Topics

Nov

Culture Smart: Sew Me a Story

by Sheron Long on November 10, 2013

Story quilt by Harriet Powers, showing African American artistic traditions and the influence of African heritage on quilts created by slaves

Story quilt created in 1898 by African American quilter Harriet Powers

The Quilt Designs of Harriet Powers

Harriet Powers (1837–1910) never learned to read or write, yet her story quilts left a significant record of life and events in the American south of the 19th Century. Read more...

Sheron Long Comments

Cultural Heritage & Traditions/Literary World/The World's Art & Design/USA

Oct

Halloween Traditions: Spooks, Saints, and Souls

by Meredith Mullins on October 31, 2013

Trick-or-treating shows Halloween traditions that are cultural traditions in America

U.S. Halloween traditions: Is it all about the candy?
© BananaStock

Trick-or-Treating the American Way

My first Halloween life lesson was at age 10. My tiger costume was purrfect. Visions of the candy haul were dancing in my head. My friends and I could get a month’s stash of sugar and chocolate in a few hours.

Without remorse, we judged each house on the quality of the treats. Apples and pennies were disdained. And even the grouchiest neighbors gained popularity points if they offered the coveted large-size chocolate bar instead of a few meager kernels of candy corn. Read more...

Meredith Mullins 2 Comments

Cultural Heritage & Traditions/France/Mexico/USA

Oct

Picture-Perfect Pumpkin Carving

by Janine Boylan on October 21, 2013

Klimt's The Kiss, creative expression in pumpkin carving by Maniac Pumpkin Carvers

Creative Expressions for Halloween

Most people may take a break from their everyday jobs to go on vacation. Marc Evan and Chris Soria use their time away to, as they say, “get messy with some pumpkins.”

The Brooklyn-based childhood friends pause their 11-month art careers to spend every day in October working until early into the morning carving, cutting, and hollowing out hundreds of orange gourds as part of their seasonal business, Maniac Pumpkin Carvers. Read more...

Janine Boylan 1 Comment

Cultural Heritage & Traditions/The World's Art & Design/USA

World Views: