I'll Leaf You To It

Magical forests, avian portraits, and crocheted pseudoscience. [View in browser]( [Colossal]( Graham Franciose’s Otherworldly Watercolors Revel in Misty Forests and the Symbiosis of Nature [Top: the rings of a tree emit a warm glow as a figure reaches out toward them. Bottom: a portrait of an owl swearing a patterned sweater.]( watercolor and gouache, a world of wonder unfolds in surreal paintings by [Graham Franciose]( inspired by the environment of the Pacific Northwest. [See more]( Sponsor Don’t Miss Ebony G. Patterson’s Summer Art Exhibition at the New York Botanical Garden [Purple glittery vulture sculptures stand in a lush botanical garden]( On view for only a few more days at the New York Botanical Garden, celebrated contemporary artist [Ebony G. Patterson]( alludes to the hidden histories of the garden in …things come to thrive…in the shedding…in the molting…, featuring thought-provoking sculptures and horticulture displays. The artist responds to the collections of the garden with a living work of art that sheds light on the historical relevance of our collective pasts and the potential for healing in renewal. You have never experienced the [New York Botanical Garden]( like this before! …things come to thrive…in the shedding…in the molting… is on view through September 17. [See more]( Ememem Playfully Revitalizes Cracked Pavement With Vibrantly Patterned Tiles [A miniature IBM computer with a hand holding a tiny floppy disk for scale.]( No crack in a wall, step, or curb is safe from [Ememem](’s delightful interventions. The Lyon-based artist continues to scout out gaps in sidewalks that he fills with colorful tiles. [See more]( Bird Photographer of the Year 2023 Highlights Avian Attitudes and Winged Wonders Around the World [A Glistening-green Tanager]( The judges of the [2023 Bird Photographer of the Year]( competition sifted through more than 20,000 images from photographers around the globe. The winning shots highlight diverse behavior, sizes, colors, and environments, from enigmatic and elusive species to familiar backyard friends. [See more]( We’re Giving Away an Art-Filled Weekend in Chicago [Anish Kapoor's 'Cloud Gate' in Chicago.]( Four days left! Become a [Colossal Member]( by September 15, and you’ll automatically be entered to win an art-filled weekend in Chicago. We’re giving away a $500 travel voucher, stay at the 21c Museum Hotel, and tickets to the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago and the Art Institute of Chicago. Plus, we’ll give you a tour of the Colossal-curated exhibition At the Precipice and offer a list of our favorite places to check out during your visit. [Join us!]( NO PURCHASE OR CONTRIBUTION NECESSARY. Open to residents of the U.S. who are 18 years of age or older. Void where prohibited. Sweepstakes expires 9/15/2023. See [Official Rules](. Enigmatic Wonder and Magic Envelop Sarah Lee’s Illuminated Landscapes [A blue landscape of grass glowing in the moonlight, and swaying trees.]( Mysterious magic emanates from [Sarah Lee](’s scenes. Working at night in her East Village studio, Lee envisions quiet, unpopulated landscapes that become an escape from the city. [See more]( Hyperrealistic Portraits Burst Into Botanical Shards in Vibrant Murals by Ratur [A mural on the side of a building depicting a woman's face transforming into flowers.]( As if made of porcelain or glass, the monumental, serene faces of [Ratur](’s subjects fragment into sharply contrasted leaves. [See more]( Caitlin McCormack Crochets a Speculative Future in the Wake of Environmental Catastrophe [Animal-like skeletons swimming amongst each other in a circle.]( From humble, crocheted thread emerges [Caitlin McCormack](’s alternate reality featuring tiny carcasses, encased objects, and mysterious figures. [See more]( [instagram]( [tumblr]( [facebook]( [pinterest]( [youtube]( [website]( [rss]( Today's Best of the Week was edited by Jackie Andres. 🌱 Colossal 6177 N. Lincoln Ave. #314 Chicago, IL 60659 ✶ ✶ ✶ ✶ You received this email because you signed up on our website and are an amazing person. [Unsubscribe](