Showing results for "Maria" in Art

Before Carl Linnaeus began classifying organisms, before John James Audubon drew birds from the wild, before Charles Darwin proposed his theory of evolution, there lived a 13-year-old girl named Maria Merian who loved to draw bugs. With no formal training or university education, Maria Merian took on the role of artist, adventurer, and scientist in 17th-century Europe - a time when women were rarely allowed responsibilities outside the home, and unusual interests led to accusations of witchcraft.

For engineers and architects, mistakes are part of the creative process. Learn why the Leaning Tower of Pisa leans, how the reflections from the Walt Disney Concert Hall caused a heat ray, and what engineers and architects did to solve these types of problems.

Making the perfect mirror surface of Chicago's Cloud Gate sculpture took a lot of work.

Have you ever seen a fractal? You probably have, and just didn’t know it! These repeating shapes can happen anywhere, whether in nature or in math—it’s easy to make one out of a series of lines and triangles! Follow along and make a fractal of your own in a fun craft.

Big cities will soon boast supertall and megatall skyscrapers. This means we’ll need elevators that can safely handle them! Engineers are busy rising to the challenge of designing high tech elevators to help people reach these new heights.

Cable-stayed bridges are one of six main types of bridges built around the world. Learn about the Zakim Bridge in Boston and try the activity to see how cable-stayed bridges are so strong. Can you guess how strong a cable-stayed bridge is?

Have you ever wondered how tall and long bridges are built? Learn about three different bridges and try the activities to learn about how strong bridges, like the Golden Gate Bridge, are made.

Artist Mary Jackson describes the traditions of basket making using sweetgrass and other natural plants and explains the importance of this craft that has been handed down through generations in South Carolina. Mary's family has created hundreds of baskets in different shapes and sizes using a technique that originated in West Africa. Learn more about Mary's family legacy of beautiful art!