29.06.2023 06:45 Date: June 29, 2023 Today’s Doodle celebrates the birthday of Giacomo Leopardi, an Italian poet, philosopher, and scholar. The world regards him as one of the greatest Italian poets of the nineteenth century. He was born on this day in 1798 in the small provincial town of Recanati. From a young age, he was an avid reader who loved passing time in his father's library. He became fluent in Latin, ancient Greek, and Hebrew during this period, which laid the foundation for him to become a philologist — a scholar who studies the history and development of languages. He went on to translate several Latin and Greek classics. Leopardi fell in love with ideas from the Enlightenment, a philosophical movement that promoted reason and logic over superstition. He was passionate about his beliefs and went on to become one of the most radical thinkers of his time. At 14, he wrote Pompeo in Egitto , a manifesto criticizing one of the most powerful figures in Rome. In the following years, he wrote various philological works and notable poems such as L'appressamento della morte , Inno a Nettuno , and Le rimembranze . Leopardi spent the rest of his career creating lyric poetry, including Canti and Canzoniere . His writing often explored patriotism, unrequited love, and profound reflections on human existence — making him a precursor to Existentialism. One of his final literary pieces was Operette morali , a collection of witty philosophical essays written in an ironic style. Happy 225th birthday, Giacomo Leopardi! Early Doodle Drafts Location: , , , , Tags:
27.06.2023 06:00 Date: June 27, 2023 Today’s annual Doodle celebrates Djibouti Independence Day 2023! On this day in 1977, Djibouti declared its independence after 89 years of French rule. An independence referendum, the third held to decide the country’s future, was on May 8 in the same year. An overwhelming 98.8% of the population voted in favor of independence. Hassan Gouled Aptidon, who helped lead the campaign, eventually became the nation's first president. On Independence Day, citizens attend a major parade in Djibouti City where political officials give celebratory speeches in front of the presidential palace. Firework shows, fairs, and music concerts are held elsewhere in the country. The Djibouti national flag, like the one waving in today’s artwork, flies high in the sky at each of these events. Traditional delicacies like skudahkhrais , marake kaloune , and garoobey are also enjoyed. Happy Independence Day, Djibouti! Location: Tags:
27.06.2023 06:00 Date: June 27, 2023 Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Berlin-based guest artist , celebrates Cameroonian train driver Martin Dibobe. On this day in 1919, Dibobe and 17 other African people petitioned the German government for independence and civil rights for all people in Germany’s colonial empire. Dibobe was born in 1876 in Cameroon, which became a German colony in 1884. The son of a Douala chief, he learned to read and write in a missionary school. In his youth, the German government ordered Dibobe and many other Africans in Berlin to join an ethnographic display designed to teach Germans about daily life in Africa and gather support for colonialism. In 1886, Dibobe and one hundred other Africans were shipped to Berlin on a steamboat. For six months, Dibobe lived under terrible conditions and appeared as an “exhibit” of African life in Berlin’s Treptower Park. Afterward, he stayed in Germany and worked as a locksmith in a local factory before falling in love with a German woman. Although the registry office refused to document their union, they later married with the support of a clergyman. Dibobe then earned a job at the Berlin subway system and worked his way up to become the first Black train driver in the city. Unsatisfied with his social mobility, he advocated for African rights across the empire. It’s believed that the German government sent Dibobe back to Cameroon to