Crochet Saves the Sea

I came across this TED talk, of all places, on Apartment Therapy, and watched the whole things even though I didn't have time to because it was so incredibly interesting.

Allow me to espouse why it is so amazing:

1) It's about a crocheted coral reef, which is beautiful and awesome.
2) The crocheted sea creatures solved a problem mathematicians were grappling with and didn't think was even possible.
3) The woman giving the talk looks just like the bad-ass protagonist from "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" and imagining that girl crocheting while fighting bad guys is wonderful.
4) The reef was in a global warming-themed exhibit.  Hence crochet saves the sea.
5) It's a TED talk.

The Art Instinct

In trying to understand the traits that pervade humanity, we often look to the past.  Throughout human evolution we have created more than just objects of necessity, and there are many who have explored this concept deeper.  A book by Denis Dutton combines art and evolutionary science to try to claim that the creative impulse and art itself is not socially constructed, but rather innate.

The Art Instinct by Denis Dutton (left)

Here's a student essay reflecting on some of Dutton's claims:
The Art Instinct: Evolving Creativity

In my own life, I find evidence that the impulse to make things has been a part of me always.  Like most kids, I made little drawings, paintings, ugly things with glue and dried beans, but unlike some, I've continued to explore my world through these small pursuits into adulthood (if you can say that I'm an adult).

I see it in the kindergartners I teach: whenever there's a spare moment in the day, they want to draw, paint, pretend, or build.  The same is true in my life, and I guess Dutton would argue, in all of our lives, if we allow it to manifest.