HOLLY HANESSIAN (Post #5, Inspiration 3 of 3)

I attended the artist talk at the Crisp Ellert Art Museum on Flagler College Campus last night. I found Holly's work inspiring. I appreciate how she uses the premise of touch to fuel ideas about art and design. 

Holly Hanessian, Touch in Real Time

Artist Talk @ CEAM: Thursday, February 18, 5pm

Touch in Real Time Pop up Project: Friday, February 19, 12 to 2pm in Kenan Plaza, West Lawn

Touch in Real Time is a participatory project that explores the intimate act of touch in our digital age. In 2012 Hanessian (Professor of Ceramics at Florida State University) began this project in which she shook a stranger’s hand with a wet lump of clay, imprinting the participant’s hand with her own. The handshakes would last 15-20 seconds, the amount of time it takes for the brain to release the bonding hormone oxytocin. Hanessian has performed Touch in Real Time at sites throughout the country, including the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art, Charleston, SC; The Society for Arts and Crafts, Boston, MA; The and the Museum of Craft and Design, San Francisco, CA, among others, and the residual objects have been exhibited alongside the documentation from each site at venues including The Society for Contemporary Craft, Pittsburgh, PA (2013) and the Fine Art Museum at Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC (2014).

 

MUSEUMS (Post #5, Inspiration 2 of 3)

Museums provide a unique interactive experience of getting up close to things we usually only see in books, newspapers or on the television. The perception you get of something from a second-hand source is often completely different to the one you get when you see something with your own eyes.


10 Inspiring Museums on Instagram
Link here.


21 Reasons Why Museums Are Great
Link here.

PODCASTS (Post #5, Inspiration 1 of 3)

I am a huge fan of podcast. I appreciate a good story. My interest in the narrative translates to my work. I like to think that my pieces tell a visual story. The information below is sourced from TEDblog. Link here. 

There’s something so cool about finding a new podcast to love — each little download opens a door to new ideas, new jokes, new ways of seeing the world. Working at TED, as you might guess, many of us have strong opinions about this. Beyond the podcasts we all love: This American Life, Radiolab, The Moth, Serial, and of course our own TED Radio Hour — here’s our list of 45 you might not know you needed to listen to right this minute. 

For great storytelling

Snap Judgment“It’s a 56-minute whirlwind that always seems to go by too fast,” says Ellyn Guttman, of our TED Books team, about this hard-to-describe NPR podcast hosted by Glynn Washington. “It’s similar to This American Life but edgier,” adds Kim Nederveen Pieterse of our Partnerships workgroup. “It questions race, identity and ‘the system’ through personal storytelling and music.”

CriminalThis podcast bills itself as “stories of people who’ve done wrong, been wronged or gotten caught somewhere in the middle.” Photographer Ryan Lash says, “After binging on Serialfor the third time, this show satisfies my cravings.”

The Story ColliderScience meets stories in this podcast from former TED staffer Ben Lillie. “Sometimes scientists share funny moments from their lab; other times they explain how they became fixated on niche topics. Sometimes it’s non-scientists telling science-y stories,” says writer Kate Torgovnick May. Recent episodes include “Who Looks Like a Scientist?,” about an offhanded sexist remark overheard by TED Fellow Renée Hlozek, and “Questioning a Hero,” with TED speaker Ed Yong — on what happened when he interviewed Sir David Attenborough. 

State of the Re:Union“I’ve been listening more and more,” says Alex Rudloff of TEDx. The concept of this NPR show: it takes a snapshot of America, community by community. “It’s got a grassroots, local focus. And Al Letson’s a great storyteller who, coincidently, hosted TEDxJacksonville.”

Love + RadioThis podcast weaves fact and fiction, pulling together interviews and stories that relate to a theme. “Radiolab featured their segment ‘The Living Room,’ in which a woman learns intimate details of her neighbors’ relationship because they never close their curtains,” says TED-Ed animator Lisa LaBracio. “It’s a podcast that introduces you to the strangest of strangers, but also gives a gentle reminder that we’re all a little bit strange.”