help build a new railway line around 1907. During this time, he shared his views on equal rights with chiefs in his native country. After the 1919 Treaty of Versailles, Germany ceded its colonies to France and Britain. Dibobe rallied fellow advocates to appeal to Germany’s National Assembly. The Dibobe petition included 32 demands supporting equal rights for the country’s African migrants, but it was ignored by the government. Cameroon fell under French rule and when Dibobe tried to return in 1922, they denied his entry. He then traveled to Liberia where he most likely died. Today, a plaque commemorates Martin Dibobe’s efforts at his old address in Berlin. In the face of blatant racism, Dibobe always championed African rights and paved the way for future activists. Thanks, Martin Dibobe for serving as a role model for future advocates of Black independence. Guest Artist Q&A with Helene Baum-Owoylee Today’s Doodle was illustrated by Berlin-based guest artist . Below, she shares her thoughts behind the making of this Doodle: Q. Why was this topic meaningful to you personally? A. Martin Dibobe, like many other Black people of note in Germany is barely if at all cited in history. It was meaningful to me to be able to dive deeper into his story and to know that more people will do the same after seeing the Doodle. A lot of my work as an artist is about creating visibility for the BIPoC community. Q. What were your first thoughts when you were approached about the project? A. I was very excited to be given the opportunity to work on a Doodle. Especially one that is meaningful and local to me. Q. Did you draw inspiration from anything in particular for this Doodle? A. The font in the background is inspired by Weimar Republic era typography. But mostly I drew inspiration from Cameroonian art, especially its various textiles. Martin Dibobe came from the coastal region but with his petition he represented the whole of Cameroon and the African continent so it was important to find a balance between local and global. Q. What message do you hope people take away from your Doodle? A. I hope it becomes more common knowledge that Africans and Black people in the diaspora have always been present and active in moulding history. They have always fought for a better present and future. We have a lot to thank them for. Early Doodle Drafts Location: Tags:
25.06.2023 05:45 Date: June 25, 2023 Today’s Doodle celebrates Slovenia Statehood Day, or National Day, and is locally known as Dan državnosti. Slovenian citizens voted on the matter of independence in 1990, and a remarkable 94.8% were in favor. Not long after, on this day in 1991, the Slovene Parliament adopted the Declaration of Independence — and the country became an independent state. Today, Slovenia celebrates 32 years of independence! A national celebration is held in the capital, Ljubljana, while smaller ceremonies are held nationwide. Government officials deliver patriotic speeches, hoist flags, and lay wreaths at various monuments. The Slovenian flag can be seen at flag-raising ceremonies and waving from homes and state buildings. The flag has a coat of arms on the upper hoist side, which features a few aspects of Slovenia's diverse natural beauty. Depicted on the crest are the three peaks of Mount Triglav, the highest peak in Slovenia, and wavy lines representing the Mediterranean coastline. Happy Statehood Day, Slovenia! Location: Tags:
23.06.2023 05:31 Date: June 23, 2023 Location: Tags:
22.06.2023 01:00 Date: June 22, 2023 On your mark, get set, row! Today’s Doodle celebrates the Dragon Boat Festival. This traditional holiday occurs on the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar, so it is sometimes referred to as the Double Fifth Festival. The origins of this holiday date back to third century BCE, and it commemorates the life and death of poet Qu Yuan. Today’s Doodle is a hand-made Dragon Boat replica crafted from yarn and cardboard. When Qu learned the Chu State was defeated, he was overcome with sorrow and threw himself into the Miluo River. Legend has it that locals rushed out in boats hoping to find and save him. When they couldn’t, they threw sticky rice dumplings into the water to keep fish away from the poet. This is said to be the origin of eating zongzi, rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves that form a pyramid shape, during the festival. The dragon boat races may stem from this story as well, symbolic of how the boaters raced out to find Qu. While many activities and events occur on this day, the dragon boat races are the most spectacular. People across Asia gather to watch teams pile into long, multicolored, wooden boats and race toward a finish line or flag. Each of the boats hold anywhere between 12 and 32 people, including paddlers, drummers to keep the rowing synchronized, and someone to reach out and grab the flag. The intricate boats feature a dragon head at the front, and before the race begins, teams paint eyes on the dragon to bring their vessel to life. Other activities on this day aim to bring prosperity. The fifth lunar month is considered an unlucky and unhealthy month, as the summer brings insects and other pests. people may carry sachets full of herbs and plants that deter bugs, or hang plants like mugwort, calamus, or wormwood on doors and windows. Another way to bring good fortune is to partake in an egg-balancing challenge. Balancing an egg on its end at noon is said to bring good luck for a whole year. And that's what the Dragon Boat Festival is all a-boat! Good luck to everyone racing today. Check out the behind-the-scenes process for today’s Doodle artwork sculpted by Doodler, Anthony Irwin and animated by Doodler, Thoka Maer Fun fact: the Doodlers made 188 scales to cover this smiley friend! Location: , Tags:
21.06.2023 15:15 Date: June 21, 2023 Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Ottawa-based Inuk guest artist celebrates Canadian Inuk historian and writer Mitiarjuk Nappaaluk on National Indigenous Peoples Day. Mitiarjuk Nappaaluk championed Inuit culture throughout her life and authored the groundbreaking Inuktitut novel Sanaaq—which was later translated, and featured on bestseller lists around the world. Mitiarjuk Nappaaluk was born in 1931 in the small village of Kangiqsujuaq, in the northern Quebec region of Nunavik, in Canada. She spent her early years living a traditional Inuit lifestyle. As the oldest child, she was tasked with fishing and preserving skins for the village but became interested in storytelling. She didn’t receive a formal education until the age of twenty when local missionaries taught her to write Inuktitut in syllabics. In exchange, Mitiarjuk Nappaaluk helped them develop an Inuktitut dictionary of words, legends, and history. Impressed with her work, the missionaries asked her to write stories in her language. Despite having never read a novel, Mitiarjuk Nappaaluk began writing Sanaaq—one of the first books recorded in the Inuktitut language. While writing Sanaaq and the Inkituit dictionary, Mitiarjuk Nappaaluk worked as a consultant for the Kativik School Commission and as a teacher in Nunavik schools. Later in her career, the Kativik School Board enlisted Mitiarjuk Nappaaluk to create the language curriculum and instruct teachers about cultural awareness. In 1984, Sanaaq was finally published in Inuktitut. The book detailed an authentic day-to-day life of an extended Inuit family and quickly became the most influential novel in her culture. It was later translated into other languages including French, which placed it on Montreal’s French bestseller list. Mitiarjuk Nappaaluk earned the Aboriginal Achievement Award in 1999 for her life's work and was named a member of the Order of Canada in 2004. Her curriculum, books, and essays are still widely used throughout Inuit schools in Northern Canada. Mitiarjuk Nappaaluk remains a cultural icon and her efforts