​How many times do we appreciate the way something feels? Maybe when we are trying on new clothes or testing the texture of our cooking, we rarely spend longer than a few moments exploring this facet of reality. Sight is a dominant sense for most people, it over lays the others in a primary manner. What we hear, smell, feel, and taste are usually subordinate unless we are deliberately using the other senses. For blind people, touch is a lifeline for the receiving of passive information. Braille is an ingenious way of writing via texture shapes that, with practice, people can learn to read like script. The level of resolution required to determine the shapes of each letter is higher that what most people are used to. Imagine what experiences we are missing out on because our fingers are out of focus?
 
Multi-disciplinary artist Fulvio Morella has invented a method of putting this faculty of human interaction to work. Known for producing geometry and angular shapes in nearly everything he does, this latest exhibition is no different. Only this time, the idea is that you have to handle the work and explore it via the sense of touch. Of course, the works look fantastic without the blindfold but when you take the plunge and explore the series through the fingertips, a whole new artistic experience is opened.
 
With the work, Morella wants to rework the idea that sight is what gives us knowledge of the world. A hidden landscape of subtle and fine surface characters is hiding in plain sight. We must close our eyes and let the fingers do the work. Beginning with woodturning in 2019, the artist began experimenting with Greek Braille inscriptions on mixed media creations. Since then, he’s taken the concept to an ever-increasing reach of media that has various identifiable touch qualities. The set, the grain, the nap, and finish all stand as portraits for inner thoughts and abstract conceptual understanding.
 
Currently on display in Rome until 31st of May.

Via World Art News

Renewing the public affection for pixel-based works of art, digital creator Kim Asendorf has minted a run of colour and sound themed pieces on the Ethereum network via Feral File. A cool 0.25 ETH each, all but three of the fifty originals are available to own as non-fungible tokens. The concept might seem complex at first, in which sounds generated by colour via computer code are projected into a Moire pattern style visual output. Taking something visual and applying a function to produce something else visual that describes the original scene is analogous to many of life’s processes.
 
The entire experience of Kim Asendorf’s work involves the sound of the colour played alongside the visual display. As we can experience this simultaneous expression of translation, the scope of information’s ability to adapt and reproduce is exhibited. Being able to see various colours in action through the medium of pixel-based visuals, we can see how their influence on our lives can be determined. We know that white noise is good for helping us to sleep, other colours of noise have different properties we can also make use of. The unique algorithm used in Colors Of Noise is designed to be coherent with this psychological principle.
 
The audio-visual experience that is contained within each of the 50 pieces of art can be described as multi-sensory and unique. The vibrancy of the audio soundscape is only enhanced by the retro-esque visuals made into static pictures for us to observe. The vastness of the work encapsulates the massive influence of colour on our psychology and subconscious. If the various qualities of subtle difference in frequency can be shown with a stable platform such as this, we can only guess as to how the much more complicated mechanism of the brain is put to work by their various inputs.
 
Via Fad Magazine

See the exhibition
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It’s not clear when the centre will be finished, however the contracts have been signed. A well-known institution, The Shelburne Museum has recently unveiled its plans to build a $12.6m art centre especially dedicated to the Indigenous community. Built to represent over eighty unique North American tribes, bands, and peoples, the building is to be encapsulated by award-winning architect David Adjaye.
 
Carrying the name of a long-term resident of Vermont and a notable benefactor to the museum, the Tony Perry Centre for Native American Art will be a permanent home to a growing and rich collection of gifted and professionally purchased pieces. In the spirit of the culture, the building is to be made completely sustainably with as many renewable products as possible. The iconic interpretations of various woods and stones will be taken into proper consideration when defining the shape, structure, and positioning of the building. A keen eye for detail will ensure the Indigenous people of North America will have a building they can tell stories about.
 
Born in Ghana, a long way from the skyscrapers of the United States, David Adjaye has already established himself as a virtuous designer of modern buildings. His outsider’s touch has enabled him to build fantastic yet practical monuments to modern living. Recently working in Washington DC, Adjaye was enlisted to design the National Museum of American History and Culture. Indeed, David Adjaye is a busy man, as he’s been head-hunted to expand the Studio Museum in Harlem and the International Financial Corporation Headquarters in Dakar.
 
We are sure it’s no problem at all to have so many projects on the go at once and that each one can be surpassed with exceptional quality. The people of the North American Indigenous Community surely deserve plenty more spaces dedicated to their masters, what’s in a Picasso that isn’t in a work from an equally as enlightened Native American?

