CMYKis A Three-dimensional Mural Created By The Norway-based Design Collective, Skurktur. Using Spray

CMYK is a three-dimensional mural created by the Norway-based design collective, Skurktur. Using spray paints, stencils, and a variety of mixed media, the artists produced this playful scene in which a young child and a grown man react very differently to the colorful “rain” dripping down the side of the building. The flat stenciled shapes interact seamlessly with the drips of water and the half-umbrella protruding from the wall.

The Cicadas are Coming (to the Northeast)

When I think childhood summers, I remember long days, sno-cones, playing outside, and that the ever-present hum of cicadas. Their wing-beating buzz was, and is, the ambient soundtrack to warmer months. 

The northeastern US is about to get a visit from a very special bunch of these sporadic summer visitors. Certain groups of cicadas only rise to the surface to breed every 17 years, littering the ground with their exoskeletons and bodies, and the air with their constant call.

When the soil temperature begins to steady in the mid-60’s, “Brood II” magicicada nymphs will hatch underground and crawl to the surface by the billions, and the air from Georgia to Connecticut will start to come to life. While not every cicada species hatches in 17-year patterns, these particular “broods” may follow the pattern to avoid predators predicting their arrival or to keep from going extinct during long periods of cold weather. For many of you, this may be the first time in your life that this group has hatched.

Let Cicada Mania (yes, that’s a real website) tell you how to see this year’s “periodic cicadas”, some theories of cicadas and prime numbers, and what years other periodic cicada broods will hatch in your area.

Help WNYC and Radiolab track soil temperatures with home-made cicada thermometers, and follow the Swarmageddon in real-time.

Teachers: Make the cicada brood arrival part of your lesson plan with this activity.

Most of all, get out there this summer and just stop. Listen, look and take a moment to appreciate just how much life is lurking under and above us at any moment. 

And watch where you step. Crunch.

Delaware Today

—

This is a piece for Delaware Today about young girls losing interest in science,technology, engineering and math related studies. The state’s schools and businesses are hoping to turn all this around. I love it when I come up with a few sketches that I still want to use for something and this was one of those times. A big thanks to AD Kelly Carter!

Toe-pads of a Southern Leaf-tailed Gecko by PACsWorld