The Curtain Opens

You'll probably want to eat something before you get there -- operas feel extra long when you're hungry. Ditto for getting a coffee and using the restroom before you take your seats.

The ushers are there to help. Don't be embarrassed asking them to direct you to your seats. The ushers will also hand you a playbill. The playbill has information about the singers and conductor, which is usually pretty interesting if only to see all the different countries from which everyone hails. The playbill also includes the synopsis, broken into acts, as well as information on intermission(s). Reading the synopsis will help you understand what's happening in the upcoming act, but if you're the kind of person who doesn't like plot spoilers, tread carefully.

Check about fifty times that your phone is on silent -- or, better yet, off.

traviata willy decker

Curtains Open

After the lights dim, if the audience starts mysteriously applauding, it's because the conductor is walking out to his or her stand. You should always applaud for the conductor: they're the one running the show, after all.

The right times to applaud can get confusing, especially depending on what you're seeing. The easiest approach is to wait for someone else to start clapping, and then join along. A brief silence after singing doesn't always mean it's applause time.

Yes, most operas are sung in languages that are not English, and even English is hard to understand in operatic form. No, you do not have to know Italian/German/French/etc. to understand what's going on. All opera performances will have some form of subtitles for every line. Sometimes it's a projection to the sides or above the stage, and in other places it's a screen on the seat in front of you. If it is a screen, make sure you hit the appropriate button for your subtitles to show up.

boheme grigolo

Intermission

Depending on the length of the opera, there could be an intermission or two. During intermission, get out of your seat and stretch out some. Wander around the opera house. They tend to have art and old opera artifacts and portraits hanging around, which are neat to see.

Stop by the bar and get a drink or snack, if you'd like. And don't be embarrassed if you feel the need for a coffee -- it's better to drink a coffee during intermission than fall asleep during the performance.

There will be some indication -- flickering lights, chimes -- that the show is going to start soon, so head back to your seat.

leontyne price

Oh, The Drama

Opera can inspire a lot of emotions. As Kasper Holten, director of opera at the Royal Opera House in London, said, "In one evening, you go through in two and one-half hours what the rest of us spend our whole emotional lives living through." What you see on stage may not look like real life, but it'll feel like it.

Our best recommendation is that if you feel yourself getting swept away, flow with it. Operas can be hysterically funny (even by modern standards), devastating, devastatingly gorgeous (musically or visually), sexy, thrilling, tense, poignant and -- it happens -- boring. If you don't enjoy one opera, that doesn't mean you should completely write all opera off. That would be like saying you didn't like one TV show, so now you're never going to watch TV again.

But if you do get caught up in it all, go on ahead. Cry, laugh, gasp and shout -- we can assure you that you won't be the only one doing so.

Just don't throw tomatoes; we don't do that anymore.

isabel leonard

When It's All Sung And Done

If you enjoyed what you saw, keep the momentum moving. Most young opera "aficionados" know so much about the opera thanks to nothing fancier than the internet. Check out videos of a certain aria or a certain singer on YouTube, find the snarkiest review of a show that you can, and get lost in singer gossip. If you have a friend who's super into opera, they would love answering any question you have and talking all about the art form. And of course you can always pick up books on the subject (might we suggest the biography of Maria Callas by Arianna Huffington?).

Outsider Artist Paul Laffoley Illustrates The End Of The Universe

0
0
The Outsider Art Fair is coming to New York on January 29, bringing 50 international galleries of folk, self-taught, and outsider art to Center 548 for four glorious days. The fair offers the rare opportunity for artists operating far outside the regulations of the art world -- whether marginalized, isolated, incarcerated, institutionalized or psychologically compromised -- a space to show the vibrant and singular artworks that don't just reflect their worlds, but constitute them. In anticipation of one of our favorite art events of the year, we're spotlighting a different outsider artist every day.

mandala
Paul Laffoley, Pickmans Mephitic, 2004. Courtesy Kent Fine Art


Paul Laffoley was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1940. His father was a lawyer, his mother a strict Roman Catholic. He has a degree from Brown and another from Harvard. With such an intellectual upbringing and prestigious education, among outsider artists, Laffoley's an outsider.

Actually, in comparison to others, Laffoley is almost another beast entirely. His transdisciplinary canvases appear to be the product of a computer, despite the fact that their entirely handmade using ink, paint and stick-on letters. The multicolored mandala-inspired works, land somewhere between a mystical altar and a conspiracy theory pamphlet. Laffoley, a student of classical literature and architectural studies, channeled his thirst for knowledge into paint, crafting infinitely complex diagrams that weave together aspects of philosophy, science, architecture and spirituality with dizzying flat maps of image and text.

After graduating from college Laffoley moved to New York, to work as a studio assistant to architect Frederick Kiesler, known for his Endless Theatre design. He was also recruited by Pop visionary Andy Warhol to watch a stream of televisions set up in Warhol's Harlem studio, from 2 a.m. until dawn. He then spent 18 months working with architect Minoru Yamasaki on designing the World Trade Center towers.

mand
Paul Laffoley, Pistis Sophia, 2004-06. Courtesy Kent Fine Art


In 1965 Laffoley finished his first painting, made in his parents' basement. It was titled "The Kali-Yuga: The End of the Universe at 424826 A.D. (The Cosmos Falls into the Chaos as the Shakti Ouroboros Leads to the Elimination of all Value Systems by Spectrum Analysis)." The piece took on the (mighty ambitious) task of illustrating the end of the universe. As you may have ascertained from the title, Laffoley's paintings are not easy to digest. Each took the artist approximately a year to complete. As for the viewers, they need even more time on their hands. "People who have bought my work say the usual time it takes to comprehend it is 15 years," Laffoley told Wonderland Magazine.

