Located near the southern edge of the Colorado Plateau, Petrified Forest National Park is part of an amazing geological region. Here you can see the colorful Painted Desert badlands next to mesas, buttes and hoodoos that have been sculpted by wind, rain and time. It’s a sight that will leave you in awe. Photo by JT Dudrow (www.sharetheexperience.org).
Josef Albers’s photographs of carved stone façades and symmetrical courtyards pay homage less to the square than to the genius of Mayan or Zapotec engineering—as well as the power of strong diagonals. Mexico provided Albers with an alternate classical tradition. The show includes several rigorous line studies clearly inspired by the ziggurats of Monte Albán and Chichén Itzá. Compared to his best-known work, Albers’s early geometric abstractions and many of the Mexican paintings are distinctly free-form (some, from the 1930s, might be described as jazzy), and are frequently concerned with the representation of three-dimensional space. By 1950, Albers is concentrating almost entirely on flatness, rectangles, and the interaction of color.
Soaring above a maze of red canyons, the Fisher Towers are a dramatic sight along the Colorado River in Utah. A National Scenic Trail winds 2.2 miles around the stone pinnacles and climbs up to nearly 360 degree views. Experienced climbers can test their skills on the rock faces while less daring visitors can enjoy relaxing moments at the nearby Bureau of Land Management campsite. Pro-tip: clear nights offer incredible stargazing opportunities. Photo by Adam Jewell (www.sharetheexperience.org).
There are three extremely horny artists with exhibits at the Met right now. Rodin (a last name artist), David Hockney (arguably a full name artist), and Michelangelo (a first name artist). It’s fun to watch people look at the work with extremely studious expressions on their faces. Although it would be nicer if there were fewer people.
If someone told you that the human race is very close to living forever, what would you say? According to futurologist Dr. Ian Pearson, by 2050 we’ll have the capability to become “immortal.” Pearson, a former sound engineer and inventor, claims to have “85% accuracy when looking 10-15 years ahead,” and lists several technological advances as reasons for his prediction.
“There are quite a lot of people interested in living forever,” Dr. Pearson tells The Sun. “There always has been, but the difference now is tech is improving so quickly, lots of people believe they can actually do it.” One technique for extending our lifespan? Pearson points to advances in genetic engineering to prevent cell aging and scientists attempting to create 3D printed organs. This would allow us to simply replace “old parts” when necessary. While it might sound crazy, IFL Science points out that he may be alluding to factual studies, such as the gene editing tool, CRISPR-Cas 9.
But Pearson is really banking on android bodies as our pathway to immortality. Equating it to “renting a car,” he theorizes that “the mind will basically be in the cloud, and be able to use any android that you feel like to inhabit the real world.” Brain interfaces are already a reality, though they are primarily used by people with extreme paralysis. These chips, implanted directly in the brain, allow people to operate prosthetics or computers with their thoughts. And with increasingly realistic dolls being pushed by the sex industry, Pearson’s idea may not be so farfetched.
One final theory by Pearson eschews a physical body altogether, in lieu of the virtual world. “You could make as much fun as you could possibly imagine online. You might still want to come into the real world,” he predicts. “You could link your mind to millions of other minds, and have unlimited intelligence, and be in multiple places at once.” But alas, if you are getting ready for 2050, you better start saving your cash. Pearson predicts the first wave of technology will only be available to the ultra-rich, with it taking about 10 to 15 years to trickle down to the rest of us.
Love art and traveling? Why not combine your two passions by visiting some of the best art destinations the world has to offer. From street art capitals such as Berlin and New York to the world-renowned galleries of Paris and Florence, great art can be found in all corners of the world. Whether you’re inspired by the work of old masters, love contemporary art, or you just want to soak up some healthy creative energy, here’s our list of the 10 best cities to visit to satisfy even the most insatiable art lover.
Paris, France
If you’re an art lover, Paris should be at the top of your destination list. With too many fantastic museums to mention, perhaps it’s best to start with the biggest and oldest. Built in the early 12th century, The Louvre was previously used as a royal fortress. It was turned into a museum in the late 1700s and today displays around 35,000 objects. It’s home to some of the world’s most famous artistic treasures, including Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa.
Another must-visit gallery is Musée d’Orsay, situated in the former, ornate Gare d’Orsay railway station. Here, you’ll find the largest collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art in the world. Produced between 1848 and 1914, the entire French national collection includes the work of Van Gogh, Degas, Cézanne, Gauguin, and much more.
Home to world-famous museums such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, MoMA, and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York can be overwhelming for an art lover. While we naturally recommend visiting these world-famous museums, you can also explore some of the less sign-posted art locations within New York’s contemporary art scene. To help, companies such as New York Gallery Tours will guide you through the labyrinth of galleries in the hippest parts of the city, including Chelsea, SoHo, Tribeca, and the Lower East Side.
Whether you stay within Manhattan or head out to the outer boroughs, you’re bound to have plenty of options. For a more raw view of the city’s art, head to Bushwick (in Brooklyn) to explore graffiti art-covered streets, hang out with the local creatives, and visit cutting-edge contemporary galleries that showcase emerging talents. With so much to see, though, make sure you have a plan in place beforehand.
Berlin is one of those cities where art can be found around every corner. It’s a place where the urban landscape is constantly changing, with new street art seemingly popping up overnight and older pieces being covered or changed. Perhaps the most famous spot for street art is located in the Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg district, where part of the historical Berlin Wall is now used as the longest open-air gallery in the world.
