My Modern Met - July 2 Daily Digest

--------------------------------------------------------------- ​ ​[19th-Century Map Shows That Beaver Dams Can Last Over a Century]()​ [19th-Century Map Shows That Beaver Dams Can Last Over a Century] The American beaver is a mighty creature. Once incredibly numerous, they figured heavily in indigenous worldviews in the Americas. When Europeans arrived, they prized the beaver for its pelt, and it was hunted almost to extinction over the following centuries. However, these small mammals have been part of another enduring legacy through their effect on […] [View on My Modern Met]() ​ ​[Moody Settings Reveal What People Are Feeling in Uncanny Portrait Paintings](=)​ [Moody Settings Reveal What People Are Feeling in Uncanny Portrait Paintings] New York-based artist Xiao Wang masterfully sets the mood in his portraits with uncanny environments. Although realistically rendered, the color palettes have a slightly distorted quality that speaks to what each figure is feeling or thinking at the moment. From swirling violet clouds to blue-toned leaves, these backgrounds help us understand what Wang's subjects are […] [View on My Modern Met](=) ​ ​[Intricate Ceramic Sculptures Mimic the Vibrant Beauty of Aquatic Life](=)​ [Intricate Ceramic Sculptures Mimic the Vibrant Beauty of Aquatic Life] UK-based artist Lisa Stevens pushes the boundaries of ceramics with her aquatic-inspired creations. Embedded with intricate details, these pieces mimic the colors and forms found by the sea. Featuring bright flowers and textured ridges, any of these sculptures look like they could've washed up on shore. Stevens has been capturing natural oceanic motifs for years. […] [View on My Modern Met](=) ​ ​[Artist Uses String and 78,000 Nails To Create a Realistic Portrait of Actor Cillian Murphy](​ [Artist Uses String and 78,000 Nails To Create a Realistic Portrait of Actor Cillian Murphy] When we think about rendering a portrait the typical utensils come to mind—paint, pencils, and pens. However, using string and nails, artists are able to mimic the depth achieved by line and color. London-based artist Ben Koracevic has been practicing string art for years, sometimes spending hundreds of hours to achieve his realistic illustrations. One […] [View on My Modern Met]( ​ ​[Expressive Abstract Paintings Depict the Turbulent Landscape of Human Psyche]()​ [Expressive Abstract Paintings Depict the Turbulent Landscape of Human Psyche] Vibrant blues and yellows collide on Samantha Kelly Smith‘s canvases. These abstract paintings resemble stormy oceans and turbulent skies, sometimes inhabited by enigmatic figures who sink into the pathways of the brush strokes. Rather than depicting the places we see, Smith is portraying our internal landscape—where consciousness and unconsciousness meet. This ongoing series is titled […] [View on My Modern Met]() ​ ​[Uncanny Human Portraits Depict People Only Through Their Circulatory Systems](=)​ [Uncanny Human Portraits Depict People Only Through Their Circulatory Systems] In a collaborative effort between photographer Jan Kriwol and CGI artist Markos Kay, uncanny human figures occupy normal everyday spaces. The series, titled Human After All, features hyperrealistic renditions of people without skin, muscle, or bones—instead, depicting them as just their circulatory systems. Yet, despite their pared-down appearance, they are shown interacting with familiar environments, such […] [View on My Modern Met](=) ​ ​[Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood LEGO Creation Receives 10,000 Votes To Become a Purchasable Lego Set]()​ [Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood LEGO Creation Receives 10,000 Votes To Become a Purchasable Lego Set] It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood, and a beautiful day for a LEGO brick neighbor. A superfan named Matt Smith designed a Mister Rogers LEGO set prototype that caught wind on the LEGO Ideas platform, where users can pitch their own creations. After a few months, the Mister Rogers and the Neighborhood of Make-Believe […] [View on My Modern Met]() ​ ​[13-Year-Old Skateboarder Becomes the First Girl to Land a 720 Trick](=)​ [13-Year-Old Skateboarder Becomes the First Girl to Land a 720 Trick]  View this post on Instagram  A post shared by Arisa Trew (@arisa_trew) This June was a historic time for skateboarding. Not only did it mark 24 years since the iconic Tony Hawk landed a 900 skateboarding trick—which is two and a half turns in the air—but this month also heralded a new star […] [View on My Modern Met](=) ​ ​[Archeologists Discover ”Pizza” in an Ancient Pompeii Mural](=)​ [Archeologists Discover ”Pizza” in an Ancient Pompeii Mural]  View this post on Instagram  A post shared by BBC News (@bbcnews) Pizza is a perfect meal—filling, flavorful, endlessly varied by toppings. This Italian delicacy has won over the world in the recent centuries of globalization, and it remains a national treasure of Italy, especially Naples. So naturally, the pizza-loving world got excited […] [View on My Modern Met](=) ​ ​[Archeologists Excavate 4,000-Year-Old “Dutch Stonehenge” in the Netherlands](=)​ [Archeologists Excavate 4,000-Year-Old “Dutch Stonehenge” in the Netherlands] Recently, thousands of people gathered at Stonehenge in England to celebrate the summer solstice, a day when the sun shines perfectly through the ancient stones by design. The ancient monument has long been a source of fascination, but it is not unique in its mystery. Archeologists have uncovered a similar sanctuary in the Netherlands which […] [View on My Modern Met](=) ​ ​[Henry Cavill Gave “Tremendous” James Bond Audition According to ‘Casino Royale’ Director](​ [Henry Cavill Gave “Tremendous” James Bond Audition According to ‘Casino Royale’ Director] Over the last decade and a half, moviegoers have grown accustomed to seeing Daniel Craig in the role of James Bond. Now, it turns out that that casting choice could have gone in a much different direction. According to Martin Campbell, director of Casino Royale (2006), Henry Cavill—known for his star-making turn as Superman in […] [View on My Modern Met]( ​ ​[16 Must-Have Beach Accessories for the Summer](=)​ [16 Must-Have Beach Accessories for the Summer] Summer's here, and that means you're probably ready to enjoy a fun beach day. While items like swimsuits and sunscreen are essentials, there are also a lot of cool beach accessories that will take your day in the sun to the next level. From items that will provide much-needed shade to other products that will […] [View on My Modern Met](=) ​ ​ Thanks for subscribing to newsletters from [My Modern Met.]( To make sure our emails don’t get lost, [add us to your address book.]() UPDATE YOUR PREFERENCES: - Daily Newsletter: Whenever there is something new - Weekly Roundup: Weekly updates packaged into one convenient newsletter - Click here to change your [current preferences.]( [Unsubscribe]( | 121 Evergreen Way, Lake Forest, CA 92630