​Via Art Forum
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​When I started Alternative Fruit, I wanted to find a way of bringing academic humanities to the public for free. With a media format, it follows a typical model with unusual content to make it stand out. Although there isn’t as much humanities-based academia available to the public for free as there is science or mathematics, people like me have identified the need for it. A mission to dig a well and produce a fountain where people of all walks of life can learn about what it means to be who they are is not as unusual as it might seem.
 
Gresham College was founded in 1597 and has been putting on free lectures for over four hundred years. A whole range of topics have been taught from within the walls, however the humanities are an important element in their continual output. Now in the modern age, Gresham College has a YouTube channel that displays professional standard lectures on a plethora of subjects.
 
Whether you’re interested in Women Leaders of Early Christianity or the Gods of Pagan Britain, you can be submerged in mindful and academically sourced information on the topic. Sit back and indulge yourself in nearly two hours of seminar on Sir Christopher Wren, the British mathematician, taught by Katherine Blundell and Sarah Hart. If art is more your thing, then why not investigate the Portraiture and Power series in which the iconic images of some of history’s most famous faces are explored.
 
There are literally thousands of videos on hundreds of subjects sitting there waiting for us to watch. We can get a daily fix of university level in-depth thought about art, history, science, mathematics, politics, and much more with no real end in sight. For as long as it takes to catch up on everything so far, there will be many more fresh ones to discover after that. When  combining a regular routine of watching these lectures and filling half an hour or so with free learning on Futurelearn, the result will be a formidable mindset few would find the need to contradict.
 
Here are some Alternative Fruit picks from Gresham College to get you started. Visit the channel for the whole selection.
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In its third year running, the Shrewsbury creative trail is the proud home of not one but three complete Salvador Dali sculptures. The Spanish surrealist, who died in 1989 at the age of 84, preferred to use the term Transformations. His juxtapositions between concept, medium, and object bring a sense of otherworldliness and dream to our everyday lives. His character still lives on in his many creations and the various films he has been in.
 
His legacy is kept in perfect condition by The Dali Universe, in Switzerland, who receive requests from all over the world to exhibit his work. Shrewsbury in the UK is one of the lucky places to have been selected. The three works will be guarded by CCTV and closely monitored day and night. Not that Shrewsbury is known for troublemakers, it’s just good to be sure.
 
A 1954 surrealist piano with human legs is one of the sights visitors can see. To fit in with the theme of movement, the trail also will exhibit Homage to Terpsichore and Dalinian Dancer. Chosen to coincide with the 350th anniversary of John Weaver’s birth, the British choreographer and writer is being honoured with this international and multi-disciplined effort.
 
via The Guardian

A standard-looking Roman bust was purchased in a Texas thrift store by an unsuspecting culture fan called Laura Young. What initially cost just $34.99 for an impressive piece of carved stone turned out to be an authentic Roman era antique. The 2000-year-old piece of artistic masonry was identified as the real article with help from Sotheby’s. The art dealing experts clarified that the piece was indeed from ancient times and had been once part of a Roman building.

Will you find a great deal on eBay? Support Alternative Fruit.
 
It's unsure who the bust is made to resemble, however from historical sources the face seems to look like Sextus Pompey, a well-regarded military leader. Similarities can be found between the face on the bust and the face of Pompey the Great, the father of Sextus. Pompey the Great is depicted on several coins and busts from that period.
 
During WWII, the bust was on display in a reconstruction of a Pompeii house. The famous situation that was preserved under a mountain of ash was a perfect archetype for Roman life. Furnishing the replica house with genuine artefacts from the time undoubtedly helped to fortify the experience. As the bombs fell on Germany, the bust was removed and stored somewhere for safe keeping. At some point, probably during the 1950s, an American soldier must have smuggled the bust out of the country.
 
The head is currently on display in the San Antonio Museum of Art. In May, it will be returned to its rightful owners in Germany and begin its permanent residence at the Glyptothek in Munich.
 
Via CNN

Statues from times past have been in the news a lot recently, thanks to a set of creatively confident young children. When their supervisor handed them some crayons to keep them occupied, they chose the two-hundred-year-old face and body of the nymph Sabrina. This mythological woman, with breasts on show, has been covered in the familiar tones of scribbled blue pencil. Hopefully, the mess can be rubbed off without too much fuss.

Quality Artist pencils and more from Art Discount

As the two titans of tyranny squabble over the right to hard power over the general population in Sudan, the work of science and archaeology continues to maintain cultural expression. Discovering and preserving rare finds from times gone by is one of our noblest causes as the artefacts enrich our story and bring new characters and chapters to the book of human civilisation. Sudan is a melting pot of human culture, with people living in this area since before written history. The world religions have made their mark, too, and in this way have sculpted the ethos and social structure of the populous over time.
 