InvisibiliaMany members of our staff love this NPR podcast, which explores the intangible forces that shape our lives. Cloe Shasha of our Content team says, “It’s just fascinating to consider the mysteries of our perception and assumptions.” Emily Pidgeon of Design Services adds, “I’ve devoured every episode because they get into emotions, thoughts and perceptions in a way that’s captivating. If I could, I would erase my memory and relisten.” 

The TruthThis show harkens back to the radio plays of yesteryear. “They do a great job with storytelling and production. It’s a lot of fun to listen to — sometimes sad, sometimes funny, always entertaining,” says Jai Punjabi of our Technology team.

Mystery ShowA soon-to-launch podcast hosted by Starlee Kine, Mystery Show promises to solve a real-life mystery every episode. A trailer has Kine talking to one person about the mustached woman who helped her out of a bind, and to another who has been pondering a mystery for 20 years. “The show doesn’t launch until May 22,” says Thu-Huong Ha of our Editorial team. “But Starlee’s trailer is characteristically quirky, intriguing and giggle-inducing.” 

Benjamen Walker’s Theory of Everything“Each episode feels like a stream of consciousness variety show mixed with music, philosophy and a dose of skepticism,” says LaBracio. “I love the range of topics that he covers and the surprises that he uncovers along the way. One of TED-Ed’s artists, Celeste Lai, works on it now too.”

For a more thoughtful life

On BeingA classic podcast from Krista Tippett. “This weekly conversation grapples with the many facets of human connection and existence,” says TED Prize director Anna Verghese. “It explores value, faith and meaning.” Lisa Bu of our Distribution team recommends this podcast too. She says, “It explores the big questions at the center of life: What does it mean to be human, and how do we want to live?” 

My Brother, My Brother and MeThis podcast could go here, or in the “For belly laughs” section. “It’s three brothers — Justin, Travis and Griffin McElroy — who, essentially, seek out the strangest Yahoo! Answers questions and dish out advice on them,” says writer Torgovnick May. “Sometimes their advice is good. Sometimes it’s terrible. But the real joy is the trio’s lightning-quick wit with each other.”

The Dinner Party Download“It’s a podcast structured like a dinner party, and intended to make you a scintillating host and/or guest,” says Haley Hoffman of our Technology team. “They bring in a celebrity for a short interview, dish out interesting factoids about current events and have a themed cocktail.” Emily Ludolph of our Partnership team loves this podcast too. “Know all my amazing office jokes?” she says with a wink. “I get them from their ‘icebreaker’ opening.”

Alan Watts PodcastA collection of lectures and seminars from the iconic philosopher, curated by his son. “Alan Watts has a gift to make abstract ideas come to life,” says Bu. “He can bring Eastern philosophies close to the hearts of Western audiences.” 

The Longest Shortest TimeThis show is intended to be a “bedside companion for parents.” But Hoffman, who is actually not a parent, finds herself fascinated by it. “It’s spectatorship for people who like worry,” she says.

Death, Sex + Money“Touching, poignant and direct, Anna Sale interviews folks — both famous and not — about the three things we want to talk about anyway,” says TED-Ed’s Caroline Cristal about this WNYC show. “The interviews are always interesting, and it’s great to hear different perspectives on these topics and how people handle them.”

For random knowledge

Stuff You Should Know“This podcast is super fun,” says engineer Michael Rhing. “Each episode does a great job covering a subject in about 30 minutes. The episode that got me hooked was ‘How Skywriting Works’ — never really something that I thought would have an interesting history. But they proved me wrong.” 

The Memory PalaceThis podcast surfaces surprising stories of the past. Just one classic: the story of German prisoners of war, captured on a submarine, who attempted to escape a prison camp in Arizona by digging their way out. “It’s one of my all-time favorite podcasts,” says photographer Lash. “The episodes are short, non-traditional, wonderfully intimate notes from history.” 

GastropodA show about food, through the lens of science and history. “What’s not to like?” asks Helen Walters, our Ideas Editor. “And it’s helmed by the lovely Nicola Twilley, who is absurdly smart.”

