Wednesday Wonders 28
Spectacular cinemas, Graph paper drawings, a Wild West town in Kent, The Brain at Rest, Girl Gangs of New York
A brief rundown of what has made me pause this week.
1. Spectacular cinemas
These speak for themselves.
Designed for wonder, these screening rooms bring back the magic of filmgoing - The Spaces
Cisternerne in Copenhagen joins our list of favourite cinemas with an installation by Marina Abramović
Jasmine Jackson
2. An incredible use of graph paper
I could stare at these for hours.
Pejac Transforms Basic Graph Paper into Detailed, Trompe-L’œil Tableaux
Pejac’s graphite drawings on graph paper challenge our sense of space and the possibilities of the “blank slate.”
Kate Mothes
3. A Wild West town in Kent
For 30 years, there has been an authentic Wild West town in the Kent countryside. I mean, why not? Atlas Obscura links don't behave well here, so click HERE for more.
4. The Brain At Rest by Dr. Joseph Jebelli
I thought I was pretty good at doing nothing, but this book has really made me up my game. For the past week I have been following a steady prescription of sleeping in, sitting in the woods, taking naps, and playing video games(!), and my work rate has notably improved.
The Brain at Rest
We are constantly told to make the most of our time. Stop procrastinating. Optimise. To be happy, creative and successful requires discipline and focus. The most important thing is to be efficient with every precious hour. But when we let our brains rest, and our minds wander, something magical happens: the brain’s ’default network’ switches on, and suddenly we are able to think in completely new ways. Blending science and personal stories with practical tips, Dr Joseph Jebelli reveals how neuroscience is solving the mystery of the brain at rest, with profound implications for intelligence, creativity and even life expectancy. If we dare to break the taboo surrounding rest, we will find that long baths, walks in nature, meditation and simple daydreaming are the key to a happier, healthier – and ironically, more productive – life.
Joseph Jebelli
5. Girl Gangs of New York
From the archive, courtesy of Messy Nessy:
Girl Gangs of New York and the Godmother of Gotham Crime
If you were a late 19th century sex worker, shoplifter, gangster, confidence artist, or petty thief, chances are your path would have crossed with the high priestess of misdemeanour, Old Mother (‘Marm’) AKA the ‘Queen of Fences’ Mandelbaum and her curated network of wickedly skilled criminal hostess
Cecile Paul