Planaria worm

Planaria worms, also known as flatworms, are a type of invertebrate animal that belong to the phylum Platyhelminthes. They are often found in freshwater environments and have a flat, elongated body that is typically a few millimeters to a few centimeters in length. Planaria worms are known for their remarkable regenerative abilities, and can regenerate their entire body from just a small fragment.

Planaria worms have a simple digestive system and are able to absorb nutrients directly through their skin. They also have a rudimentary nervous system, with a network of nerve cells that allow them to sense their environment and respond to stimuli.

In addition to their regenerative abilities, planaria worms are also important model organisms in biological research. They have been used to study a variety of topics, including genetics, stem cell biology, and neurobiology.

An Endearing Fawn Searches for the Sun in an Enchanting Picture Book Illustrated by KAA

All images © Kaa Illustration, shared with permission

A stunning picture book written by Joanna McInerney and illustrated by KAA follows a small fawn who embarks on a beguiling journey in an effort to chase the sun. Traveling through lush forests, groves of cherry blossom trees, wintry hills, and sunflower fields, readers accompany the young deer on his poetic journey to stop and smell the flowers.

In The Fawn Who Chased the Sun, Ho Chi Minh-based duo Phung Nguyen Quang and Huynh Kim Lien, a.k.a KAA, envision a whimsical world that translates into flourishing illustrations. Transporting readers into an exuberant environment, KAA incorporate various patterns inspired by William Morris along with surreal elements such as oversized flora and towering frogs.

The duo first creates detailed sketches, which Quang scans and hands over to Lien to begin the digital coloring process. Highlighting seasonal shifts through different palettes, they encourage the reader to enjoy the journey through multiple perspectives as the environment changes. “We have tried so many new perspectives and colors that we never used before in this book, and every experiment brought us joy while drawing it,” the illustrators tell Colossal.

You can follow more of KAA’s work on their Instagram, Behance, and website.

 

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Faunwood’s Adorable Menagerie of Miniature Ceramic Critters Is Primed for Adventure

All images courtesy of Antler Gallery, shared with permission

Eugene-based artist Miranda Zimmerman, a.k.a. Faunwood, brings a playful ceramic menagerie to Portland this month for Slither, a nearly sold-out solo show at Antler Gallery. Informed by Faunwood’s background in evolutionary biology, the adorable creatures meld art and science and are miniature renditions of amphibians and mammals, all stylized with the artist’s use of wide eyes and mottled glazes. The hand-sculpted characters are expressive and reflective of the organisms’ real-life anatomy, and their unique dispositions emerge through the firing process. “Every ceramic critter I make comes out of the kiln with its own little personality and sass, sometimes completely different from what I’m expecting,” the artist writes on Instagram.

Slither is on view through April 23, and you can find more from Faunwood on her site. (via Supersonic Art)

 

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Artist Vanessa Filley Stitches Meditative Cosmic Maps Brimming with Geometry and Symmetries

All images © Vanessa Filley, shared with permission

Vanessa Filley describes a recent body of work as “imagined cosmic map(s),” charts that connect the traditions of fiber arts with the present and the artist’s own questions of finding one’s place in the world. Titled In the Delicate Meshes, the series is comprised of sewn pieces that Filley likens to quilts, with stitches layered into symmetric patchworks of color and texture. “I am interested in the energetic threads that orient and connect us, ground us in place and time, yet tether us to our ancestral past and future—the lines that bring us home,” she says.

Filley references artists like Lenore Tawney, Hilma af Klint, and the women of Gees Bend Quilters, whose practices connect to spirituality, nature, and ancestral histories. Taut threads and twists embody tension and connection between both ends of a stitch, the intricate structures of the works as a whole, and the long tradition of fiber arts. “Each piece in this series is a quilted conversation, a way of taking the disparate questions and feeling of a given moment and mingling them with inspiration from the outside world and the work of those who came before,” the artist says.

In the Delicate Meshes was recently on view at Vivid Art Gallery in Winnetka, and you can find more of the series along with an archive of Filley’s works on her site and Instagram.

 

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can you bathe a hamster

It is generally not recommended to give a hamster a full bath as it can be stressful for them and disrupt their natural grooming habits. Hamsters are able to clean themselves by grooming with their tongues and paws, and they are typically able to maintain their cleanliness on their own.

If your hamster has a dirty or sticky spot on their fur, it's best to spot-clean it with a damp cloth or a damp cotton ball. You can also use a dry shampoo specifically formulated for small animals to help freshen up their coat without the need for a full bath.

If you absolutely need to give your hamster a bath, you can use a shallow dish filled with warm water (not hot) and a mild, unscented soap formulated for small animals. Make sure to support your hamster's body and keep their head above the water, and only keep them in the water for a short time. After the bath, dry your hamster gently with a towel and make sure they are kept warm until they are completely dry. However, it's best to avoid giving your hamster a bath unless absolutely necessary.

In Theatrical Murals and Dioramas by Aryz, Dramatic Scenarios Unfold in Vivid Color

“La Causa” (2020), Saint-Merri Church, Paris, France. All images © Aryz

In vibrant blocks of color, Catalan artist Aryz creates multistory murals and diorama-like artworks that radiate within their surroundings. Known for his saturated chromatic installations (previously) that fill the sides of apartment blocks or stand as panels in grand interiors, the artist emphasizes an outsized sketchy style as if the pigment were applied with giant crayons or pastels.

Aryz often reveals a grid-like structure redolent of paintings’ underdrawings, but rather than cover the structure, he creates distinct compartments containing a variety of textural and compositional elements. While much of his work emphasizes a flat two-dimensional plane, murals like “El Entreacto” expand the grid and incorporate three-dimensional depth with shadows and cartoonish details that glitch or cut off.

Often featuring figures in early 20th-century garments, Aryz’s dramatic scenes involve lions and circus performers, airplanes, or injured figures, evoking associations with early cinema and the First and Second World Wars. The murals’ locations provide incredible backdrops for the artist’s theatrical interior scenes, nodding to the rich history of crumbling old chapels or cavernous sites like Saint-Merri Church in Paris that have been damaged and reconstructed over many centuries.

Find more on his website, and see videos of his process on Instagram. (via Booooooom)

 

“El Entreacto” (2022), Mannheim, Germany

“Cocorico” (2022), Clermont-Ferrand, France

“La Muerte del Color” (2020), 19th-century abandoned chapel, Spain

“Violeta” (2020), Versailles, France

“El Auxilio” (2020), Conservatorium aan Zee, Oostende, Belgium

“La Ruina” (2021), Església de Sant Pere, Corbera d’Ebre, Spain

Installation view of “La Ruina” (2021)

“El Festejo” (2022), Ex Chiesa San Mattia, Bologna, Italy

“Descanso” (2021), Alcoy, Spain

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article In Theatrical Murals and Dioramas by Aryz, Dramatic Scenarios Unfold in Vivid Color appeared first on Colossal.

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Join Summer Intensives at Pratt Institute’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies

Photo by Katie Kwok, BArch ’23

Conceive and achieve unique works of art, design, or architecture this summer at Pratt Institute’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies by registering for one or more of our Summer Intensives, while either earning college credits or Continuing Education Units (CEUs). Whether you’re seeking educational and/or career advancement, you can develop or enhance your creative skills and apply time-tested methods to create original final projects for your portfolio.

All offerings are designed for all levels of experience. Choose between participating online* in real-time from the comfort of your home with access to Pratt’s rich digital resources, or join us in person to gain direct access to our cutting-edge facilities while enjoying the arts and cultural opportunities in New York City. You will be part of a vibrant community and network with other peers and professionals in the creative fields at the renowned Pratt Institute this summer.

You can receive a 35% tuition discount for up to five Summer Credit Intensive courses when you register by our early deadlines: May 1, 2023, for Summer Session 1 credit intensive courses, and June 1, 2023, for Summer Session 2 credit intensive courses.

The regular Summer Credit Intensive registration deadlines are May 19, 2023, for Summer Session 1 and June 19, 2023, for Summer Session 2. There is no tuition discount for noncredit Summer Intensives.

Early registration is encouraged to secure your seat in your course(s) of choice. After the deadlines, students may be admitted if space remains in the selected course(s).

To learn more, visit pratt.edu or contact prostudy@pratt.edu.

We look forward to you joining us and making the most of your summer!

*Most Summer Intensive courses are offered with the option to enroll either online synchronously or in person unless otherwise noted. In-person course formats will follow applicable Pratt Institute COVID safety guidelines.

Pratt Institute is ranked number six and one of the world’s top 10 Art & Design Colleges in 2023 by QS World University. Learn more.

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article Join Summer Intensives at Pratt Institute’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies appeared first on Colossal.

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