Atomic Wind

Clamoring chicks, koi embellishments, and paper pathways. [View in browser]( [Colossal]( In the Nature TTL Photographer of the Year Contest, Breathtaking Wonder and Imminent Loss Are On Full Display [Top: a bird and its young, in a nest. Bottom: a melting ice cap.]( The winners of this year’s [Nature TTL Photographer of the Year]( competition capture both the immense beauty of our planet and the threats we face with a changing climate. [See more]( Sponsor Take Your Practice to New Heights With SVA Continuing Education [a woman in green holds flowers in her hands and is surrounded by botanical collage]( The Division of Continuing Education at the School of Visual Arts (SVACE) has the resources and expertise to help you go to the next level. With [more than 200 courses and 10+ artist residency programs](, you’ll find everything you need to achieve your goals and actualize your potential. Whether you’re looking to advance your career, explore new artistic avenues, or simply deepen your practice, our experienced faculty will provide the guidance and support you need to grow. [Explore the courses]( A Colossal Interview Morel Doucet on Beauty, Gentrification, and Why He Uses Poetry to Tell His Story [a group of colorful portraits overlaid with botanicals and metal fencing]( Whether working with porcelain or spray paint on wood panel, [Morel Doucet]( begins with beauty. In a new conversation with Colossal, he discusses why he wants to entice viewers and tempt even the most unexpected audiences to engage with issues of displacement, the climate crisis, and what it means to be an immigrant in the U.S. He approaches his activism similarly because, to him, they’re one and the same. He says: "As an artist, the work that I make is inherently political. I consider all of my work to be double-edged swords: they entice and lure the viewer with beauty while reminding them of their complacency within the dying environment. I don’t have to say I’m an activist. The work that I make is inherently that." Doucet discusses how his upbringing on his grandfather’s farm laid the foundation for his work, his proclivity for poetry, and why it’s important for him to tell his own stories. [Read the interview]( Fungi, Feathers, and Insects Spring from Carol Long’s Art Nouveau Vessels [a ceramic vessel with koi and lilies]( Midwestern flora and fauna are the foundation for [Carol Long](’s lavishly adorned sculptures, which elegantly meld Art Nouveau embellishments with natural motifs. [See more]( [an ad that says 20 NEW SOFLAT MATTE COLORS! SEE NOW with a tub of cobalt blue acrylic paint]( Advertisement Warped Sculptures Suspend Novels, Guidebooks, and Other Print Objects in Borax Crystals [top: a book with blue, yellow, and green pages opened and crystalized. bottom: crystallized book pages curled together]( In Crystallized Books, [Alexis Arnold]( transforms novels, guides, and maps into gleaming sculptures that consider how we value and use objects. [See more]( Vibrant Lines of Paper Twist and Surge Through Ilhwa Kim’s Dynamic Landscapes [blue and green paper seeds are interspersed with flatter, more colorful pathways]( Meandering rows of flat paper seeds flow through [Ilhwa Kim](’s landscapes, creating densely lined paths among the abstract expanses. [See more]( In Bursting Bonsai Sculptures, Patrick Bergsma Taps Into Nature and the Deep-Rooted History of Porcelain [a delft porcelain vase cracked open to reveal a bonsai]( Resisting the confines of porcelain vases, Dutch artist [Patrick Bergsma](’s vibrant bonsai sculptures illustrate the strength and resiliency of nature. [See more]( Soft Light Radiates Across Humble Domestic Scenes and Objects in Leah Gardner’s Still Lifes [a cluster of tomatoes sits on a pink surface]( In her still lifes and avian portraits, Chicago-based artist [Leah Gardner]( showcases the way evening light can transform a humble tomato cluster or pot of tea into an object of intrigue and beauty. [See more]( [instagram]( [tumblr]( [facebook]( [pinterest]( [youtube]( [website]( [rss]( Today's Best of the Week was edited by Grace Ebert. 🕯️ 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](