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Sep

Daily Cultural Encounters at Conflict Kitchen

by Janine Boylan on September 9, 2013

A cultural encounter with Venezuela at Conflict Kitchen. (Image © Conflict Kitchen)

Venezuelan takeout
© Conflict Kitchen

Sharing a Meal with Our “Enemies”

What do you really know about the people in Cuba? Iran? Afghanistan? Venezuela? North Korea?

Jon Rubin and Dawn Weleski expect that you will be a lot more informed after lunch at their restaurant.

Conflict Kitchen, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is dedicated to encouraging cultural encounters and promoting dialog about countries with which the United States is in conflict. Read more...

Janine Boylan 2 Comments

Cultural Encounters/Making a Difference

Sep

Creative Expression with People as Pixels

by Meredith Mullins on September 5, 2013

Marilyn Monroe portrait with people as pixels, showing an artist's creative expression (Image © Craig Alan)

Marilyn Monroe
© Craig Alan

Portraits of People . . . A Thousand Points of Life

Perceptions change as we look at the world from different perspectives. Such variations in viewpoints are what make life interesting.

What we see at a distance affects us one way. When we move in closer, we may experience something else. This evolution is the spice of creative expression.

What do you see in the image above at first glance? Read more...

Meredith Mullins Comments

The World's Art & Design

Sep

Josh Humphrey: Making Music with Reclaimed Wood

by Janine Boylan on September 2, 2013

Luthier Josh Humphrey in his workshop where his creative process turns into handmade guitars. (Image © Josh Humphrey)

A Luthier’s Creative Process

Creative handmade guitar, crafted from reclaimed redwood, is the result of Josh Humphrey's creative process. (Image © Josh Humphrey)

In Josh Humphrey‘s hands, a weathered piece of redwood from a dilapidated shack is transformed into the caramel-colored face of a one-of-a-kind guitar.

Humphrey is a luthier, a craftsman who makes stringed instruments.

The 20-string Raja guitar, pictured on the right, is one of the many unique pieces he has crafted from reclaimed and other local woods.

How did he become a luthier? It took his dad’s business, heavy rock music, and an apple tree, with several Oh, I see moments along the way. Read more...

Janine Boylan 3 Comments

The World's Music

World Views: