Author: Ms. R.

In the 1950s, the New York–based artist Ray Johnson pioneered a new form of expression known as “mail art.” The idea was that artists could distribute their work privately, through the postal service instead of through galleries and other exclusive institutions. It’s been observed that Johnson, in some ways, anticipated how the internet and social media would influence the dynamics of the art world. It may be the COVID-19 pandemic, however, that brings his original, analog way of doing……

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In the town of Beočin, on the slopes of Fruška Gora mountain, rests a peculiar building, in ruins and long forgotten. Known as Spitzer Castle, the mansion was built in the late 19th century by Eduard Ede Spitzer, co-owner of the Beočin cement factory. The building is one of the rare examples of the eclectic architecture in Serbia’s northern province of Vojvodina. Spitzer hired the famous architect Imre Steindl, best known for his work on the Hungarian Parliament Building……

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Originally known as Polé, this Maya settlement had a similar history to that of nearby Xaman-Há. They were both seen as departure points for pilgrims on their way to the temples of the goddess Ixchel on the island of Cozumel. Polé had a population boom between 600-900 A.D. and, like Xaman-Há, reached its apogee during the Maya Postclassic period in the first half of the second millennium.  The ruins of Polé now lie entirely within the grounds of the Xcaret……

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Taira no Masakado is quite a fascinating figure. A fierce samurai belonging to the Taira clan, he started a series of rebellions against Emperor Suzaku around the year 935. Eventually he managed to establish a new dynasty, only to fall barely two months later in a battle led by the Emperor’s loyal samurai troops.  After his death, myriad legends were told throughout Japan, often supernatural. In one, Masakado’s daughter, Princess Takiyasha, was depicted as a witch summoning an enormous……

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The town of Segni is located on a hilltop in the Monti Lepini mountain range, overlooking the Sacco River valley to the east of Rome. It should come as no surprise that the town is twinned with the village of Mykines, in Greece near the famous site of Mycenae. Like its Grecian counterpart, Segni is surrounded by huge polygonal walls, also known as cyclopean walls for their sheer size and extent. They are believed to date back to the 6th……

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Jones Bar-B-Q is in the front corner of a strip mall parking lot. The former taco stand reborn as a takeout barbecue joint has picnic tables and string lights that stretch from the white pergola above the window where you order. It’s there that you’ll likely see Deborah “Little” Jones or her sister Mary “Shorty” Jones Mosley slinging burnt ends (crispy bits of smoky, fatty brisket)—the signature barbecue dish of Kansas City. The sisters were introduced to a national……

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For the small seaside town of Deganwy, it’s strategic significance has been recognized since the early Middle Ages. Its position was fitting for military defense, with the massive volcanic rock around the region adding to the defense strategy. However, its location actually turned out to also be a weakness, as its positioning made it difficult to resupply the garrison when under siege. Very little is known about the history of the castle. Researchers believe that Deganwy Castle was the……

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