A Sense of Place

Activated cells, night photography, and a Victorian-era message. [View full email in your browser]( [Colossal]( Was this forwarded to you? [Subscribe here](. [Calcium flowing through a plant's leaf]( Unprecedented Footage Shows Plants ‘Talking’ to Their Neighbors about Potential Predators [A new video]( shows bright green quickly illuminating the leaves of the thale cress, a sign that danger is near. [Watch now]( [Colored blueprints of architectural elements]( SPONSOR Revolutionize Your Career Trajectory With Pratt’s Summer Credit Intensives Give yourself the [opportunity]( to develop your creative and technical skills this summer, and create pieces for your portfolio while earning college credit to advance your educational or professional career. Whether you’re in-person in New York City or participating online from the comfort of your home, you’ll have access to Pratt’s rich resources and a vibrant community of peers and professionals in the creative fields. [Learn more and register]( Photography by Stockshot Studio, 2023 [A website homepage of a grid featuring different ceramic works]( A COLOSSAL INTERVIEW 💬 Color Network On the Significance of Building Community, Teaching Diversity, and Facilitating Access for Artists of Color The Color Network]( was conceived with a mission to promote the careers of ceramic artists of color and facilitate opportunities across the U.S. In our newest interview, three co-organizers chat about the significance of access to the arts for people of color and education for their allies, the power of peer mentorship and sharing resources, and ideas for the future. [Read the conversation]( [Intricate cardboard ant sculptures made from cardboard]( Cardboard Takes a Fantastical Turn in Greg Olijnyk’s Mechanical Insects and Wondrous Dream Factory [Greg Olijnyk]( continues his ever-growing collection of cardboard sculptures augmented with LED lights, toothpicks, and “a lot of hours and lots of coffee.” [See more]( [A car sits underneath the Chicago Skyway]( After Dark, Dave Jordano Photographs the Idiosyncratic Personalities of American Towns “Night photography is one of the most challenging aspects of photography, which is one of the reasons why I enjoy it so much,” says [Dave Jordano](, whose atmospheric images cast landscapes in a unique light. [See more]( [the artist wears a sweater felted with wool facial features, and reaches out to a character made of fabrics that sits on a chair.]( A COLOSSAL WORKSHOP 🐑 Chance: Make Your Sweaters Into Friends with Ýrúrarí’s Cheeky Needle-Felt Mending Only four days left until our first Colossal Workshop of 2024! During this one-hour session, artist [Ýr Jóhannsdóttir](, better known as Ýrúrarí, will offer insight into her process and teach the needle-felting technique she often uses in creative mending projects that transform sweaters into friends. All skill levels are welcome, so just grab a needle and some wool and join in. Only a few seats remain, so [register today]( to reserve your spot for January 27. If you’re a [Colossal Member](, don’t forget to use the code in your account to receive $5 off. [Learn with us!]( [A small house on two stilts, carved from wood]( Yukihiro Akama Carves a Whimsical World of Miniature Wooden Houses In [Yukihiro Akama](’s forthcoming solo exhibition, Basho no Kankaku—A Sense of Place å ´æ‰€ã®æ„Ÿè¦š, the artist presents 55 intricately carved wooden houses. [See more]( [Top: a Victorian-era dress in shades of burnt orange. Bottom: a list of gibberish-sounding phrases written on a wrinkled old paper]( A Silk Dress from 1888 Contained a Hidden Pocket with Coded Messages. After a Decade, Someone Finally Solved the Mystery If the phrases “Bismark Omit leafage buck bank” or “Paul Ramify loamy event false new event” mean anything to you, your help has been needed since 2014. The truth behind these nonsensical lines was only recently solved after a plea from curator and archaeologist [Sara Rivers Cofield](. [See more]( Join Us Today and Help Make Art Accessible for Everyone 💖 We rely on the generous support of [Colossal Members]( to keep newsletters like this free for everyone. Reader support allows us to continue publishing stories that matter while highlighting incredible artists around the world who may not be covered in the mainstream press. ➡️ [Become a Colossal Member today]( Add some art to your favorite feeds: [mastodon]( [instagram]( [threads]( [facebook]( [pinterest]( [Colossal]( [Newsletters]( [Events]( [Advertise]( Edited today by Jackie Andres. 🐼 Colossal 6177 N. Lincoln Ave. #314 Chicago, IL 60659 ✶ ✶ ✶ ✶ You received this email because you signed up on our website and are an amazing person. [Unsubscribe]( | [Update preferences](