Festivals and Culture
CultureWatch Review, The Marriage of Opposites: Magic Realism Imbuing Emotion and Presentiments With An Exotic Setting
Joan L. Cannon reviews: A Marriage of Opposites provides nuanced, layered, sensual images of a time and of people completely out of ordinary 21st Century experience. Hoffman's rich language combined with the eye of a visual as well as a verbal artist make for a uniquely vivid read. Color, temperature, atmosphere cling to a reader like a special scent long after the last page is turned. more »
Has Hillary An Eye On a Rival? Wonder Woman and Friends Take New York
A drawing of Wonder Woman in an early version of her patriotic costume by H.G. Peter (ca. 1941) is shown alongside a "Wonder Woman for President" issue (No. 7, Winter 1943). Two of Steve Ditko’s original drawings of Spider-Man’s first appearance in Amazing Fantasy are displayed. During World War II, many superhero stories channeled American concerns about the conflict. more »
The Decoration of Men's Fashion in Eighteenth-Century France at The Met Museum: Embroidery, Buttons, Braids, and Sequins
In the eighteenth century, promenading among the shops along the rue St. Honoré became a fashionable leisure activity for men and women alike. This street was home to Paris's marchands merciers, a class of merchants who dealt in all manner of luxury goods, including textiles for furnishing and clothing. The mercers' exclusive right to finishing work — arranging for the addition of embroidery, buttons, braids, and sequins through a network of specialized workers — allowed their customers to choose the exact colors and patterns they wanted at the point of sale. more »
5th White House Science Faire; The Theme? Diversity and Inclusion in STEM
Announced at the Science Faire: A $150-million philanthropic effort to empower a diverse cadre of promising early-career scientists to stay on track to become scientific leaders of tomorrow; The $90-million Let Everyone Dream campaign to expand STEM opportunities to under-represented youth; A $25-million Department of Education competition to create science- and literacy-themed media that inspires students to explore 120 universities and colleges committing to train 20,000 engineers to tackle the “Grand Challenges” of the 21st century; A coaltion of CEOs called Change the Equation committing to expand effective STEM programs to an additional 1.5 million students this year more »