Massive Woodcut Prints Are Dense Scenes Telling Dreamy Stories

Woodcuts stand out for their unique and striking aesthetic. As one of the oldest forms of printmaking, it has been used across different countries and even influenced the art of painters like Van Gogh and Monet. Tugboat Printshop carries on the tactile beauty of this medium by producing exquisitely detailed woodblock prints. Founded by artist Valerie Leuth, the Pittsburgh-based studio specializes in complex designs full of dreamy narratives.

Tugboat Printshop has been producing prints since 2006. The subject matter varies from dense landscapes to botanical designs and even architecture. Leuth finds inspiration for her art from many different aspects of life. Sometimes inspiration comes from a breeze, a vantage, a flower, a scientific realization, she explains to My Modern Met. Sometimes it is a dream, or a story, a song, a rhythm, a pattern. Often it is the sky. I hunt for context, for joy, for meaning, for application in all I encounter. The visual language I have developed in the making of my prints serves to join and share the sentiments I cull from experiencing.

Creating woodblocks is a time-consuming and meticulous process. But, this is part of the appeal to Leuth. After drawing the initial design, the next step is to carve it onto a block of wood; a procedure that can take a lot of time. Though the process of making woodblock prints is lengthy, it suits my approach, Leuth continues. Each step requires its own complete skillset and a different action of the handdrawing, carving, printing. When I am done drawing, I am ready for the action of carving. When done carving, I am eager to stand and roll ink, tear paper, to bustle around the press and shop.

When it is time to transfer the carving onto paper, Leuth must prepare by applying ink to the woodblock in layers. H...

9-Year-Old Boy Becomes the Second Youngest Person to Ever Graduate High School

Photo: VADIMVASENIM/Depositphotos

From the Big Bang Theory to Goodwill Hunting, young geniuses hold a certain cultural fascination. But for real-life brilliant children, their studies can be just one part of childhood. Nine-year-old David Balogun recently made history as one of the youngest people ever to graduate high school. The genius student wants to be an astrophysicist, but he's also a normal kid pursuing his black belt in martial arts.

Balogun, who is a member of Mensa, graduated from Reach Cyber Charter School in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. (The youngster attended classes remotely rather than with the big kids.) He loves science and computer programming. I want to be an astrophysicist, and I want to study black holes and supernovas, he told a local news station.

Balogun credits his favorite teachers for advocating for him despite his young age. They didnt bog me down, he said. Theyadvocated for me, saying, He can do this. He can do that.' His teachers were obviously impressed. Cody Derr, his science teacher, noted, David was an inspirational kid, definitely one who changes the way you think about teaching.

For Balogun's parents, both of whom have advanced degrees, raising a 9-year-old genius has its challenges. I had to get outside of the box, his mother, Ronya, said. Playing pillow fights when youre not supposed to, throwing the balls in the house. Hes a 9-year-old with the brain that has the capacity to understand and comprehend a lot of concepts beyond his years and sometimes beyond my understanding.

Like other kids his age, Balogun does martial arts and plays piano. He also enjoys sports. Since graduating high school, Balogun has spent a semester studying at a local community college. Now, his parents are searchin...

In case you havent been paying attention to the news lately, shoplifters have become pretty brazen lately, with no regard for laws or security.

There have been countless incidents of people (and groups of people) grabbing handfuls of merchandise and simply walking out of stores.

And a woman shared yet another instance of this in a video she posted on TikTok where a man pushed a cart filled with $1,000 worth of Lego out of a store without paying for it.

posted a video zooming in on the customers back as he quickly pushes his shopping cart out of the store. She laughs as she runs closer to get a better viewer, saying to someone off-screen, I told you, I told you, I told you.

Take a look at her video.

@myerrrrrrrrrrr crazy bro #target #theft #legos original sound ye

TikTokkers sounded off.

One person asked her,

Why u snitching bro?

Another v...

Halibut. All images courtesy of Burley and the National Park Service

If angling isnt your strong suit, the National Park Service has a solution to reeling in your next big catch. Swap your fishing line for yarn and crochet a halibut or walleye with simple patterns courtesy of ranger Hailey Burley. Referencing the aquatic inhabitants of Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve and Voyageurs National Park, the DIY projects to offer a playful way to engage with the environment and the creatures living in these regions.

