Yves Klein (1928)

Klein, a French painter and performance artist, was a leader of the avant-garde movement called Nouveau Réalisme and greatly influenced the development of Minimalism. In the 1950s, he began to exhibit nonobjective monochrome paintings and from 1957 onward used only a shade of blue now known as International Klein Blue. His 1958 exhibition The Void featured an empty, white-painted gallery. He experimented with several unorthodox methods to create his works. What were his “living brushes”? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Teddy Bears

The teddy bear is a traditional stuffed toy bear for children. One legend has it that the name originates from an incident involving Theodore Roosevelt, whose attendants found and caught an old injured bear during a hunting trip. “Teddy” refused to kill the animal, however, calling it “unsportsmanlike.” “Teddy’s Bear” was immediately publicized by political cartoonists, and its stuffed animal form began selling in stores shortly thereafter. Where is the world’s first teddy bear museum located? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Steamboat Sultana Sinks (1865)

The steamboat Sultana was a Mississippi River paddle-wheeler destroyed when one of its boilers exploded near Memphis, Tennessee. The greatest maritime disaster in US history, an estimated 1,800 of its 2,400 passengers, many of whom were Union soldiers who had just been released from Confederate prison camps, were killed when it sank. Bodies of the victims continued to be found downriver for months, yet the disaster received somewhat diminished attention since it occurred soon after what? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

South Africa Freedom Day

On April 27, 1994, the Republic of South Africa held its first democratic elections. The African National Congress (ANC) won the election, bringing with it socio-economic change that improved the lives of all South Africans, especially the poor. Every year, South Africa celebrates Freedom Day, a public holiday that commemorates the anniversary of the historic day in 1994. Special cultural events and exhibitions are held in various venues around Cape Town, the legislative capital of South Africa, and other locations around the country. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Adamantios Korais (1748)

Korais was a Greek scholar whose work is credited with laying the foundations of Modern Greek language and literature. A witness to the French Revolution, he helped to awaken similar nationalistic aspirations in his countrymen through his writings. One of his greatest achievements was his creation of a new Greek literary language, which he set down in the first Modern Greek dictionary, Atakta. To which historic figures has Korais been compared? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

The Amish

The Amish are an orthodox Anabaptist sect that separated from the Mennonites in the late 17th century and live today primarily in Ohio and Pennsylvania. The Amish separate themselves from mainstream society for religious reasons: they do not join the military, they draw no Social Security, and they refuse financial assistance from the government. Though the Amish learn English in school, most speak a German dialect known as Pennsylvania Dutch. What are Hochmut and Demut? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Nazi Gestapo Is Established (1933)

Taking its name from the contraction of Geheime Staatspolizei—German for “Secret State Police”—the Gestapo was the secret police force of Nazi Germany. Created in 1933 by Hermann Goring, the Gestapo operated without civil restraints or judicial oversight, brutally suppressing partisan activities in occupied territories and arresting thousands of Jews, leftists, and other Nazi “enemies,” many of whom were sent to concentration camps. How many Gestapo members were there during World War II? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Vermont Maple Festival

Vermont is the official maple capital of the world, and the maple festival held there each spring is a statewide celebration. Since 1968, the three-day festival in St. Albans has promoted Vermont maple products through educational exhibits, sugaring equipment displays, essay contests, syrup competitions, maple cooking contests, and a parade. In addition to maple syrup, the festival gives visitors an opportunity to sample maple cream, maple candy, and maple sugar on snow. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary