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A Stunning Image of the Australian Desert Illuminates the Growing Problem of Satellite Pollution

2025-04-19 00:34:56

A Stunning Image of the Australian Desert Illuminates the Growing Problem of Satellite Pollution

In January 2021, Joshua Rozells ventured out into the Pinnacles Desert in Western Australia, intending to photograph a star trail. But after shooting for more than three hours and reviewing his images, he realized that the light patterns he captured weren’t what he had hoped for.

“There were satellite trails visible in almost every single photo,” he wrote on Instagram. “Instead of trying to get rid of them for a star trail, I decided to put the satellite trails together into a single image to show how polluted the night sky is becoming.”

Stitching together 343 distinct photos, Rozells illuminates a growing problem. When Elon Musk’s SpaceX launched Starlink in 2019, 60 satellites filled the skies, with a race from other companies to follow. That number has now topped 10,000, with tens of thousands more in the works. SpaceX alone plans to launch 40,000 more.

Rozells’ composite visually echoes pleas from astronomers, who warn that although satellites collect essential data, the staggering amount filling our skies will only worsen light pollution and our ability to study what lies beyond. Because this industry has little regulation, the problem could go unchecked.

“Thankfully, astronomers across the globe have taken notice of this growing issue and are starting to speak up,” Rozells adds. “Organisations such as the International Astronomical Union’s Center for the Protection of the Dark and Quiet Sky are advocating for the regulation and protection of the night sky.” (via Kottke)

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article A Stunning Image of the Australian Desert Illuminates the Growing Problem of Satellite Pollution appeared first on Colossal.

OK Go’s New Music Video Is a Dizzying Kaleidoscope of 60 Mirrors and 29 Robots

2025-04-18 23:24:04

OK Go’s New Music Video Is a Dizzying Kaleidoscope of 60 Mirrors and 29 Robots

Known for their elaborate performances almost as much as their albums, the American band OK Go just released a new music video that is very literally a hall of mirrors. Filmed in a Budapest train station, “Love” incorporates 29 robots and 60 mirrors that move in perfect synchronicity. The result is an endlessly evolving kaleidoscope that distorts reality and illusion, connecting the band and their surroundings through a trippy, impeccably timed production.

To get a closer look at the making of this iconic video, check out the behind-the-scenes video shot from the perspective of each band member.

an animated gif of a band performing with mirrors and balloons to create a kaleidoscopic effect
a still of a man in a mirrored suit singing in front of mirrors
an animated gif of a band performing with mirrors and spelling out the word "love"

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article OK Go’s New Music Video Is a Dizzying Kaleidoscope of 60 Mirrors and 29 Robots appeared first on Colossal.

Water Droplets Cling to Fluorescent Plant Spines in Tom Leighton’s Alluring Photos

2025-04-18 00:44:24

Water Droplets Cling to Fluorescent Plant Spines in Tom Leighton’s Alluring Photos

Tom Leighton (previously) is known for highlighting plants’ photosynthesis process by swapping their characteristic greens for otherworldly fluorescent colors. Often focused on the nightlife of specimens found around his Cornwall home, Leighton photographs in a manner that turns common species into extraordinary subjects.

His newest series, Spines, expands on this trajectory. The macro images concentrate on the fine fibers cloaking stems and flowers. Water droplets cling to the surfaces as if the plants had just emerged from a heavy downpour. The glistening botanicals capture the surrounding light, while the thick dew drops add a glimmering, skewed view of the lifeforms that reside underneath.

Prints of Leighton’s images are available on his website. Keep up with his latest projects on Behance and Instagram.

water droplets cling to spines on a vividly colored plant
water droplets cling to spines on a vividly colored plant
water droplets cling to spines on a vividly colored plant
water droplets cling to spines on a vividly colored plant
water droplets cling to spines on a vividly colored plant
water droplets cling to spines on a vividly colored plant

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article Water Droplets Cling to Fluorescent Plant Spines in Tom Leighton’s Alluring Photos appeared first on Colossal.

With 60 Artists, ‘The Golden Thread’ Weaves Together a Survey of Contemporary Fiber Art

2025-04-17 22:56:29

With 60 Artists, ‘The Golden Thread’ Weaves Together a Survey of Contemporary Fiber Art

The monumental textile exhibition that took over an 18th-century warehouse last spring is back for a second iteration.