The two freshwater fish are part of a growing collection of patterns designed by rangers, including a round, ridged pillow to mimic the lava flow of El Malpais National Monument and another to stitch the crustacean known as Triops.

Burley tells Colossal that shes working in Glacier Bay National Park this summer and hopes to release additional patterns reflective of the Alaskan environment. Keep an eye on the services site for updates.

<div><a href= "https://twistedsifter.com/2023/03/woman-wants-to-know-if-shes-a-jerk-for-yelling-at-her-dad-after-he-snooped-in-her-apartment/"> <img alt="" class= "attachment-sifter-rss size-sifter-rss wp-post-image" height="307" src= "https://twistedsifter.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/BeFunky-collage-12-27.jpg?w=586" width="586"></a></div> <p>If youre snooping in someone elses stuff and you find something that offends you, thats all on you</p> <p>And you should probably just keep your <a href= "https://www.reddit.com/r/AmItheAsshole/comments/xbakbz/aita_for_yelling_at_my_step_dad_for_snooping_in/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">mouth shut because</a> you shouldnt have been there in the first place.</p> <p>So is this woman wrong for yelling at her stepdad after he snooped?</p> <p>Take a look and see what you think</p> <blockquote> <h1>AITA for yelling at my stepdad for snooping in my apartment after he was upset about what he found?</h1> <p>So about a week ago I (22f) asked my parents (47m & 40f) if they could stop by my apartment just to check on my dog who had been sick while I was at work.

My mom agreed and everything seemed fine, they went over gave my dog his medicine and took him for a walk. Today though I went to my parents place for dinner and my Step Dad refused to speak to me or even look at me. Eventually I finally asked what the problem was and he went off.

Apparently he had been going through my things, and when he went into my bedside drawer found my toys and contraceptives. He yelled at me and told me that I was a disappointment and foul for having those things and that he didnt raise me for 17 years for me to become a deviant wh**e.</p> <p>I stood there absolutely shocked and bright red from embarrassment as my younger brothers and grandparents where in the next room and could hear him. I yelled at him for invading my privacy, telling him that I am an adult woman and that he had no right to go through my things in an apartment I pay the bills in.</p> <p>I have banned him from my home and have now blocked him. My mom says that Im being dramatic and that it just caught him off guard to see those things but my brothers think Im right to be angry.</p> <p>So AITA?</p> </blockquote> <p>Now check out what Reddit users h...</p>

If you havent used the Instacart app yet, its pretty darn convenient.

Yes, you are entrusting someone else to go get your groceries for you, but lets face it: these apps have revolutionized how we live our lives and its just normal now to think it will all go smoothly.

Well, not so fast.

A woman shared a video on TikTok where she claimed that an Instacart shopper used the $200 she paid for her order to shop for themself. The woman said the shopper marked the order as done in the app but bought things that werent on her list, including candy and chips.

Take a look at what she had to say on TikTok.

@hairandhay At least they got whats important. Dum dums #instacart #instacartscam #instacarthaul #groceryhaul #greenscreen...

All images Saype, shared with permission

One of the largest solar energy plants in the scorching deserts of Ibri is also the site of burgeoning childhood curiosity thanks to the French-Swiss artist known as Saype (previously). A commission from the Swiss Embassy in Oman to celebrate the countries 50-year partnership, the massive piece of land art spreads across 11,250 square meters of sand. Created with eco-friendly paint in shades of gray, the public work titled Towards Good Ideas? depicts a child kneeling at a lightbulb, connecting two switches to rows of solar panels.

Best viewed aerially, the piece took about one year of planning and five days to execute. Saype shares that given the increasingly urgent calls to divest in fossil fuels and find alternatives, he wanted to highlight one area offering a potential solution. He said:

Energy management is certainly one of the major challenges of our overaccelerating worldBeing aware that the solution centers around a complex energy mix and in a form of sobriety, I chose to paint this child playing with the magic of solar energy. Looking towards the horizon, he symbolizes the renewal of a civilization that must now reinvent itself without destroying the planet.

