Category Archives: Art

Bookstore Art

Posted on May 19, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

I have seen the painting pictured above many times online, but I only just took the time to research the artist. Although the image is often labeled as Bookstore (woman reading), I’m not sure what the actual title should be. The wonderfully … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Books, Bookstore Tourism, Europe | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

The Ideal Library

Posted on May 17, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

 

Posted in Animation, Art, Books, Libraries | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Memories of Tomorrow

Posted on May 16, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

I’ve long been a fan of vintage travel posters and I especially enjoy the historic posters created to promote the U.S. National Parks. In 1934, the park service began to encourage  state and national park tourism by designing their own … Continue reading →

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There are no kangaroos in Austria

Posted on May 14, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

Award-winning photographer Kirill Neiezhmakov has created a brilliant hyperlapse tour of Vienna, Austria that plays on the popular longstanding joke that there are no kangaroos in Austria. The very entertaining timelapse video of Vienna explores many of the historic  city’s … Continue reading →

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Frivolous Friday

Posted on May 12, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

Last month, a small sailboat in distress was rescued by a massive 18th-century sailing ship. “This moment was very strange, and we wondered if we were dreaming. Where were we? What time period was it?” “So however surreal those cities, … Continue reading →

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Picturing Maps

Posted on May 10, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

I have long been intrigued by old school pictoral maps. The exmples above and below are from the  University of Michigan’s Clark Library Maps collection, each shows the United States through a different cultural lens, covering everything from literary giants … Continue reading →

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The supply of strange ideas is not endless.

Posted on April 30, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

“The Flight of Pigeons from the Palace” by Donald Barthelme In the abandoned palazzo, weeds and old blankets filled the rooms. The palazzo was in bad shape. We cleaned the abandoned palazzo for ten years. We scoured the stones. The … Continue reading →

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Wonderground

Posted on April 27, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

This pictorial map of London was originally published in 1914 as an advertising poster for the London Underground. The design became very popular with the public and was published in several different editions. It is credited with reviving Tube travel as well as … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Europe, Maps, Public Transport | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Brave New World

Posted on April 26, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

Brave New World, 1945. Adolph Arthur Dehn. Lithograph on wove paper. “Chronic remorse, as all the moralists are agreed, is a most undesirable sentiment. If you have behaved badly, repent, make what amends you can and address yourself to the … Continue reading →

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Some Good Advice

Posted on April 25, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

In 2006, Ms. Lockwood, an English teacher at Xavier High School in New York City, gave her students an assignment to write persuasive letters inviting their favorite authors to the school. Five students chose Kurt Vonnegut. Though 84-year-old Vonnegut couldn’t … Continue reading →

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