Visuals

Illustrating the Natural World

   Robert Hooke’s Micrographia (1667) Last holiday season the American Museum of Natural History published Natural Histories: Extraordinary Rare Book Selections from the American Museum of Natural History. A book which allowed readers "a privileged glimpse of seldom-seen, fully illustrated scientific tomes from the American Museum of Natural History's Rare Book Collection."  From Marcus Bloch's 12-volume encyclopedia of fishes (1782-1795) Now they are following up the book's success with a year-long exhibition, Natural Histories: 400 Years of Scientific Illustration from the Museum’s Library, focusing on images that were created in pursuit of scientific knowledge and to accompany important scientific works in disciplines ranging from astronomy to zoology....

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America’s National Parks: Pop-Up Style

"The best idea we ever had. Absolutely American, absolutely democratic, they reflect us at our very best."  — Wallace Stegner on our National Parks While our government puts the final touches on a budget all of our National Parks remain closed.  As the Huffington Post points out in this handy infographic, "The shutdown of the federal government has had a devastating impact on some of the most beautiful places in the country." Well, here's one way to stay connected while we wait out the madness: A pop-up book! Illustrated by Dave Ember and executed by paper engineer Bruce Foster  America's National Parks might...

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Sabrina Zbasnik’s All Hallows Read Posters

It started in 2011 when Sabrina Zbasnik got "a crazy idea" to design some posters for Halloween in the "Get Kids to Read" vein using the stars of the classic monster films. Then in 2012 Zbasnik was at it again, this time featuring the creepy denizens of the animal world. and now her 2013 set of posters are available featuring Edgar Allen Poe and company All images are available for download and public use.  

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‘Marvels & Monsters’: Unmasking Asian Images in U.S. Comics

“Yellow Claw” #1, Atlas Comics, October 1956. (Marjean Magazine Corp.) The Japanese American National Museum, in collaboration with NYU's Asian/Pacific/American Institute and the  Fales Library & Special Collections, present “Marvels & Monsters: Unmasking Asian Images in U.S. Comics, 1942-1986.” The exhibit highlights racial and cultural images of Asians that appeared in comic books from WWII through the mid-1980's. The very same images that defined and still fuel America’s perceptions and stereotypes of Asians. Unknown Soldier #221 (November 1978), DC Comics, Inc. [DC].The exhibition is curated by  “Asian Pop” columnist Jeff Yang and is culled from the collection of William F. Wu, a noted science fiction...

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Cheers to the Aleing Authors!

Here's to Steph Sabo and his cleverly designed visuals for an imaginary  line of craft beers. Produced by Old Inkwell Artisan Brewers these handcrafted brews beer explore the "connection between an author's escalating success and troubled life."   Sabo explains: Aleing Authors is a a unique assortment of craft beers inspired by influential authors of the 19th and 20th centuries. Subtle references to the six authors are incorporated on each bottle. The beer name and ingredients relate to each author as well as their literary works. To flesh out the beer's identity, famous quotes and iconic imagery from their novels...

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