At the end of March, Saype will show some of his smaller works with Magda Danysz Gallery at Art Paris. Find more of his monumental projects on his site and Instagram. (via Street Art News)

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Were halfway through the Hirshhorn and MTVs The Exhibit: Finding the Next Great Artist, and while the latest episode, airing tonight at 10pm EST, was more tolerable, the formula is tired and bogged down even further by the syrupy sweet competitors and the benign critique sessions. Unlike what we see in Americas Next Top Model, it seems like everyone came here to make friends which, while cute, doesnt really make for good television. (Warning: Some spoilers below!)

In episode three, Hirshhorn Director Melissa Chiu and show host Dometi Pongo tasked the artists with developing a commission (what they call the artwork made for each competition lol) responding to the coronavirus pandemic, specifically how you survive, or maybe even thrive, in this moment in time. But not before Chiu pressed multiple hot buttons on the keyboard of relevant virtue-signalling by speaking about an exhibition she co-curated during the early pandemic and shoehorning in a Shirin Neshat reference.

Vitamin D Supplements May Help Reduce Risk of Suicide Among Veterans

Photo: BRIANAJACKSON/Depositphotos

Many experts say to go outside and take in some sunshine (with appropriate sunscreen) for your health. This advice is likely founded in a concern for vitamin D levels. Humans get this necessary nutrient from exposing their skin to the sun, and then our skin produces vitamin D. A deficiency of vitamin D can damage bone health and may even impact mental health. A new retrospective study in PLOS ONE focusing on vitamin D supplement use among veterans suggests a possible link between supplement use and lower risk of suicide.

Vitamin D is primarily generated through sun exposure; however, certain foods also contain or are enriched with it. Supplements can help ensure people get enough of this vital nutrient, although it is advisable to check with a doctor before altering your vitamin D intake, as too much can have adverse health effects. The recent study examined the suicide and self-harm risk reported for veterans prescribed supplements through the VA. The researchers scanned the data of hundreds of thousands of people who between 2010 and 2018 were seen at the VA at least once.

The team compared veterans who received supplements through the VA with those who did not to see if there was a link between this and suicide risk. The control (no known supplement) population had a suicide and self-harm rate of 0.36%. That fell to 0.2% in the treated groups. Vitamin D2 supplements were associated with a 48.8% reduction, while D3 supplements were associated with a 44.8% reduction. Among Black veterans, there was a 60% decline, while those with vitamin D deficiencies say a 64% decline.

There are limits to this study. Causation is not possible to infer from the data. It is also possible that control-group members were accessing vitamin D i...

Massive Flower Arrangement Is Encased in Layers of Ice

The frozen landscape of Hokkaido in Japan was adorned once again by one of Azuma Makotos surreal installations. Using a colorful assortment of bouquets and plenty of water, the Japanese botanical artist created a towering frozen sculpture. All of the flowers and plants remain trapped in this striking form, still vibrant and in bloom, for as long as the layers of ice remain.

This is the second time Makoto produced Frozen Flowers; and just like the 2021 version, he traveled to the Notsuke peninsula in Hokkaido to set up the installation when winter was at its coldest point. So, he brought dozens of botanicals to a snowy clearing and assembled them atop a steel pole structure. After weaving the flowers into a cohesive formall during the night and early hours of the morninghe poured water on top. Due to the freezing temperature, the water quickly froze over, preserving the plants and creating dozens of icicles hanging off each bloom and leaf.

When Makoto poses next to his work, we are able to get an understanding of the sheer scale of the structure, which looms tall in the barren landscape. He intentionally chose this empty area to install the multicolored sculpture, demonstrating the visual power of flowers in such extreme conditions. Their lives are dependent on the ice, and as soon as that melts, the flowers will eventually wilt with time.

You can watch a video of Azuma's process via his website. Scroll down to see more images of this amazing piece, and follow the artist on Instagram to keep up to date with his latest projects.

Artist Azuma Makoto returned to Hokkaido in 2023 to construct a new magical flower sculpture.

If you think its such a great idea, why dont you pay the bills?!?!

Not so interested anymore, are you?

Well, thats the way it usually goes

Check out this story and see if you think this guy is wrong for what he said to his mom and his sister.

AITA for telling my mom and sister to pay our bills if they agree my wife should be able to be a stay at home?

My (28M) wife (31F) has recently started to express interest in being a SAHW to prep for being a SAHM.

We dont have kids and havent been trying, and before getting married, we talked about kids and work/home arrangement and we agreed that wed both work prior to and once we had kids, and agreed wed take turns with the stay at home portion for the first year or two after potential kids were born then both back to work.

Now she wants to do away with that and wants to be a stay-at-home wife until we have kids and then be a stay-at-home mom. I dont want that, I never wanted that, and I made that clear from the start when we got serious. I enjoy my job a lot but my salary cant sustain a family and I dont want to go back to school and change careers like she wants me to to make it happen.

I dont want to take up a second job either knowing Id still be doing half the housework and childcare (not that thats a bad thing) whereas both my mom and her parents are local shed have plenty of help during the day and able to get downtime.

We had dinner at my mothers a couple days ago with my sister and her kids. While we were there my wife goes:

Your sons being mean, he wont let me be a stay-at-home mom.

First my family took this as shes pregnant and got excited so I had to...

To the pulsing beat of Masauko Chipemberes Beautiful People, a montage of Oakland flashes between zine-like, stop-motion opening credits: the Fox Theatres Art Deco facade, waggy-tailed dogs behind chain-link fences, women swaying their hips in sync on the pier. Welcome to Cauleen Smiths 1998 Drylongso, a film as joyful as it is sobering, an homage to both the West Oakland district in which it was shot and the Black-American idiom for which it was named. 

Recently restored by Janus Films, Drylongso exudes the DIY charm of a low-budget, first-time feature (it was Smiths MFA thesis for UCLA), while keenly depicting the complexities of both race- and gender-related inequalities. West Oakland is decidedly not a hotbed of destitution and despair, but rather home to a close-knit working- and middle-class community a place of candy-colored houses with echoing staircases, sun-splotched sidewalks, and Black-owned bookstores. Drylongsos heroine, Pica Sullivan (Toby Smith), is a photography student who stashes extra cash in a refrigerated Sanka can, and who hangs her Bob Marley poster over a small trampoline that functions as a nightstand for her college textbooks and landline phone. 

A friendly (if feisty) neighborhood flaneuse, Pica comes to the rescue of Tobi (April Barnett), whose abusive...

The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) is thrilled to offer over 50 art and design classes to students from across the globe this summer! Both emerging and established artists are invited to join SAIC faculty and fellow thinkers and makers for an exciting and immersive art-making experience in SAICs non-credit Adult Continuing Education program. Courses are available in a wide variety of studio and making areas from Fashion Design to Painting to Creative Writing as well as skill-based professional advancement courses in Interior Design, digital design programs including Adobe Photoshop and InDesign, Color Theory, and more.

On-campus and online courses will be offered in multi-week summer sessions and one-week intensives starting in May, June, July, and August.

Course offerings include:

• NEW: Studying Art History at the Art Institute of Chicago: An Overview (On Campus)
• ...

Winners of Mobile Photography Awards Showcase the Creative Possibilities of Smartphones

Eyeing Ibis by Glenn Homann (Australia). MPA Photographer of the Year.

Over the course of 12 years, the annual Mobile Photography Awards have proved the staying power of taking photos with your phone. According to the contest, they received a record number of entries this year, with talented smartphone photographers submitting their work across 12 categories. In the end, it was Australian photographer Glenn Homann who wowed the judges with an exceptional portfolio of imagery that spans landscapes, portraits, and architecture.

Homann's incredible work shows his versatility, as well as his ability to use vivid color, dramatic lighting, and compelling compositions across many genres of photography.

We were thrilled to see such incredible work from Glenn and all of the photographers who submitted to this year's MPA, says Daniel Berman, the founder of the Mobile Photography Awards. Glenn's work truly captures the essence of what mobile photography is all aboutthe ability to create stunning images anytime, anywhere, using only a smartphone.