Although 15 years sounds like an awfully long time, it's a necessary chunk to understand the cavernous and convoluted content going into Laffoley's kaleidoscopic works. There's extraterrestrial activity, Daiun Sōgaku Harada, time travel, William Blake, alchemy, relativity, Socrates, lucid dreaming, astrology, Buckminster Fuller, questions of the 4th or 5th dimension, and references to sci-fi films including "The Day the Earth Stood Still" -- which, in case you were wondering, he's seen over 870 times.

Throughout a majority of his works, Laffoley has worked towards a singular concept of "utopic space" -- described as "a realization of a transdisciplinary worldview capable of sustaining human existence into a continuous future." In Laffoley's own words: "My work is the product of the convergence of the instantaneous practice of invention and the slow craft of art. I have always believed that my period of most complete expression and appreciation would be my late future and, beyond, in 'time phase X.'"

ppaul
Paul Laffoley, The House of the Self, 1971. Courtesy Kent Fine Art


In 2001, Laffoley endured grave injuries after falling in his Boston studio, the one-bedroom apartment he'd been working in for over 30 years, dubbed the Boston Visionary Cell. In the hospital, he was forced to amputate one of his legs below the knee. Laffoley, however, made the best of a bad situation, requesting himself a prosthetic leg complete with a lion's paw, to fit his Leo horoscope.

"The question is, ‘What is madness?’" Laffoley, who was diagnosed with mild Asperger’s Syndrome at a young age, asked Wonderland Magazine. "Think of what happened from the 16th to the 19th century, from the Renaissance to Freud. People’s ideas as to what constitutes being nuts keep changing. Maybe we’re just starting to wise up to that’s how the mind operates."

Laffoley may be an outsider when it comes to the art world. He may be an outsider when compared, even, to other outsider artists. But the facts remain: his obsessive, visionary works attempt to unlock the greatest secrets of universal mankind -- from our cosmic origins to our essential philosophies. His work offers insight to us all -- all of whom, that is, have 15 hours to spare. Even if you don't take the time to fully comprehend every detail of Laffoley's vertiginous portfolio, we have to agree with Allison Meier when she said: "For even the most philosophically lazy among us it is a fascinating study on the use of visual art to express what is often beyond words."

See Laffoley's work at the Kent Fine Art gallery at the Outsider Art Fair, from January 29 until February 1 at Center 548 in New York.

Heartbreaking Portraits Capture Two Identical Twin Farmers At The End Of Their Lives

0
0
Photographer Janos Stekovics met identical twins János and István Lukács in 1985. At the time, they were in their sixties. The two have since passed away, one in 2005 and the other in 2007. However, in the final phase of their lives, Stekovics chronicled the daily lives of these brothers and friends working together on the Hungarian countryside, living in the same house they'd inhabited all of their lives.

fur

Stekovics followed along while the Lukács brothers accomplished their daily tasks. They'd wake up at four in the morning, tend to the animals until noon when they'd eat a lunch of bacon and bread, and continue working until dinner. They slept in a farmhouse built by their parents, with clay walls and kerosine lamps. Sometimes it got so cold the two slept in hay beds in the barn with the horses.

Stekovics developed a deep reverence and fondness for these brothers of another time, often photographed in matching ensembles from jeans and boots to humongous fur coats. Despite their identical appearances and predilection for wonderfully complimentary poses, the two maintained distinct personalities. As Feature Shoot explained: "Where István was more gregarious, János was more of the silent and stoic type; István preferred to keep the house, and János cared mostly for the animals. Neither ever married."

The beautiful series, simply titled "The Twins," captures the simple and poignant days of two men in the Hungarian countryside. An ode to farm life and familial love.



h/t FeatureShoot

The 'Largest Crowdsourced Drawing' In Existence Attempts To Illustrate The Entire Internet

0
0
Earlier this year, a man named Benjamin Redford boldly went where no artist has dared go before, creating a piece called "Internetopia" that claimed to be a portrait of the entire internet. The content for the image was crowdsourced from 220 users around the globe via Kickstarter, making the masterpiece the largest crowdsourced drawing in existence.

And now, the whole dizzying shebang is in color.

internet

"I read lot of sci-fi so I'm pretty fascinated by the idea of cyberspace," Redford perviously explained to The Huffington Post. "However it's mostly portrayed as infinite, clean, grid systems. I liked the idea of making a more 'human' version, made up by people around the world. Although looking over the completed artwork now, it seems to resemble something completely different."


There were three rules to the artwork:

1. Each square cost $1 on Kickstarter. Anyone could buy a square and dictate to the artist what would be drawn there.
2. People could reserve as many squares as they liked.
3. Anyone could ask for anything to be drawn. Anything.


The final work measured in at roughly eight by five feet and 3,012 cubes. Just like the internet it's modeled after, the drawing is full of randomness, absurdity, vulgarity -- and cats. More specifically, it features crowd-sourced ideas including "a cat eating a hot dog sitting in an upright position, sitting on a stack of cats attached together by a belt with balloons on strings floating in the sky" and "a hot sand-desert with a man lying somewhere not in center, legs and hands spread. Happy or dead, it's unknown. A horse nearby, standing with a head lowered, tired of a long walk." There's also "Elvis Presley shouting 'Linda!'" and an "Italian greyhound smoking a pipe."

You can see the entire list of requests here.

If you were curious what color the cat eating the hot dog was... your prayers have recently been answered. You can purchase the color version of "Internetopia" here.

Viewing all 18485 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images