In the South Street Seaport area of Manhattan, The Golden Thread 2: A Fiber Art Show returns with more than 100 artworks made by 60 artists from around the globe. As with the first iteration, this reprisal includes eight site-specific installations that respond to the former mercantile space.

colorful textile strands spill down in a gallery
Tomo Mori, “(we) keep going” (2025), donated fabrics, used clothes and linens, acrylic and cotton fillings, and anodized aluminum wires

Organized by BravinLee, The Golden Thread is a sweeping survey of contemporary fiber art encompassing a vast array of materials, aesthetics, and subject matter. Several artists connect textiles’ historical association with femininity and domesticity, including Ana María Hernando’s pair of cascading tulle works. Frequently working with the gossamer fabric, Hernando sees her sculptures as an act of rebellion in which “softness becomes less a discreet quality and more a function of power, both formally and symbolically.”

Similarly, Diana Weymar presents “American Sampler,” a collection of embroidered, typographic works made during a five-year period. Created to showcase a woman’s skill and literacy throughout the 18th century, samplers have a long history as sites of feminine expression. Weymar draws on this legacy for this patchwork tapestry, which is part of her ongoing Tiny Pricks Project created in 2018 in response to Donald Trump’s tumultuous first term.

Colossal readers will recognize several artists in this second exhibition, including Caitlin McCormack, Rima Day, Willie Cole, and Ulla-Stina Wikander. The Golden Thread is on view through May 16.

a tapestry of embroidered sayings
Tiny Pricks Project (Diana Weymar), “American Sampler” (2020-2025), vintage textiles and cotton floss
detail of a tapestry of embroidered sayings dealing with womens rights and bodily autonomy
Detail of Tiny Pricks Project (Diana Weymar), “American Sampler” (2020-2025), vintage textiles and cotton floss
a delicate crocheted flower on a patterned shard
Caitlin McCormack, “Babylon Rec Room,” vintage wallpaper on salvaged drywall with crochet cotton string and glue embellishment
a textile work depicting a revolutionary-era court scene
Ali Dipp, “Concession No 3 (Trumbull, Capitol)” (2024), manually stitched threads on denim jeans, 79 x 117 inches
a patchwork elephant sculpture on the right with an umbrella like blue work suspended in the background
Left: Fran Siegel, “Medicine Wheel” (2020), cyanotype, scrim, embroidery, sewing, string, and mounted on bar, 90 x 60 x 10 inches. Right: Manju Shandler, “The Elephant in the Room” (2024), mixed media soft sculpture, 6 x 6 x 9 feet
a vibrant abstract, almost figurative wall work with a smaller work on the side
Traci Johnson. Left: “Lil Femme,” yarn on cloth, 12.5 x 22 inches. Right: “Love Me in a Place Where There’s no Space or Time” (2023), yarn on cloth, 7.5 x 7.2 feet
a vibrant abstract tapestry with threads dangling from the bottle
Sam Dienst, “Clutter Conundrum” (2024), hand-woven tapestry with yarn, beads, paint, and felt, 56 x 57 x .25 inches

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article With 60 Artists, ‘The Golden Thread’ Weaves Together a Survey of Contemporary Fiber Art appeared first on Colossal.

Remarkable Photos by Cristina Mittermeier Spotlight the Need for Hope Amid Crisis

2025-04-17 01:00:00

Remarkable Photos by Cristina Mittermeier Spotlight the Need for Hope Amid Crisis

Through her tireless research and advocacy for the protection of the world’s oceans, Cristina Mittermeier has emerged as one of the most prominent conservation photographers. Along with Paul Nicklen, she co-founded SeaLegacy to focus on the impact of communication through art and science, confronting critical issues like endangered biodiversity and the climate crisis. She also founded the International League of Conservation Photographers (ILCP), a professional community focused environmental issues.

Acknowledging the negative and potentially disastrous effects of indifference, skepticism, and inaction, Mittermeier posits that one thing remains as important as ever. “HOPE may not be a plan or a strategy, but it is vital for our survival,” she says in an introductory note for her new book. “I ferociously reject apathy, cynicism, and fear, and with tenacity and determination, I choose kindness and Hope.”

an underwater photograph of sharks swimming near the surface

Published by Hemeria, HOPE is organized into six chapters that highlight the myriad ways humanity and nature are fundamentally intertwined. The first, “Indigenous Wisdom,” features the knowledge and traditions of communities who tap into ancient ways of connecting with the earth. Additional chapters focus on the oceans, arctic realms, the afterlife, future generations, and how all of these elements are interwoven. Throughout, Mittermeier’s bold photographs of wildlife, remarkable landscapes, tribal rituals, and family bonds serve as reminders of incredible beauty, resilience, and determination.