With thousands of entries from mobile photographers in 80 countries, the expert judging panel had the arduous task of narrowing down the field to a list of winners. The final result is a strong group of creative photographers who are pushing the boundaries of what is possible with a smartphone and proving that they aren't limited by the equipment they carry around in their pockets.

The Mobile Photography Awards continues to develop and evolve along with technology. This is clearly evident with the introduction of a special category for AI images. By honoring t...

Disney Parks Beloved Dole Whip Will Soon Be Available in Grocery Stores

Ever since its introduction in 1984, Dole Whip has been a fan favorite frozen treat among Disney Parks visitors. Its fruity flavor is perfect for a refreshing break on a hot sunny day at Disneyland and Walt Disney World. For years, the famous soft serve has only been available at the theme parks and at the Dole Pineapple Plantation on Oahuuntil now. Dole has announced that the delicious Dole Whip will be at select retailers as soon as April 2023.

One of the things that has made Dole Whip so beloved is its ingredients, which the company will be maintaining for the at-home version. Another reason the sweet treat has had a cult following is that its a gluten-free and vegan-friendly option, as it is dairy-free and made with real fruit. Dole Whip is now being offered in nine flavorspineapple, cherry, mango, watermelon, lemon, lime, orange, raspberry, and strawberry.

Fans of Dole Whip can look forward to having not only the classic pineapple flavor at home, but also mango and strawberry Whip will come with four 3.6 fl oz cups. The announcement was made at the Natural Products Expo West trade show in Anaheim, California, only a few minutes away from Disneyland itself.

Though it will soon be available in the freezer aisle of your local grocery store, some people have been trying their hands at making their own. During the 2020 pandemic, Disney and Dole shared the recipe for those who wanted to recreate the dessert at home while the parks were shut down. All it takes for four servings are 1/2 to 3/4 cup pineapple juice, 2 cups of frozen pineapple chunks and 1 cup of dairy-free vanilla ice cream, which you then blend together in a blender until it reaches the desired texture.

Of course, the days of making your own Dole Whip at home may soon fade, just like the bread baking craze of 2020. And perhaps if fans of Dole Whip embrace the grocery store version, soon a theme park ticket wont be necessary to enjoy all the variants of this fruity and refreshing dessert.

Dole Whip, a fan favorite frozen treat among Disney Parks visitors, will soon be available at select grocery stores.

A talent grows by being used, and withers if it is not used.

Talent is insignificant. I know a lot of talented ruins, James Baldwin bellowed in his advice on writing. Beyond talent lie all the usual words: discipline, love, luck, but most of all, endurance.

There is a reason we call our creative endowments gifts they come to us unbidden from an impartial universe, dealt by the unfeeling hand of chance. The degree to which we are able to rise to our gifts, the passionate doggedness with which we show up for them day in and day out, is what transmutes talent into greatness. It is the responsibility that earns us the right of our own creative force.

That is what the great poet, novelist, and playwright May Sarton (May 3, 1912July 16, 1995) explores in an entry from her altogether magnificent journal The House by the Sea (public library).

All images Elena Fleury-Rojo, shared with permission

Exquisite aquatic specimens sprout from craggy stones in Elena Fleury-Rojos Reef Formations sculptures. The British artist interprets the spindly shoots, scalloped-edge growths, and grooved tentacles of coral in clear or green borosilicate glass, which she fastens to rugged hunks of rock or marble. Melding land and sea and delicate and durable materials, the works draw parallels between the rapid death of the marine creatures and the disappearance of traditional flame-working techniques, both of which Fleury-Rojo sees as having potential for a hopeful regeneration into full bloom.

The sculptures shown here are part of the first volume of Reef Formations, some of which will be on view at Essexs The Sentinel Galley for a dual exhibition opening on April 4. Fleury-Rojo currently has a few works available on Etsy and frequently shares glimpses into her studio and process on  Instagram.

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Luggage Handler Achieves Long-Life Dream of Becoming Pilot

This one has been 6 long years in the making.

