Category Archives: Art

Art, research, Writing

Transracial Writing for the Sincere – SFWA

Putting this here to refer to. As an old, cis, white guy, I need a refresher once in a while. Especially since I want a diverse cast in my comics.

 

I’d never write about a person from a different ethnic background. The whole story would probably be full of horrible stereotypes and racist slurs.”Amy closed her mouth, and mine dropped open. Luckily, I was seated when my friend made this statement, but the lawn chair must have sagged visibly with the weight of my disbelief. My own classmate, excluding all other ethnic types from her creative universe!I think this sort of misguided caution is the source of a lot of sf’s monochrome futures. You know the ones I mean, where some nameless and never discussed plague has mysteriously killed off everyone with more than a hint of melanin in their skin. I wonder sometimes what kind of career I’d have if I followed suit with tales of stalwart Space Negroes and an unexplained absence of whites.But of course I don’t. I boldly write about people from other backgrounds, just as many of the field’s best authors do. Suzy McKee Charnas, Bruce Sterling, and Sarah Zettel have all produced wonderful transracial characters, as I show in examples below. Before getting into their work, though, let’s discuss how to prepare for your own.

Source: Transracial Writing for the Sincere – SFWA

Art, nature, Science

Tiny But Not Timid, Maria Fernanda Cardoso’s ‘Spiders of Paradise’ Show Their True Colors — Colossal

 

“The Maratus spiders of Australia are the most colourful, flamboyant, sexy, and charming spiders on the planet,” says Maria Fernanda Cardoso, whose vibrant portraits capture the tiny creatures in remarkable detail. Kicking off a tour throughout Australia, the photographer’s exhibition Spiders of Paradise, organized in collaboration with the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, highlights the arachnids’ incredible diversity.Maratus are commonly referred to as “peacock spiders” due to the males’ brilliant displays during courtship rituals—and in some cases, combat. When a male woos a partner, he raises his legs, displays a brightly patterned abdomen, and dances as if there’s no tomorrow—literally. If he isn’t successful and allowed to mate, the female may eat him instead.The genus Maratus consists of more than 100 unique species, and averaging only about three to five millimeters in size, the minuscule jumpers are smaller than a grain of rice. “To me, their use of colour, gesture, sound, and movement makes them sophisticated and performing artists,” Cardoso says.

Source: Tiny But Not Timid, Maria Fernanda Cardoso’s ‘Spiders of Paradise’ Show Their True Colors — Colossal

Art

Helen Marden, Grieving in Bright Colors and on Her Own Terms – The New York Times

Expressions of grief come in many forms. Here’s one.

 

The artist’s new paintings at Gagosian show her working through the loss of her husband, the artist Brice Marden, in a hot palette, feathers and shells.

Source: Helen Marden, Grieving in Bright Colors and on Her Own Terms – The New York Times

If that doesn’t give the full article, here’s an unpaywalled link: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/25/arts/helen-marden-grief-paintings-gagosian.html?unlocked_article_code=1.-U0.hsYt.ElXxO-zBozVU&smid=url-share

 

Art

Robert Strati’s Delicate Scenes in Ink Burst from Shattered Porcelain Plates — Colossal

Some beautiful work.

We often associate objects with memories—a stuffed bear reminds us of childhood playtime or a family heirloom of a beloved ancestor—but for Robert Strati, certain items also contain narratives of their own accord. The artist (previously) draws elaborate scenes that appear to burst from shattered porcelain plates as part of his Fragmented series. Perfectly matching ink to the design on the dinnerware, Strati expands the story within the vessel to the paper below, rendering large-scale, monochromatic scenes that seem to emanate from the original composition.

 

Source: Robert Strati’s Delicate Scenes in Ink Burst from Shattered Porcelain Plates — Colossal