Since the 1960s, a team of Polish archaeologists have been painstakingly uncovering the lost buildings of Old Dongola. This once forgotten destination was home to Sudanese people during a medieval period when the land was known as Makuria. A trade city, Old Dongola was a meeting place for Christians and Muslims. The two cultures that flourished on either side of one another would mingle and trade goods and knowledge in this central and welcoming part of the world.
 
The team of archaeologists had begun to work on later buildings that could be dated back to the 16th to 19th centuries when they discovered an ornate wall painting. Within a small hidden room they discovered the likeness of a Nubian ruler, thought to be King David, being protected by Archangel Gabriel. The mother of Christ is also shown with her child. What is considered unique is that the pictures are thought to be asking for protection over the city during a time of unrest. The hidden network of painted rooms depicts religious symbolism in what could be a gesture of hope and faith. Were people hiding in there for their religion or their nationality?
 
King David of Nubia was the ruler during the 13th Century. His rule saw the beginning of the downfall of the nation of Makuria with his actions leading to the ransacking of the city by the Mamluk Sultanate. It is now believed that these hidden chambers were originally produced during this time and that they had been built over by the later constructions. Art produced in a desperate way in a hope that God will protect the people is an unusual use of religious art in Christian society. It’s easy to imagine how frightened these people must have been. The largest religion in the area at the time was the Church Of Jesus and it is now accepted that this art can be attributed to this sect.
 
Discover Meeting God In The Middle, the new book from the author of Alternative Fruit

Via Artnet
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Regular readers of Alternative Fruit will know that I have written and published lots of inspiration and education over the years. It's been a long journey since the concept was created back in 2012. The domain has changed a couple of times but the author has remained the same. That is, apart from the multiple sources of education and growth in the field that have taken place. Needless to say, there is a lot of buried treasure on this site that might go unnoticed unless drawn attention to. 

Here I will list a few of the most recent and useful things that may become more difficult to find over time.

​Trust Me, I’m An Artist – How To Make Your Network Resonate

Hello World, You Inspire Me! Where Does Creativity Come From?

Freeing The Radical – Why Young People Choose Extremism And What Can We Do About It?

Intuitive Design – When Psychology And Culture Work Together

Creativity, Conflict, and Connection - How Cross Community Communication Requires More Than Simple Respect

How To Bring Out the Best in You to Generate Inspired Creativity

Creativity With Intelligent Design Is All A Matter Of Perspective

What Are You Like? How Branding Gives Art A Voice

Enabling Spontaneous Creativity With Easy Lifestyle Choices You'll Love

Science Is Good But Without The Humanities It's Dangerous

Lucid Leadership by R. B. Colver - A course in holistic and progressive leadership.

The Three-Fold Sciences Of Art And Creation

The Pedagogy Of Methodical And Creative Problem-Solving

Vanity Or Sanity? Finding Purpose In Your Creative Journey

Creativity For Quality Of Life – Making The Most Of Your Time On Earth

When Creativity Matters Most – Future World Modern Problems

How Daydreaming Is Beneficial To Well-Being And Human Progress
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​What Is The Museum Effect And How Does It Help Us Flourish?

What Is Romanticism And Why Does It Matter More Than Ever?

How Can Art Bring Out The Best In You By Inspiring Authenticity?

Exploring The Triangle Of Happiness, The Zone, And Personal Discipline

On The Plus Side – How Developmental Trauma Survivors Learn Key Life Skills

Ten Tips For Creative Success

Beat The Critics With These Inside-Out Evaluation Principles

Getting Things Done With Better Effectiveness By Using These Principles

Stop Looking For A Manager By Being Your Own

From Writer's Block To Creative Alcatraz – How To Find Inspiration

Leading With Care – Three Leadership Qualities That Define A Great Role-Model

Motivation Comes In Four Types, Which One Do You Prefer? 

​Future-Proof Leadership Qualities That Work Anywhere

Subway Scene - Subculture Sociology Course

Revolutionary Creativity In Practice – How To Change The World 

How To Motivate Then Finish What You Started

​How Education And Mental Health Go Hand In Hand

​Morale Matters – Here's How To Cultivate Happiness and Why

The Four Corners Of Progressive Leadership​

How To Write A Press Release That People Will Read

Get More Out Of Doing What You Love With These Easy Steps

Simplifying The Complexity Of Team Dynamics

Nurturing Respect In The Creative Arena

How To Write With Purpose

Society Changes And So Should You. How To Discover Your Creativity

Nurturing Positive Change In Your Creative Method

Meditate, Innovate, Create – Why sitting in introspective silence ultimately increases productivity

Light The Way With These Key Leadership Skills

Which Organisation Style Works Best For What Situation?