How it started How its going pic.twitter.com/wXqN8lITE3

Never Enough Legroom (@j_muta) September 30, 2022

There is no linear path to achieving one's professional dreams. While we may think that the natural progression of a persons career is go to school to acquire a specific set of abilities, apply for a job in that field, get that job, some roads are much more serendipitous. Justin Mutawassims story is a great example of this. He fell in love with airplanes when he was just 6 years old. The Delta pilots of his very first flight invited him to cockpit and he knew right then and there that he wanted to be a pilot when he grew up.

Unfortunately, when Mutawassim was in middle school, a teacherwho was a member of the United States Air Forcemisinformed him by saying he would need perfect vision to become a pilot. When I heard that, I was really defeated, Mutawassim, who wears glasses, told The Washington Post. I didnt really have the ability to fact check that. Feeling somewhat defeated, he decided to pursue a career in broadcasting after graduating from high school in 2014. Although he enjoyed it, it didn't fulfill him the way aviation would, leading him to drop out and taking a job as a ramp agent hauling bags for Delta Air Lines. That way, he would at least be surrounded by his beloved planes.

Next thing you know, it turned into a year and a half of an awesome job, he recalled. His passion and good performance led him to grow in the company from agent to supervisor, and later, instructor. I just absolutely fell in love with the technical aspect of aviation. However, he acknowledges the hardships of the position. It was physically the hardest job Ive ever done. Manual labor is no joke. Learning about planes every day made his wish to become a pilot grow even more, but he didn't know how to pursue it until one life-altering exchange.

While riding an employee bus at Dallas Love Field Airport, he met Ivor Martin, who then worked as a pilot for Virgin America. The men started to chat, and Mutawassim eventually brought up his long-life dream. Martin replied Justin, come over...

Give Your Embroidery a Voice When You Learn to Stitch Letters

Photo: Swati H. Das
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One of the best skills to have as an embroiderer is an ability to stitch letters. In being able to embroider letterforms, you can personalize a project or open up your imagery to include quotes or other letter-focused work. If you've ever wanted to try monograms, this is the perfect opportunity.

It might seem like a challenge to embroider letters. The good news is that if you know some basic stitches, you already know how to embroider them. Thats rightyou dont have to have any additional skills to sew a letter. You just need a nice-looking name or phrase to stitch.

Embroidering letters is easily accessible for the beginner, but there are still some things youll want to know to make sure that your work looks its best. Well cover tips for making sure that your lettering looks great and the most popular lettering stitches (along with how to do them).

Tips for Embroidering Letters

Photo: Toa Heftiba

How to...

All images Ravi Zupa, shared with permission

A raccoon on a motorcycle laments over being a poser, a sloth finds itself exhilerated after a bike ride, and a raging cat screams that, despite its snarling teeth, its not angry. The self-conscious, awkward, and excitable creatures are the latest additions to Ravi Zupas growing cast of characters, which follow earlier illustrations featuring a pack of self-deprecating dogs and a herd of disorderly, drunken cats.

Zupa tells Colossal that hes spent the last few months riding his bike near his home in Commerce City, Colorado, each morningrain, snow, or sunshineand this dedication has translated to his work. Many of his recent prints and greeting cards feature animals mid-cycle as they contemplate their television habits and whether their helmet really does make them look corny.

Currently, Zupa is preparing for a solo show opening in June at Subliminal Projects in Los Angeles. His work will also be included in a group exhibition opening in July at Harman Projects in New York City. Shop prints and greeting cards featuring the illustrations shown here on his site.

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Have you seen the Netflix film You People yet?

It has quite a cast, including Jonah Hill, David Duchovny, Eddie Murphy, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Nia Long, and Lauren London.

The film generated a lot of buzz after its release and a new revelation from one of the actors got people talking a little bit more.

Photo Credit: Netflix

Andrew Schulz stars as Cousin Avi in the film and he recently said that the kiss between Jonah Hill and Lauren London in the movie didnt even kiss and the smooch was faked by CGI.

Schulz said on his podcast The Brilliant Idiots, Theres a hilarious thing I dont even know if I should share this s, but the final scene, they dont even kiss. Its CGI. Swear to God.