Thursday, December 25, 2014

These Stern Women Are Actually Russia"s Museum Guardians

Some of these photos look like stills from a Wes Anderson movie, with their perfect color combinations and stable, classic framing. However, they’re actually the work of photographer Andy Freeberg, who was struck by something he once saw: innocuous elderly women sitting alongside classical works of art in museums across Russia. 




Nesterov’s Blessed St Sergius of Radonezh, Russian State Museum


Malevich’s Self Portrait, Russian State Museum


In other museums around the world, museum guards are typical security guards in uniform, standing at attention to help visitors find their way and to make sure curious hands are kept off the artwork. In Russia, however, the job of watching over the exhibits and the patrons often falls to older women who sit, rather than stand, and keep a lookout. Freeberg traveled to various museums and talked with the women about their jobs. 


Most of them take great pride in their work, and enjoy being among historic works of art, as well as among the people who come in and out of the museums each day. One woman enjoys being in Moscow’s State Tretyakov Gallery Museum so much that she even comes in on her days off, just to sit by a painting that reminds her of her childhood home. Another woman says that working in the museum keeps her active and cheerful, saying that without the job, she’d just sit on her porch and complain. 



Veronese’s Adoration of the Shepherds, Hermitage Museum






Konchalovsky’s Family Portrait, State Tretyakov Gallery


Matisse Still Life, Hermitage Museum


Michelangelo’s Moses and the Dying Slave, Pushkin Museum


As far as the photos are concerned, Freeberg managed to capture the women’s love for their jobs, as well as the peaceful environment of their museums. The women’s clothing and poses subtly mirror the art they sit next to, suggesting that, like the artwork, they, too are part of the museum’s landscape as valuable guardians of history. 



2nd Century Mummy Masks, Pushkin Museum


Altman’s Portrait of I.P. Degas, State Tretyakov Gallery





Rublev and Daniil’s The Deesis Tier, State Tretyakov Gallery


Repin’s Portrait of Baroness von Hildenbandt, State Tretyakov Gallery


Statues of Antonius Pius, Youth and Caryatid, Hermitage Museum


Stroganov Palace, Russian State Museum


More of Freeberg’s work can be found on his website, where you can also see his other photographic work dealing with art spaces and the way art is collected, displayed and consumed, as well as the people behind the art centers around the world. 


Via Feature Shoot



These Stern Women Are Actually Russia"s Museum Guardians

This Guy"s DIY Woodworking Project Is Full Of Beautiful Mistakes

When you’re working on a DIY project, it can be pretty frustrating when something slows you down. Maybe you missed a step, or the materials you’re working with aren’t functioning properly. This can be a real bummer. But sometimes the little speed bumps that occur can be the very things that give your project the character that makes it truly unique. 


Case in point: This guy decided he was going to take an old block of wood and turn it into a fruit bowl. He couldn’t possibly have known how the speed bumps would end up making the final product that much more beautiful.



It really takes a lot of vision to look at an old walnut stump like this and see how it can be turned into something beautiful. First, it would have to be cut down to size.


It really takes a lot of vision to look at an old walnut stump like this and see how it can be turned into something beautiful. First, it would have to be cut down to size.


He did it the old fashioned way – with a handsaw. It takes some serious time and patience (and arm strength, yikes!) to saw a big chunk of wood like this in half. You can already see the unique patterns in the wood beginning to show.


He did it the old fashioned way - with a handsaw. It takes some serious time and patience (and arm strength, yikes!) to saw a big chunk of wood like this in half. You can already see the unique patterns in the wood beginning to show.


The wood was then shaped by placing it on a powerful lathe. More and more unique details began to emerge, along with some clear weaknesses and flaws in the wood itself.


The wood was then shaped by placing it on a powerful lathe. More and more unique details began to emerge, along with some clear weaknesses and flaws in the wood itself.





Given the speed with which the lathe sands and cuts down the wood, any flaws or cracks could ruin the project entirely. He had to make the decision to cut out the weak, flawed section and replace it.


Given the speed with which the lathe sands and cuts down the wood, any flaws or cracks could ruin the project entirely. He had to make the decision to cut out the weak, flawed section and replace it.


He replaced the section using a piece of maple with two pieces of cherry wood on either side. This combination would ensure that the bowl would stay intact when placed on the lathe that was running at 1,000 rpm.


He replaced the section using a piece of maple with two pieces of cherry wood on either side. This combination would ensure that the bowl would stay intact when placed on the lathe that was running at 1,000 rpm.


Then it was time to put the bowl back on the lathe to finish its shape.


Then it was time to put the bowl back on the lathe to finish its shape.


To achieve this look on the finished product, the DIY-er had to do some serious sanding, as well as add several coats of finish.


To achieve this look on the finished product, the DIY-er had to do some serious sanding, as well as add several coats of finish.


The little malachite accents are the result of another speed bump.


The little malachite accents are the result of another speed bump.


Wow.


Wow.


(source Reddit)


So the next time you’re in the middle of a project and something goes wrong, don’t throw the project away or get discouraged. Take this guy’s lead and turn those speed bumps into beautiful accents – making your project truly unique.



This Guy"s DIY Woodworking Project Is Full Of Beautiful Mistakes

Avoid Gaining Weight During The Holidays By Knowing Just What You"re Eating

I dread waking up on January 2nd. It’s the day where I finally assess the damage I did to my body. I head to my bathroom and get up on my trusty scale. By this time, my body has paid the price from all the lies I told myself about calories not existing during the holidays.


And after seeing exactly how 200 calories of my favorite foods really measures out, you’ll understand why I dread the scale in the new year.























(via Distractify)


So how are those New Year’s resolutions coming? I wish I saw these after all the Christmas ham I consumed. Maybe I’ll slow down a bit next year?



Avoid Gaining Weight During The Holidays By Knowing Just What You"re Eating