Desert Island Discs ArchiveYou’re stranded on a deserted island; choose eight records, one book, and a luxury to take with you. BBC Radio 4 has been posing this question since 1942, and the entire archive is online, more than 1,500 programs. TED.com editor Emily McManus will someday listen to them all.

Philosophy BitesFifteen-minute interviews with philosophers, by philosophers; Rachel Saunders of TEDx is obsessed. “Episodes start with the philosopher summarizing his or her position — and then comes follow-up questions and analysis,” she says. “Some episodes are abstract (‘Noël Carroll on Humour and Morality’), while some are more specific and relevant (‘Jeff McMahan on Gun Control’). And many are with TED speakers (‘Alain de Botton on Philosophy Within and Outside the Academy).”

Word GangBest described as “a weekly show about words and the people who use them,” this show goes on the road  to parks, prisons, poetry slams and more for lively conversations about words. “It’s from my pal Rives,” says content director Kelly Stoetzel.

FreakonomicsSince 2010, Freakonomics co-author Stephen J. Dubner has done a podcast version of the well-known book franchise. “Digging through the archives turns up some real gems,” says Amanda Ellis of TEDx. “One of my favorites was ‘Why Do People Keep Having Children?’ on the history of why women in various parts of the world keep having multiple children. Another good episode made the case that gossiping may be good for you. Very interesting.”

Free ThinkingA BBC Radio 3 stalwart, this show features in-depth conversations with thinkers and cultural critics. Things often veer in the direction of debate. “It’s like listening to your favorite sociology professor and favorite economics professor duke it out,” says writer Torgovnick May. “It’s where to turn when you want an hour-long discussion of violence in culture or how Dante’s Inferno has influenced us.”

Meanwhile in the FutureThis new podcast from Gizmodo imagines science fiction-y futures and asks experts to take them to their most logical extremes. It’s produced and hosted by longtime TED-Ed contributor Rose Eveleth. “It’s a podcast about overthinking things,” says Thu-Huong Ha of our Editorial team. “Two episodes are out so far — about artificial wombs and if Earth had a second moon — but I think it’s going to be great.”

For belly laughs

The Indoor KidsA podcast dedicated to video games, action figures, comic books and more. “It’s hosted by Kumail Nanjiani, from Silicon Valley, and Emily V. Gordon, who — full disclosure — is a friend I’ve been bonding with over random pop culture stuff since college,” says Torgovnick May. ”It’s hilarious. A nice moment in the week to indulge in assorted nerdery.”

#GoodMuslimBadMuslimComedian Zahra Noorbakhsh and writer Tanzila “Taz” Ahmed join forces to examine pop culture, current events and religious identity in America — via their own experiences as young Muslim-American women in California. “Every episode offers smart, funny insights and a fresh, nuanced perspective on the headlines,” says Laura McClure of TED-Ed.

Pop Rocket“It’s a weekly conversation about pop culture,” says Sacha Vega of our Design Services team. “The hosts combine comic, journalistic, academic and digital media expertise to give a really fun, varied update of the things they love to love.”

WTF with Marc MaronA classic podcast from comedian Marc Maron, in which he interviews musicians, writers, directors, actors and, naturally, other comedians. Video editor Isaac Wayton loves the show’s casual vibe. “Because of his self-deprecating humor, Marc creates a comfortable atmosphere for guests to open up and talk about their awkward past, how they became ‘famous,’ or just have a casual conversation about everyday life,” he says.

Call Chelsea Peretti“It’s a call-in show,” says Jessica Ruby of TED-Ed, who is a big fan. “Chelsea is wry, plays little games with her callers, and doesn’t take any of it too seriously.” 

Call Your Girlfriend“The premise of the podcast is: two long-distance best friends catch up with each other,” says Vega. “The conversation can go anywhere from general life updates to political legislation, Kanye West, tech news, period jokes. I love it because it feels like a genuine conversation between two friends who are hard-working and creative.”

Pop Culture Happy HourGuy Raz, the host of TED Radio Hour, loves this NPR podcast. “It’s an incredibly entertaining, smart show where Linda Holmes, Stephen Thompson, Glen Weldon and a rotating cast of characters discuss movies, TV and books,” he says. “It’s accessible — meaning it’s still great even when you haven’t seen the movie or TV show — and you come out of each episode feeling connected to the world and the people around you.” 