How To Be More Sensitive As A Creator

Square The Circle With These Four Corners Of Effectiveness

Why not bookmark this list so you can cover it over a time that feels reasonable, and share it with your networks to help Alternative Fruit grow even bigger. Thanks!!
​

And why not include a list of other places where you can get professional and up-to-date education in thousands of things for free or for less than you think.

​Future Learn

John Academy

Khan Academy

ECourses4U

Open Culture

Academic Earth 

Udemy

​Alison

iTunesU

Open Yale

Stanford Online

Knightsbridge Trading Academy (Forex etc.)

UC Berkeley Central

Harvard Extention

Univeristy of London

University of Oxford

MIT Open Courses

Carnegie Mellon Open Learning

Code Academy

Code

Ted Ed
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“Can this Cock-Pit hold within this Woodden O, the very Caskes that did affright the Ayre at Agincourt?” Henry V Prologue.
 
That wooden O, the venue for the audience when the play was first performed, was in fact The Curtain Playhouse in Shoreditch. This popular place for Tudor people to visit and experience stories and art was part of the local community for many years. Who would have thought that the particular play-write on show that day would one day become the icon for all British play-writes to follow. Theatres were purposefully built in London for the first time around the time of Shakespeare, perhaps as the jousts of Henry VIII came to an end the public wanted something more relevant and attainable.
 
The theatre was lost to time during the 17th Century. When it closed at the beginning of that time, the four-hundred years that passed saw countless rebuilds and changes of purpose on what was the original site. In fact, there were two theatres next to one another. The neighbouring venue, simply called The Theatre, also saw works of Shakespeare within its walls. This too was eventually lost. The good news is that both of these historical meeting places have been discovered thanks to work carried out by the Museum Of London Archaeology.
 
The fascinating find that surprised most people was that what was described as an O was actually a rectangle. Drawing on images of Roman coliseums with their oval shape perhaps was an effort to conjure images of brutality and pitting men against men. To enter the theatre, in Tudor times, spectators would have to pass through a tavern. No-doubt business was good when popular plays were on show and the audience would have been suitably warmed by ale before the performance. With different layers of spectator area, the theatre would have housed better-off people in the seating area and the sixpence a head crowd in the yard section on their feet.
 
When the theatre was uncovered, archaeologists discovered all kinds of old things that people left behind when the venue closed down. Dropped belongings such as coins, buttons, pins, and pipes were littered all around and even the clay pots for ticket receipts that would need to be smashed at the end of the night were found laying around. The site has been rescued and restored for the modern day with a new museum in honour of William Shakespeare. An entire experience can now be had in the place where his plays were first witnessed. Visitors can explore the old Curtain Playhouse and see where the magic happened plus learn all kinds of things about the writer, his ideas, and the things people have said about him.
 
Via The Art Newspaper
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During the recent war in Syria, the city of Palmyra was bombarded and pillaged as part of the battle for territory. Within the walls of this ancient city were several ancient artefacts of priceless value. Sadly, many of these precious items were destroyed and damaged in the fighting. In a bid to rebuild and paint over the mistakes of the past, twenty salvageable pieces were rescued and shipped to Prague for regeneration.
 
As part of the custody deal, the expert curators and restoration artists of the Czech National Museum in the capital were tasked with making them as smart as they could. The work to bring these objects back to life was undertaken under the watchful eye of the general public. An intriguing process of art and design has been played out in real life over the past few years. Now, the work is complete, and the rare artefacts are able to safely return home.
 
According to the director of Prague’s National Museum, Michal Lukes, (ArtNews) the damage is caused by not only fighting but by deliberate destruction through malice and breaking pieces off to sell. In the chaos and excitement of war, undoubtedly people let their impulsivity get the better of them. According to the museum, the works they were requested to renew were smashed with a hammer.
 
No strangers to the restoration of ancient relics, Prague’s National Museum has previously been tasked with mending works rescued from Sudan and Afghanistan. At the end of May, the museum will close its exhibition and safely return everything they were given in much better condition. Maybe we can learn from this exchange of culture and expertise, with plenty of works out there that might be better with the cleaning and preservation that institutions can provide. 
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