Author Archives: Brian D. Butler

Support Your Local Library

Posted on September 12, 2017 by Brian D. Butler
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Airport Art

Posted on September 11, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

As I’ve mentioned on more than one occasion, Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport is one of my favorites in Europe. The international gateway is not only well-equipped and conveniently located, it’s also home to a wonderful branch of the world-famous Rijksmuseum. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Air Travel, Art, Europe, Libraries, Museums, Tourism | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

J.R.R. reads The Hobbit

Posted on September 10, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

In 1952, J.R.R. Tolkien stopped by to visit a friend and to pick-up a manuscript. While he was there, the friend persuaded the author to record a bit of his novel The Hobbit. The 30-minute recording session wasn’t filmed, but … Continue reading →

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Don’t Call Him French Banksy

Posted on September 9, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

Peripatetic French street artist JR has just completed a moving work on the Mexican side of the U.S./Mexico border. The timely piece—a large-scale photograph of a child looking over the border wall—is a dramatic rebuke to Trump’s anti-immigrant policies.

Posted in Art, Photography, USA | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Don’t Blink, You’ll Miss It

Posted on September 8, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

Nessie on the Net livestream from Loch Ness:

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Street Art Starts Conversations

Posted on September 7, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

The Mural Arts Philadelphia project recently commissioned this challenging work, which is located in the heart of the city on South Broad Street at the University of the Arts. The piece is by Brooklyn-based street artist Tatyana Fazlalizadeh who is … Continue reading →

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Books in the Park

Posted on September 6, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

Everyone seems to be jumping on the Lisbon bandwagon this summer—with good reason. If you haven’t been to Portugal’s capital, get there before it’s swamped by the tourist onslaught. A wonderful place to take a breather from sightseeing is the … Continue reading →

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Mind The Ribbon Trick

Posted on September 5, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

It seems that every day we hear about a new travel scam or digital threat to worry about when we are away from home. This infographic from the security consulting group Envista Forensics does a good job explaining many common … Continue reading →

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Our Own Champs Elysees

Posted on September 4, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

This month, Philadelphia is launching a year-long+ celebration of the creation of our own version of the Champs Elysees—the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. While it may never be as grand as Paris’ great boulevard, it is a mile-long artery lined with … Continue reading →

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The Walls Between Us

Posted on September 3, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

Mexican artist Bosco Sodi is preparing to create his first art installation in New York City, at Washington Square Park. Titled Muro, the installation will be built from 1,600 removable clay timbers, fired at Sodi’s studio in Oaxaca, Mexico, forming a … Continue reading →

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