Analyze PhishThe premise of this now-ended podcast by comedian pals Harris Wittels and Scott Aukerman? Wittels loves the band Phish, while Aukerman hates them, so Wittels does his best to sort through the band’s catalogue and recruit Aukerman to his side. Wittels died last year, but as Ruby says: “it’s one of the most joyful podcasts I’ve ever heard. It’s for comedy and music fans alike — even, or especially, those who can’t stomach Phish.”

For better business 

Negotiation Academy“I really enjoyed this podcast from Slate,” says Diana Enriquez of TED’s Content team. “The hosts went through a negotiation course offered by Columbia Business School and created the show to work through some of the scenarios they learned. It provides real tools that I’ve since used to negotiate contracts and new projects.”

StartUpThe first season of this podcast featured Alex Blumberg sharing his story as he launched Gimlet Media. In season two, he follows two women launching a tech-based matchmaking company. Punjabi of our Tech team says, “It gives a vulnerable and insightful look into the business decisions and the journey of being a technology entrepreneur.”

Manager Tools“It’s the only podcast I ever listened to regularly,” says Dan Russell, also of our Tech team. “My favorite episode is called, ‘Do You Need to Apologize?’ It’s from 2006, but still so relevant.”

Planet MoneyA classic NPR podcast that makes economics fun. “It’s my all-time favorite,” says Enriquez. “It encourages people to think about economics beyond interest rates and other dry topics from Economics 101.” Nederveen Pieterse of Partnerships adds, “I loved their episodes on the underground sneaker economy, the humans behind the machines and how to steal cattle.” 

IDEO Futures“A great podcast on how design, business and entrepreneurship intersect,” says Jody Mak of our Partnerships team. 

FCPX Grill“This podcast focuses on all things FCPX — Final Cut Pro X — which is the editing software we use at TED,” says editor Wayton. “It offers insights into the evolution of FCPX, as well as how other working professionals are using the software.”

Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing“As someone who grew up with a Portuguese-speaking mom and never cared much for studying language or grammar, this podcast has been immensely helpful in my life,” says Gwen Schroeder of our Video team. “It’s made the most confusing grammatical rules understandable.”

For thinking about creativity

A Tiny Sense of Accomplishment“I am obsessed,” says social media editor Nadia Goodman. “Authors Sherman Alexie and Jess Walter riff on writing and life. It’s funny, thought-provoking and all-around wonderful. And they often read works in progress, which is so cool to hear.”

Culture Gabfest“We often think of cultural critics as being provocative, cranky and snobby,” says Angela Cheng of our Video team. “But Julia Turner, Dana Stevens and Stephen Metcalf each respond to cultural phenomena with thoughtful and unique analysis. ‘Analysis’ isn’t even the right word. They really just have a weekly conversation that keeps me company.”

Here’s the ThingThis WNYC podcast is easily explained. “It’s Alec Baldwin having a series of honest conversations with different personalities,” says Martha Estafanos of our Media team. And photographer Lash loves it as well: “Who would have thought that Alec Baldwin is one of the all-time great interviewers?” 

99% Invisible“This design podcast is one of my absolute favorites,” says Punjabi. “It brings attention to all the things that require design — think locks or money — that you might not take the time to think about. It’s a shorter show, which is nice. I was so excited that the host, Roman Mars, gave a TED Talk this year.”

ScriptnotesA podcast from screenwriters John August and Craig Mazin. Says Cheng, “It’s a fun and incredibly informative one-hour discussion about all things that screenwriters and movie-loving non-screenwriters would find interesting.”

How Did This Get Made?“I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for terrible movies, because they’re so fun to watch with friends,” says Wayton. “Paul Scheer, June Diane Raphael and Jason Mantzoukas take this a step further by actively seeking suggestions for bad films, watching them and then getting together for raucous conversations about them.” He recommends it for anyone who enjoyed Road House, Congo or the Fast & Furious franchise — and warns that it’s NSFW.