The city’s East Side Gallery spans more than 1,000 meters (1.3 kilometers) and features hundreds of painted murals. However, if you want to avoid the tourists, you can just as easily find some of the world’s best street art all over the city. Each neighborhood has its own unique vibe, but the alternative streets of Kreuzberg is a great place to start if you want to see amazing works of art on nearly every wall, doorway, and rooftop.
If street art isn’t your thing, you can visit Berlin’s countless galleries and museums. There’s even a whole island in the middle of the city, aptly named Museuminsel, or Museum Island, where you can find five world-renowned museums. Among the many artworks on display, you can see masterpieces from artists such as Monet, Renoir, and Manet at the Alte Nationalgalerie; in the Neues Museum you can explore ancient Egyptian art; and, at the Altes Museum you can see the largest collection of Etruscan art outside of Italy.
One other piece of art you can’t miss in Berlin is the giant Molecule Man sculpture by Jonathan Borofsky. Erected in the river Spree in 1999, it features three human figures made from perforated aluminum. The monument intersects the three districts of Kreuzberg, Alt-Treptow, and Friedrichshain, and symbolizes the reunited West and East Berlin.
Home to Art Basel—one of the world’s most prestigious international art fairs—Miami’s vibrant art scene offers a full menu of artistic delights. For galleries galore, visit the Wynwood Arts District, where you will find over 30 contemporary art spaces and studios. Here, you can also take a street art tour with Wynwood Art Walk.
We also recommend the waterfront Perez Art Museum for the best of modern and contemporary art.
Tokyo, Japan
With hundreds of galleries scattered among skyscrapers, back streets, and old towns, Tokyo is one of the most exciting places to visit for its art. Tucked away in an old neighborhood of traditional wooden houses and temples, SCAI The Bathhouse is one of Tokyo’s most prestigious contemporary art galleries. The former 200-year-old bathhouse is now a white-walled art space, but still retains details of its past, such as wooden lockers where bathers would have stored their shoes before taking a dip. Past exhibiting artists include Anish Kapoor and Tadanori Yokoo.
For art with a view, head to the Roppongi entertainment district and to the top of the 54-story Roppongi Hills Mori Tower skyscraper. Here you’ll find the legendary Mori Art Museum, where over the years its ever-changing exhibitions have included the polka dot installations of Yayoi Kusama.
If Renaissance art is your thing, Florence is the city for you. Explore the colossal collection of the Medici family at the Uffizi, which includes masterpieces by Michelangelo, Giotto, Botticelli, Da Vinci and more. To complete your Renaissance masterpiece tour, head to the Accademia Gallery to see Michelangelo’s iconic David sculpture.
For your contemporary art fix, visit Florence’s Centro di Cultura Contemporanea Strozzina, also known as the “anti-Uffizi.” Through themed exhibitions, this gallery is devoted to showcasing the best of contemporary Italian art.
Barcelona is a must-see destination for art lovers, as it’s home to Museu Picasso; one of the biggest Pablo Picasso collections in the world. But the Spanish hub has a lot more to offer besides Picasso, including large collections of Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque art displayed at Museu Nacional d’Art. However, a trip to Barcelona wouldn’t be complete without marveling at the architecture of Gaudi.
London is home to all styles and eras of art, so it’s a great city to visit if you want to see a bit of everything. You can find classics from Van Gogh at the National Gallery, modern art masterpieces from the likes of Picasso, Hockney, and Warhol at Tate Modern, as well as many contemporary gems at Saatchi Gallery.
For a less-formal setting, visit Shoreditch, a creative inner-city district in the East End. Here you can marvel at some of the city’s most impressive street art and even join in on an Alternative London Walking Tour, led by the local street artists and creatives.
Having seen a recent boom in contemporary art, most of Beijing’s art can be found in 798 Art District. Here, former industrial buildings have been transformed into contemporary art spaces and open-air installations. You can find pretty much any type of art—from photography to sculpture to fashion design.
For Chinese historical art, check out the Poly Art Museum which features ancient bronze works from the Shang and Zhou dynasties.
While Chicago is home to world-class institutions—such as the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Art Institute of Chicago—it’s a city where you don’t have to be indoors to see great art. While wandering around the central business district, The Loop, you’ll find plenty of public artworks including Anish Kapoor’s iconic Cloud Gate in Millennium Park. You can also find an untitled cubist sculpture by Pablo Picasso, which was the first of Chicago’s public art pieces to be installed in 1967.
However, if the windy city lives up to its nickname, and the weather is just too much to stay outdoors, head to the former warehouse district, River North, where there’s over 100 contemporary art galleries to explore.
Photo: Wisdom has a remarkable history of successfully raising chicks. Wisdom newest chick finds comfort in her mother’s embrace. Photo credit: Bob Peyton/USFWS.
At
67, Wisdom, the world’s oldest known breeding bird in the wild, is a mother
once more! On February 6th, approximately two months after Wisdom began
incubating her egg, Wisdom and her mate Akeakamai welcomed their newest chick
to Midway Atoll.
Josef Albers’s photographs of carved stone façades and symmetrical courtyards pay homage less to the square than to the genius of Mayan or Zapotec engineering—as well as the power of strong diagonals. Mexico provided Albers with an alternate classical tradition. The show includes several rigorous line studies clearly inspired by the ziggurats of Monte Albán and Chichén Itzá. Compared to his best-known work, Albers’s early geometric abstractions and many of the Mexican paintings are distinctly free-form (some, from the 1930s, might be described as jazzy), and are frequently concerned with the representation of three-dimensional space. By 1950, Albers is concentrating almost entirely on flatness, rectangles, and the interaction of color.
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Sig Nordal 