🎉 And just like that – it’s July!
Welcome to your weekly indie art magazine, straight to your inbox. Thanks for opening this email (again!) – it means the world to me. This week, I’ve gathered the best hidden gems from the farthest corners of the internet, stuff you didn’t even know you needed. Let’s dive in. 🙂
Week 27/2025
TOP 3 ART STORIES THIS WEEK
A drawing of the Pharos of Alexandria by German archaeologist Prof. H. Thiersch (1909).
1. After 800 Years Underwater, Alexandria’s Lighthouse Rises Again 🔥
Thirty years ago, French archaeologists found the remains of Egypt’s Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. This tower was over 100 meters tall, built in the 3rd century BCE after Alexander the Great died. It guided sailors with its giant fire until three massive earthquakes (956–1323) smashed it, sinking parts into the sea.
The lighthouse was funded by Ptolemy I, the first ruler of the Ptolemaic dynasty, and finished under his son Ptolemy II after 12 years of construction. At night, a huge fire burned at the top, acting as a beacon for sailors along the flat Nile Delta coast.
Now, a French-Egyptian team has brought up 22 of its largest and heaviest stone blocks.
What’s next?
They’re scanning every piece in ultra-high detail to digitally rebuild the lighthouse. Soon, anyone will be able to explore this ancient wonder in 3D from their couch.
And yes – a 90-minute documentary about this jaw-dropping recovery mission is dropping later this year.
💡 We come and go, but wonders like this were here long before us – and will be here long after. Astonishing, isn’t it?
Blocks recovered from the sea of the Alexandria Lighthouse. Credit: GEDEON Programmes / CEAlex
p.s. – while one ancient wonder is being brought back to life…
Hagia Sophia, architectural jewel of Istanbul, is in danger.
This week, experts wits foundations are so fragile it could collapse, especially with crowds still pouring in during its biggest restoration ever. Built in 537 CE, this former cathedral-turned-mosque holds one of the world’s largest ancient domes and stunning mosaics. But right now? “No one should enter.”
Let’s hope this wonder survives to inspire the world for another 1,500 years.
2. Anna Wintour Steps Down: The End of Vogue’s Reign? 👑
Big shake-up at Vogue.
After 37 years, Anna Wintour is stepping down as editor-in-chief of American Vogue. She took over in 1988 and instantly broke the rules – her first cover featured model Michaela Bercu wearing jeans. Shocking back then, iconic now.
Wintour turned Vogue into a celebrity-driven, street-meets-couture bible. Her bob haircut and dark sunglasses became fashion power symbols. The Devil Wears Prada? Yep, Meryl Streep’s character was inspired by her. And The September Issue documentary in 2009 showed just how hard she ruled the fashion world.
At 75, she’s not leaving completely. She’ll stay on as global editorial director and content chief at Condé Nast. But the Vogue throne is now empty. Who’s next? Names flying around include Amy Astley, Chioma Nnadi, and Kate Betts.
Stay tuned. And of course, watch the documentary, if you yet haven’t 🙂
3. Kate Bush Drops Surprise Animated Film at Oscar-Qualifying Festival ✨
Feeling that midsummer heat melting your brain? Sometimes you just wanna chill, watch something beautifully creative, and let yourself get inspired. Doesn’t have to be deep or serious – just pure visual joy.
📺🍓
Poland’s Animator Festival is back for its 18th edition this July in Poznań, and it’s bigger than ever. The festival is an official Oscar-qualifying event – winning here could land your animated short a spot on the world’s biggest stage.
This year’s surprise? Kate Bush, the British music icon, is competing with her first animated short film, Little Shrew (Snowflake). It’s a black-and-white story of a shrew wandering through a war-torn world in search of hope, created with War Child.
Expect legends on stage too:
Mike Hollingsworth (director of BoJack Horseman)
Joe Holman (Corpse Bride, Fantastic Mr. Fox)
Yoshimi Itazu (Paprika, Tokyo Godfathers)
Plus over 300 films, premieres, retrospectives, VR experiences, and one unmissable vibe: animation as pure art and powerful storytelling. Poland, here we come 🇵🇱 😃
🎨 Crativity Insight: Emotion Sells Art, Connection Is Currency
This week, Art Marketing News shared a valuable truth: emotion sells art, and connections are currency.
People don’t buy art just because it’s pretty. They buy it because it makes them feel something real. Science backs it up – it’s not dopamine (the quick-hit “yay” chemical) that creates collectors. It’s oxytocin, the trust molecule. That’s what happens when someone feels seen, safe, and connected to your story and your art.
🗝️ What does this mean for you?
Tell the real story. Not “This painting explores isolation,” but “I walked past this empty swing set every day, and one morning it hit me – I’d avoided painting it because it reminded me my kids had outgrown the playground.”
Say thanks. Record a quick 30-second voice message to a buyer or follower: “Hi [Name], just wanted to say your support means more than you know.” Zero sales pitch.
Ask deeper questions. Try: “Have you ever seen a painting that stopped you in your tracks? I had that with Brancusi’s ‘Sleeping Muse’ – even just a photo stunned me. What about you?”
Show up with gratitude. Remember that person who loved your landscapes at the last show? DM them: “Your enthusiasm warmed my soul. I thought you’d like to know I have similar pieces as prints, or I take commissions if that ever speaks to you.”
💡 Bottom line:
In a tough art market, connection beats noise. People crave art that feels honest, human, and alive. Especially today. The trust you build today becomes the foundation of your art career tomorrow.
Read the full article here.
🎧 SOUNDTRACK FOR YOUR STUDIO
I just stumbled upon this gem: digitalconcerthall.com – the Berliner Philharmoniker’s online home. It’s an incredible archive of concerts from the past six decades, plus artist talks and documentaries about legendary conductors.
The audio quality is beautiful, and there are no ads (unlike YouTube!). Honestly, I’ve been spending my mornings there, completely absorbed. They even offer a 7-day free trial, no credit card needed to start.
This isn’t sponsored – just something I genuinely wanted to share with you. 🙂
Of course, nothing beats sitting in a real concert hall, but with summer here and many halls closed between seasons, this feels like a quiet, inspiring way to fill your studio with timeless music. Especially on those rainy days.
🎶✨🎻
One Simple Thought 💚 (nearly 700 y. old)
“Perfect regularity is tasteless. Something left not quite finished is very appealing, a gesture towards the future. (…)
Even in the construction of the imperial palace, some part is always left uncompleted.”
Japanese monk Kenkō, “Essays In Idleness”, 1330-1332. Translation by Donald Keene.
I’ll just leave this thought here, for you to draw your own conclusions or connections for your art.
That’s it for this week. ✨ I hope you found something for your brain, ears, or soul today. Until next time – stay inspired. 😊
Source: FB @Sarcasm