Mourning Jewelry

The mourning scene is composed entirely from human hair on milk glass. It contains all the standard elements: weeping willow, tomb, idyllic setting, flowers, and painted in the background sunset yellow, orange, and pink streak across the horizon.  Strand upon strand was layered to create a three dimensional effect and finely chopped hair added last to give the scene greater depth and scale. These three dimensional hairwork pieces are exceptionally rare, and this one probably dates to the mid nineteenth century.

Image and text source webring.org

Above image from Millers Antique Guide.

Pearl Origins

Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala

Early History
Treasured and collected by women and men alike for more than 4000 years, pearls are one of the world’s oldest gems. In all likelihood, the first pearl was probably discovered many thousands of years ago by people searching the oceans for food. Since then, pearls have starred in romance, wars, religion and even wagers and the rich history of pearls is full of symbolism across many different cultures and regions.

Ancient Rome
In ancient Rome pearls were a highly prized accessory, the ultimate symbol of wealth and social standing. So much so that only persons above a certain rank were allowed to wear pearls, formalized in law by Julius Caesar who enacted the first legislation restricting who could wear pearls. This only caused Rome’s pearl craze to continue growing, reaching a zenith during the first century B.C. So insatiable was the Romans thirst for pearls that military campaigns were launched for the sole purpose to acquire this precious commodity.

Ancient Rome is also the setting of one of the most famous banquets in history and sums up the value Romans attached to pearls. The incident has been described by the Roman historian Pliny the Elder in his book “Natural History”. Although not without controversy, most historians today agree that the incident described is factual. The story describes how Cleopatra the Egyptian queen hosted a banquet for the Roman leader Marc Antony, and wagered she could give the most expensive dinner in history.

The primary purpose of the dinner was to convince Rome that Egypt possessed a rich heritage and wealth that put it above conquest. At the dinner, Antony was taken aback when Cleopatra had an empty plate and a vessel of sour wine (vinegar) placed in front of her. Cleopatra then dropped one pearl from her large pearl earrings into the vessel, which dissolved in the highly acidic wine and won the wager. According to Pliny the pearl was worth 10 million sesterces or thousands of pounds of gold.

Ancient China
Chinese historical records reference pearls as far back as 2300 B.C., one of the earliest known mentions of the gem. The Chinese considered pearls as prized possessions and often gifted them to royalty. Pearls became especially popular in China during the Qing, or Manchu, dynasty, which ruled from 1644 to 1911. The imperial family and wealthy elite used large numbers of pearls to enhance costumes and furnishings. In theory, the emperor himself was supposed to use pearls only from freshwater mussels in Manchuria, north-eastern China, the dynasty's homeland. But imperial art of the period shows so many big round pearls that at least some probably came from marine pearl oysters in waters off southern China, Vietnam and perhaps the Philippines.

Ancient India
India has had a long and glorious history with pearls. The Rig-Veda one of the oldest Vedas (sacred texts) has the first mention of pearls, approximately 3000 years ago. Around 2,500 years ago, the Atharva-Veda mentions an amulet made of pearls and used as a talisman. The ancient epic poem, the Ramayana, describes a necklace made with 27 pearls. Other texts tell the story of how the Hindu god Krishna was the first to discover pearls.

The Mughal period in India from the 16th to 19th centuries was also significant in the context of pearls. The Maharajahs were avid collectors of pearls, as keen be seen in their portraits. Many of them were draped in some of the finest pearls of the time, with some of their necklaces having as many as 9 strands.

The Maharajah of Baroda in particular stood out for his legendary pearl collection. Some highlights include the “Baroda Pearls” a magnificent two strand natural pearl necklace of 68 graduated pearls up to 16 mm in size and the “Pearl Carpet of Baroda” a 5 foot 8 inch by 8 foot 8 inch carpet made up of more than 1 million natural pearls. You get a sense for their rarity and value, when you look at the prices they fetched at recent auctions. The “Baroda Pearls” went for more than 7 million US dollars in 2007, while the “Pearl Carpet” fetched 5.5 million US dollars in 2009.

