Things to Look Forward to – artist and writer Sophie Blackall’s illustrated celebration of living with presence in uncertain times, disguised as a love letter to the future. Dive in – the most life-famished part of you will thank you.
Emily Dickinson’s botanical inspiration – the stunning 19th-century flower paintings of the forgotten artist and poet Clarissa Munger Badger.
Yo-Yo Ma performs Nobel-winning physicist Richard Feynman’s ode to the wonder of life, animated by artist Kelli Anderson – the culmination of the nine-part animated Universe in Verse series, celebrating science and the wonder of reality through poetic beauty.
Text and details here.
“If you want your children to be intelligent,” Einstein is said to have said, “read them fairy tales. If you want them to be very intelligent, read them more fairy tales.”
Arthur Rackham illustrates classic Irish fairy tales.
The Tolkien estate has released several of his little-known paintings from the year he published (with his own original illustrations) the first edition of The Hobbit, adding to his previously revealed art. Also see Mr. Bliss – the little-known children’s book he wrote and illustrated for his own sons – and this rare recording of him singing “Sam’s Rhyme of the Troll” from his first encounter with a tape recorder.
Achieving Perspective (featuring David Byrne and some history of science)
On Edward Gorey’s birthday, his tender and surprising vintage illustrated allegory about the secret of true love.
The little-known story of Sarah Mapps Douglass and her consummate botanical paintings – the first surviving art signed by an African-American woman.
Black History Month the science way, with a poem: My God, It’s Full of Stars.