Mittermeier travels the world, visiting remote communities, attending significant ceremonial events, and documenting fragile ecosystems. “Images can help us understand the urgency many photographers feel to protect wild places,” she says in a statement. She continues:

My work is about building a greater awareness of the responsibility of what it means to be human. It is about understanding that the history of every living thing that has ever existed on this planet also lives within us. It is about the ethical imperative—the urgent reminder that we are linked to all other species on this planet and that we have a duty to act as the keepers of our fellow life forms.

HOPE is available for purchase now in Hemeria’s shop and will be available widely in other retail locations this October. Dive into more of Mittermeier’s work on her website and Instagram.

a black-and-white photograph of a man with tattoos on his back holding his daughter in front of a coastal landscape
a spread from the book 'HOPE' of a series of small icebergs against a pink sky
a portrait of a young Black woman with black-and-orange face paint and an elaborate headdress of yellow spheres, twigs, and other natural objects
a photograph of tall trees and a path in a wooded parkland setting at sunset
a spread from the book 'HOPE with a black-and-white photo on the left page of an Indigenous Black woman with face paint and and a floral headdress on, holding her young baby who also wears face paint
a colorful tropical bird perches on a branch
a portrait of an Indigenous man with dark face paint and ferns sticking out of each side of a large, feathered headdress
a spread from the book 'HOPE' showing a line of women with brown skirts on, with a child peeking through the skirts back at the viewer
a sea turtle swims near the surface of the sea
the cover of the book 'HOPE with a photograph of a Black woman wearing an elaborate orange-and-red floral headdress

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article Remarkable Photos by Cristina Mittermeier Spotlight the Need for Hope Amid Crisis appeared first on Colossal.

Land, Sea, and Wiry Trees Converge in 100architects’ Imaginative New Playground

2025-04-16 22:07:56

Land, Sea, and Wiry Trees Converge in 100architects’ Imaginative New Playground

Through colorful squiggles embedded with games, trampolines, and sculptural trees, a new public park in Guangzhou, China, re-envisions the possibilities of play.

“Wired Scape,” which design firm 100architects bills as an “an entangling forest of imagination and fun,” takes inspiration from the natural landscape to create a one-of-a-kind playground in a residential area. Trees resembling balls of colorful wire appear to spin out of the ground, and curvaceous green and blue forms reflect the interaction of land and water.

Lively trees made from pipes spiraling around central cores serve a triple purpose as climbable structures, shade-providing canopies, and supports for a series of interconnected bridges throughout the park. The overall aesthetic recalls computer-generated imagery in video games or animation.

100architects aimed to break away from traditional playground design and instead focus on the layout as a multigenerational space. Children’s imaginations are stimulated by myriad ways to jump, climb, slide, and run, while caregivers and parents have ample options for shaded seating with clear sight lines.

Explore 100architects’ exuberant public installations on the studio’s website and Instagram, and check out more incredible playgrounds.

an aerial view of part of an elaborately designed playground with blue and green designs on the ground and wire-like sculptural trees holding up bridges and play equipment
an aerial view of an elaborately designed playground with blue and green designs on the ground and wire-like sculptural trees holding up bridges and play equipment
an aerial view of an elaborately designed playground with blue and green designs on the ground and wire-like sculptural trees holding up bridges and play equipment
an aerial view of an elaborately designed playground with blue and green designs on the ground and wire-like sculptural trees holding up bridges and play equipment
an evening view of an elaborately designed playground with blue and green designs on the ground and wire-like sculptural trees holding up bridges and play equipment
an aerial view at dusk of an elaborately designed playground with blue and green designs on the ground and wire-like sculptural trees holding up bridges and play equipment
a nighttime view of an elaborately designed playground with blue and green designs on the ground and wire-like sculptural trees holding up bridges and play equipment
part of an elaborately designed playground with blue and green designs on the ground and wire-like sculptural trees holding up bridges and play equipment

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article Land, Sea, and Wiry Trees Converge in 100architects’ Imaginative New Playground appeared first on Colossal.