Books
An Astronaut's Photographs of our Planet's Beauty and Mutilations
Astronaut photography has been influential on the perception of our planet almost since the first space missions.
Allison Meier
Allison C. Meier is a former staff writer for Hyperallergic. Originally from Oklahoma, she has been covering visual culture and overlooked history for print and online media since 2006. She moonlights as a cemetery tour guide.
Art
A Pigment Library That Launched American Art Conservation
When the Harvard Art Museums reopen this Sunday after a six-year expansion project, historic pigments foundational to the field of art conservation in the United States will be on public view.
Art
In the Relics of a Desert Utopia, a More Sustainable Future
It never reached the 5,000 inhabitants its creator dreamed of or produced much more than decorative wind-chimes, but the utopian city of Arcosanti may have just been ahead of its time. Designed by Italian architect Paolo Soleri, the compact metropolis was the embodiment of his idea of "arcology" — a
In Brief
As a Poppy-Flooded Armistice Day Ends, a Major WWI Library May Close
The Imperial War Museum (IWM) library in London is reportedly under threat as the institution faces a major budget cut.
Books
A Colorful Compendium of Infographics for Understanding the World Now
From the amount the potential tax revenue from legalizing drugs worldwide to disappearing seed varieties, data journalist David McCandless transforms abstract information into engaging visuals.
Books
The Mouse, an Unexpected and Enduring Art Muse
As one of the most common mammals on our planet, the diminutive mouse has been scurrying its way into art for centuries. The rodent has now finally received its own art compendium with Lorna Owen's Mouse Muse: The Mouse in Art, out next week from Monacelli Press.
Art
Supposedly Hidden from Hitler for Its Supernatural Powers, da Vinci Goes on Rare Public View
Gradually disappearing beneath a mottle of foxing and fading, a 1512 red chalk drawing believed to be a self-portrait by Leonardo da Vinci is on rare public view in Italy.
Art
Slashed and Hidden from Sight: The Strange Power of Cursed Paintings
Can a painting drive a person to madness?
News
New Project to Digitize 10,000 Sci-Fi Zines
To increase access to the fan culture that was integral to the rise of science fiction in the 20th century, the University of Iowa Libraries is digitizing 10,000 fanzines.
Art
Disinterring the Lost Glamor of Grief
Grief hit what may be its peak of glamor between 1815 and 1915. The devastating losses of the Civil War, suppression of women's rights, and Victorian and Edwardian affinity for the macabre resulted in generations of widows spending years in their dour "weeds."
Art
Elephant Water Clock Among 25,000 Pages of Medieval Arabic Scientific Manuscripts
A new online portal created by the British Library and Qatar Foundation features 25,000 pages of medieval Arabic manuscripts centered on the history of science.
Books
How Hungary's Painted Homes Rebelled Against the Socialist System
As a reaction to the bleak uniformity of suburban housing in post-war Hungary, many homeowners painted their houses in vibrant designs.