Educating YOU on Austin, TX arts

An increasingly common form of art around the internet is Photo Manipulation. Little by little, this form of art has evolved. Some people have become so insanely good at it that faked images look realistic.

An image I photoshoped, titled "Anablephobia ~ The Fear of Looking Up."

There was a time when image manipulation (or a sad attempt at it) was done in a program such as MS Paint. And example of one of these can be found by clicking on This Blue Underlined Text. The programs got better, and before long we had Photoshop! The only problem with a program such as Photoshop is that it costs money, and around $1000 of it. More recently, free alternatives have come out. GIMP and Aviary are examples of free downloadable and online programs that serve the same purpose as expensive software such as Photoshop. With these fancy programs, the MS Paint image linked to previously can be turned into this: Click the Blue Underlined Text.

Although photo manipulation isn’t a skill that one can make a living off of, it can be a lot of fun. Although it can be used to fool people (if you’re good at it), the more common thing to do is enter a contest. Worth 1000 is a site that hosts contests, with Bragging Rights as a reward for winning.

It is very easy to mess up a manipulation. In this one, for example, the mouse hole looks very 2D.

Although Worth 1000 hosts photo manipulation contests (known as ‘Effects’ on their site), they also host contests for Photography, Illustration, Multimedia, and Writing. For those of you who are any good at making logos, they also host contests for that (except that those contests have prize money involved, because the logos are being designed for actual companies).

~Mimi

As you’re driving south on East 183 highway or Ed Bluestein Blvd. you’re likely to see something quite colorful on the horizon. These little bright boxes are the Agave Homes in East Austin. This perfectly situated subdivision that is only minutes away from downtown Austin has some of the coolest cribs in town. These houses feature bright colors and they are all have a sleek ultra-modern look. Each house has polished concrete floors on the first floor and bamboo flooring on the second. You can look at Agave’s website for more detailed information about these cool houses. Agave also features 12 award winning architects from the Austin area. They are all made with green materials like the new tankless water heaters that constantly supply an unlimited supply of hot water.  With houses like this costing quite a bit of money elsewhere, you may be led to think these houses would cost a pretty penny, but with houses starting at only around two hundred thousand, they are cheaper then the average house in the Austin area. So these are definitely a good deal for what they’re made of.



One of the many Agave homes

~Joel

The Colosseum at Night

Originally, this great roman structure was called the Flavian Amphitheater, the largest amphitheater the roman empire ever built. The building was once able to hold 50,000 people who observed a wide number of events. These spectacles ranged from gladiatorial contests to mock sea battles, animal hunts, executions, re-enactments of famous battles, and several classical dramas. At the start of the medieval age, it was no longer used for entertainment purposes. After a while, it was used for housing, a fortress, a quarry, and once as a Christian shrine.

Construction began around 72 AD, under the rule of Emperor Vespasian, and the third story of the building was completed by his death at age 79. The structure was finally completed and was inaugurated by Vespasian’s son, Titus in 80 AD. Under his rule, around 9,000 wild animals were killed during the inaugural games. The Colosseum has been remodeled many more times by Vespasian’s descendants.

Part of what is left of the Hypogeum

One feature to notice is the Hypogeum (literally meaning “underground”). It was an intricate underground tunnel system that was directly below the arena. The Hypogeum was used as an area where animals or gladiators would gather before a competition or battle. There were also several tunnels that would lead outside the Colosseum in which animals were brought through from nearby stables and gladiator’s barracks at Ludus Magnus that were also connect to the tunnels. There were also other tunnels for the emperors to enter through so that they wouldn’t have to pass through any crowds. Little is left of the original arena, although the Hypogeum is still clearly visible.

If you take a quick glance at the Colosseum you will immediately notice that it is torn in some places. The Colosseum has undergone several devastating blows throughout the ages. In the year 217 AD, the Colosseum was ruined in a terrible fire that engulfed the upper wooden levels of the interior.  Also, several earthquakes that have hit the area, as well as stone robbers who didn’t appreciate the great work of architecture are the leading cause for the destruction seen today.

Inside the Colosseum. Below, you can see the Hypogeum.

So, have you guys ever visited the Colosseum or ever wanted to? What do you think about the building, architecturally? Tell us in the comments! If you are interested in learning more about the Colosseum, visit this Colosseum Fact Sheet to learn more.