Ancient Greece
Well-known for their contributions to art and philosophy, the ancient Greeks held pearls in the highest regard more than 2500 years ago. Believing the essence of love and beauty lay in a pearl’s soul, they often used them at weddings. Persia was the major source for many of Greece’s pearls. Homer describes Juno's pearl earrings: "In three bright drops, her glittering gems suspended from her ears". A beautiful Greek necklace of pearls and gold, which dates from about 2,300 years ago, was displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of New York 100 years ago. It is one of the oldest known pieces in the world, and may still be owned by the museum.

Persian Gulf
Historically, one of the most significant sources of natural pearls, the warm waters of the Persian Gulf were rich with natural oyster beds. Ancient Arab legend states that pearls were formed when dewdrops filled with moonlight fell into the ocean and were swallowed by oysters. The Quran describes pearls as one of the greatest treasures provided in paradise.

Until well into the 20th century, pearls and pearl diving was the main-stay of the economy of the Persian Gulf. Diving for pearls with no safety equipment or training was an arduous and risky proposition, but the reward was plentiful and provided a healthy income for the pearl divers.

Modern History
As Renaissance Europe emerged, a new age dawned for pearls. Pearls became the favorite fashion luxury of the emerging royalty and elite classes. The Persian Gulf remained the most important source, until the discovery of the New World, when pearls flooded in from the oyster beds off the coasts of present day Venezuela, Panama and the Gulf of California.

European royalty’s fascination with the pearls knew no bounds, with pearls used in jewelry, crowns, art and even clothes. While all the royal and noble houses of Europe pursued pearls, Queen Elizabeth I of England stood out. She amassed an enviable collection of pearls that rivaled the most lavish collections of the time. Known to have worn large ropes of pearls, Queen Elizabeth I was a true pearl connoisseur.

The 19th century witnessed the zenith of the trade in natural pearls. The immense popularity and allure of pearls had broadened from royalty to the upper and middle classes, leading to an unprecedented demand for pearls. Sadly, this was not sustainable and by the end of the 19th century most known sources of natural pearls had been discovered. This led to the eventual decline of the natural pearl trade and if it were not for events in Japan, the pearl industry would have been very different today.

The emergence of cultured pearls has again given women the chance to wear a gem that effortlessly expresses elegance, sophistication and feminism. The modern age is full of illustrious women who have made pearls their fashion accessory of choice, fashion icon Coco Chanel, Princess Diana of Wales and Hollywood star Audrey Hepburn, to name but a few.

Image and text source here. 

New World Pearls

The commerce of pearls in Mexico is as old as the pre-Columbian era, when Mayan and Aztec dealers went wide and far within the confines of their Empires to fetch magnificent pearls for their emperors and gods. Excavations in several archaeological sites have revealed large black pearls within the tomb of a Zapotec  ruler (750-500 a.C), the biggest discovery taking place at site 7 of Monte Alban, Oaxaca.

After the Conquest of the New World by the Spaniards, a tremendous “pearl fever” afflicted them and thus began the establishment of pearl fisheries in this Continent. The first pearl beds to become exploited were those of Venezuela, yielding small white-golden colored pearls, but their fever rose to new heights when they finally reached the Pacific coastline.The first pearls to be called “black pearls” and also as “South Sea Pearls” where the ones fished out of the Mexican, Central American and South American waters of the Pacific Ocean (christened by explorer Vasco Núñez de Balboa as “Mare del Sur” -“The South Seas”). Places like the Gulf of Nicanor in Costa Rica, the “Islas de las Perlas” (or “Pearl Archipielago”) in Panama, the coasts of Oaxaca and Jalisco became famous for their large black pearls.

Later on, expeditions were sent to discover the “Sea of pearls”, later christened as the “Mare Bermejo de Cortés” (loosely translated as the “Red Sea of Cortez” and now officially known as the Gulf of California), to obtain the biggest and darkest pearls known at that time. Some time later, merchant and pirate ships from Holland, England and Russia, would appear in these waters, trading whatever valuables  they could for the famous Pearls of the Sea of Cortez…

Image and text source link here. 

History of Pearls

History of Pearls.