have inspired current and future generations of Inuit storytellers. We honour her contributions towards education, preservation of language and culture, and as a role model for aspiring Inuit writers and historians - today, and every day. Thank you, Mitiarjuk Nappaaluk! Inuktitut Translation ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒍᑕᐅᓂᖓ ᒥᑎᐊᕐᔪᒃ ᓇᑉᐹᓗᒃ ᐅᓪᓗᒥᐅᔪᖅ ᑎᑎᕋᐅᔭᐅᓯᖅ ᐊᑐᕐᓗᒍ, ᑎᑎᕋᐅᔭᖅᓯᒪᔭᖓ ᐊᑐᐋᒥᐅᑕᖅ ᐃᓄᒃ ᑖᓐᓇ ᐃᓇᑕᐅᓯᒪᓪᓗᓂ ᑎᑎᕋᖁᔭᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᓴᓇᓐᖑᐊᖅᑎᐅᔪᖅ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒍᑎᒋᓪᓗᒍ ᑲᓇᑕᒥᐅᑕᐅᔪᖅ ᐃᓄᒃ ᑕᐃᑦᓱᒪᓂᓴᕐᓂᒃ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓕᐅᖅᑎ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᐸᒃᑐᖅ ᐅᖃᓕᒫᒐᓂᒃ ᒥᑎᐊᕐᔪᒃ ᓇᑉᐹᓗᒃ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐅᓪᓗᕆᔭᖓᓂ. ᒥᑎᐊᕐᔪᒃ ᓯᕗᓕᖅᑎᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐃᓕᖅᑯᓯᖓᓐᓂᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐃᓅᓯᓕᒫᖓᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑎᑎᕋᖃᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᓴᖅᑭᑕᐅᔭᕆᐅᖅᑐᒥᒃ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᐅᖃᓕᒫᒐᖅ ᑕᐃᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᓴᓈᖅ - ᑖᓐᓇ ᑭᖑᕐᖓᒍᑦ ᑐᑭᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᕐᓄᑦ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓄᑦ, ᓄᓇᕐᔪᐊᕐᒥ ᓂᐅᕕᖅᑕᐅᓂᖅᐹᖑᔪᑦ ᐅᖃᓕᒫᒐᑦ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᑕᐅᒪᕕᖓᓐᓂ ᐅᓂᒃᑲᐅᓯᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ. ᒥᑎᐊᕐᔪᒃ ᓇᑉᐹᓗᒃ ᐃᓅᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᔪᖅ 1931-ᖑᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᓄᓇᓕᕋᓛᒥ ᑲᖏᓱᔪᐊᒥ ᖃᓂᒋᔭᖓᓂ ᑯᐃᐸᐃᒃ, ᑲᓇᑕ. ᐱᕈᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓕᓵᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐃᓅᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐃᓕᖅᑯᓯᖓᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᑐᕐᖢᓂ. ᕿᑐᕐᖓᕆᔭᐅᔪᓂ ᐊᖓᔪᒃᓯᖅᐹᖑᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ, ᑕᐃᒪᓐᓇ ᐱᔭᒃᓴᖃᖅᑎᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐃᖃᓗᒐᓱᖕᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᒥᓕᕆᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᓄᓇᓕᖕᓄᑦ ᐱᔭᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᐱᔪᒪᓂᖃᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᖅᑐᐊᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ. ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᖕᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᖏᑦᑐᖅ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ ᐊᕙᑎᓂᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᖃᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐊᔪᕆᖅᑐᐃᔨᑦ ᑎᑭᒻᒪᑕ ᐃᓕᓴᖅᑎᑕᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ ᑎᑎᕋᐅᓯᕐᓂᒃ. ᐃᓕᓴᖅᑕᐅᒐᒥ, ᒥᑎᐊᕐᔪᒃ ᓇᑉᐹᓗᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᓯᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᕐᓂᒃ ᐅᓕᕐᓇᐃᖅᓯᒍᑎᓂᒃ, ᐅᓂᒃᑳᖅᑐᐊᓂᒃ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᖃᓄᐃᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᓯᕗᓕᕆᓚᐅᖅᑕᕗᑦ. ᐱᓕᕆᔭᖓ ᐱᐅᒋᔭᐅᒐᒥ, ᐊᔪᕆᖅᑐᐃᔨᑦ ᐊᐱᕆᓚᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓂᒃ ᑎᑎᕋᖁᓪᓗᒍ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖓᓂᒃ ᐊᑐᕐᓗᓂ. ᐅᖃᓕᒫᒐᓕᐊᓂᒃ ᐅᖃᓕᒫᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᖏᒃᑲᓗᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᒥᑎᐊᕐᔪᒃ ᓇᑉᐹᓗᒃ ᑎᑎᕋᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐅᖃᓕᒫᒐᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᑕᐃᔭᐅᔪᓂᒃ ᓴᓈᖅ - ᑖᓐᓇ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᑦᑎᐊᖑᓪᓗᓂ ᐅᖃᓕᒫᒐᓕᐊᖑᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ. ᐅᖃᓕᒫᒐᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᓴᓈᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ ᐅᓕᕐᓇᐃᖅᓯᒍᑎᓂᒃ, ᒥᑎᐊᕐᔪᒃ ᓇᑉᐹᓗᒃ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔨᑕᕆᔭᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᑲᑎᕕᒃ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓕᓴᐃᔨᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᓄᓇᕕᒃ ᐃᓕᓴᕐᕕᖏᓐᓂ. ᑭᖑᕐᒐᒍᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᓲᔭᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ, ᑲᑎᕕᒃ ᐃᓕᓴᖅᑐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᑎᓕᔭᐅᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᒥᑎᐊᕐᔪᒃ ᓇᑉᐹᓗᒃ ᓴᓇᖁᔭᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᕐᓄᑦ ᐃᓕᓴᐅᑎᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓕᓴᐃᖁᔭᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᐃᓕᖅᑯᓯᕐᒥᒃ ᖃᐅᔨᕚᓪᓕᖁᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐱᓕᒻᒪᒃᓴᖅᑕᐅᔾᔪᑎᒃᓴᖏᓐᓂᒃ. ᐊᕐᕌᒍᐊᓂ 1984, ᓴᓈᖅ ᐅᓄᖅᓯᓕᖅᑎᑕᐅᓪᓗᓂ ᐅᖃᓕᒫᒐᓕᐊᖑᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᓯᒪᓪᓗᓂ. ᑖᓐᓇ ᐅᖃᓕᒫᒐᖅ ᐅᓂᒃᑲᐅᓯᖃᖅᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐱᓪᓚᕆᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᖃᐅᑕᒫᓐ ᐃᓕᖅᑯᓯᕆᔭᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐃᓚᒌᖑᔪᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑖᓐᓇ ᓴᓐᖏᔫᓂᖅᐹᖑᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᐅᓂᑳᓕᐊᖏᓐᓂ ᐅᖃᓕᒫᒐᓂ ᐃᓕᖅᑯᓯᖓ ᐱᓪᓗᒍ. ᑭᖑᕐᖓᒍᑦ ᐊᓯᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᕐᓄᑦ ᑐᑭᓕᐅᖅᑕᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐅᐃᕖᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖓᓐᓄᑦ ᐱᖃᓯᐅᑎᔭᐅᓪᓗᓂ, ᑖᓐᓇ ᒪᓐᑐᕆᐊᒥ ᓂᐅᕕᖅᑕᐅᓂᖅᐹᖑᔪᓄᑦ ᐅᖃᓕᒫᒐᓄᑦ ᑎᑎᕋᖅᑕᐅᒪᕕᖓᓐᓄᑦ ᐃᓕᔭᐅᒪᔾᔪᑎᒋᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᔭᖓ. ᒥᑎᐊᕐᔪᒃ ᓇᑉᐹᓗᒃ ᐱᓪᓗᐊᖅᑕᒥᓂᒃ ᑐᓂᔭᐅᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᓯᕗᒧᐊᑦᑎᐊᖅᓯᒪᓂᑯᑦ ᑐᓐᓂᖅᑯᓯᐊᖓᓐᓂᒃ 1999-ᖑᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐃᓅᓯᓕᒫᖅ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᓯᒪᔭᖓ ᐱᓪᓗᒍ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᑦᑎᐊᖅᓯᒪᓂᑯᑦ ᐃᓕᓴᕆᔭᐅᔾᔪᑎᖓᓐᓂᒃ ᑐᓂᔭᐅᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᔪᖅ 2004-ᖑᑎᓪᓗᒍ. ᐃᓕᓴᐅᑎᓕᐊᕕᓂᖏᑦ, ᐅᖃᓕᒫᒐᓕᐊᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓕᓴᐅᑎᒃᓴᓄᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᔾᔪᑎᒃᓴᑦ ᐅᓪᓗᒥ ᓱᓕ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐃᓕᓴᕐᕕᖁᑎᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᖓᓂ ᑲᓇᑕᑉ. ᒥᑎᐊᕐᔪᒃ ᓇᑉᐹᓗᒃ ᓱᓕ ᑭᒡᒐᖅᑐᖅᑎᐅᕗᖅ ᐃᓕᖅᑯᓯᖓᓐᓄᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᓕᕆᓯᒪᔭᖏᑦ ᐊᒃᓱᐊᓗᒃ ᐊᒃᑐᐃᓯᒪᕗᑦ ᐊᔾᔪᒥᒋᔭᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐅᓪᓗᒥᐅᔪᖅ ᐃᓅᔪᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑭᖑᕚᕆᓂᐊᖅᑕᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᖅᑐᐊᖅᑎᐅᔪᑦ. ᐅᐱᒋᕙᕗᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᓯᔾᔪᑎᓕᐊᕆᓯᒪᔭᖏᑦ ᐃᓕᓴᐅᑎᑎᒍᑦ, ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖓᓐᓂᒃ ᐊᓯᐅᔨᑦᑕᐃᓕᒪᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓕᖅᑯᓯᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᓯᐅᔨᑦᑕᐃᓕᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᔾᔪᒥᒋᔭᐅᑦᓯᐊᖅᑐᖅ ᐅᖃᓕᒫᒐᒃᓴᓕᐅᑎᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᒻᒪᕐᓂᓴᓂᒃ ᐅᖃᓕᒫᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎᐅᔪᓄᑦ - ᐅᓪᓗᒥ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᖃᐅᑕᒫᓐ ᑕᐃᒪᐃᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᖅ. ᓇᑯᕐᒦᒃ, ᒥᑎᐊᕐᔪᒃ ᓇᑉᐹᓗᒃ Early Doodle Drafts Location: Tags:
20.06.2023 10:00 Date: June 20, 2023 Today’s Doodle celebrates the 85th birthday of Maria Luisa Aguilar, a world-famous astronomer. She reached for the stars and became the first professional astronomer in Peru. She was born on this day in Jauja, Peru, and from a young age, she was a stargazer who dreamed of studying the night sky. She graduated from the School of Mathematics at the National University of San Marcos in Lima. It seemed unlikely that Aguilar would ever become a professional astronomer as Peru had no astronomy programs at the time. But she traveled to Argentina to study astronomy at the National University of La Plata in Argentina, where she became a star student . In 1969, she returned to her homeland to teach at the National University of Engineering and the National University of San Marcos. She helped establish astronomy as a professional discipline in Peru by creating a series of talks and conferences called Astronomical Fridays. Still a popular event today, it is the longest-running series of its kind. In 1981, she became founding director of the Astronomy and Astrophysics Seminar at the National University of San Marcos. Soon after, she helped forge an agreement between San Marcos University and the International Astronomical Union . This allowed the IAU to send visiting lecturers to Peru for the first time. In 1985, she coordinated the visits of three prominent astronomy lectures — which helped promote astronomy as a legitimate field of study. Happy 85th birthday, Maria Luisa Aguilar! Thank you for following your dreams, even when they seemed out of this world. Location: Tags:
20.06.2023 00:45 Date: June 20, 2023 Is it a tapestry or a sculpture? Magdalena Abakanowicz’s figures of woven fiber broke the mold when she pioneered a new category of art known as Abakans. Today’s Doodle celebrates the Polish sculptor and multi-element artist. On this day in 1930, Abakanowicz was born in Poland. She belongs to the generation of artists whose childhood ended with the outbreak of World War II, and were forced into maturity at a young age. The impacts of her abbreviated childhood were many–sided and included a unique worldview that influenced her art. Abakanowicz graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw in 1954, initially painting 3 × 4 m gouaches on canvas. In the 1960s she created a series of monumental soft sculptures. Traditionally flat and hung on a wall, she turned fabric into three-dimensional forms that filled a room when hung — these flexible sculptures were called Abakans . They earned her the top prize at the 1965 São Paulo International Art Biennale and made Abakanowicz an internationally-acclaimed artist. From the 1970s onward, the major topic of her work became the human condition. The artist was inspired by “The Crowd” sociological phenomenon — the idea that crowds act as a whole and individuals lose their individuality within it. Taking this idea, Abakanowicz began to create more than a thousand figures, or rather, human trunks, over the years. The raw materials used by the artist comprised sack fabric and bronze. Her collection Agora, a group of 106 iron cast figures, is considered her most important statement about humanity and is permanently installed at Chicago Grant Park. Prestigious museums and exhibitions across the world have featured Abakanowicz’s work. More than 100 one-person exhibitions were organized in museums and art galleries across Europe, both Americas, Japan, and Australia, day. She won many awards for her art, notably the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Sculpture Center in New Jersey, the Award for Distinction in Sculpture from the Sculpture Center in New York, and the Commander Cross with Star of the Order of Polonia Restituta in Poland. Her rich body of artwork is now under the care of the Marta Magdalena Abakanowicz Kosmowska and Jan Kosmowski Foundation, based in Warsaw. Happy birthday Magdalena Abakanowicz, thank you for sharing the fabric of your life with the world. Early Doodle Draft Concepts Location: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Tags:
19.06.2023 15:15 Date: June 19, 2023 Today’s Doodle celebrates Juneteenth and was created by guest artist illustrator . On this day in 1865 Black enslaved people in Galveston, Texas received news of their liberation through the Emancipation Proclamation. The executive order mandated the end of slavery in Confederate states and marked the official end of the Civil War. When Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, several confederate-controlled states including Texas, continued to oppose it. Union troops marched to the port city of Galveston and issued the now-famous General Orders, Number 3, which informed hundreds of thousands of Black Texans of their freedom. Juneteenth became an official state holiday in Texas in 1980 and a national federal holiday in June 2021. Every year, Black Americans acknowledge Juneteenth with events and gatherings that honor the struggles of those who came before and the ongoing efforts to build a more just and equitable country. Today’s artwork depicts a multi-generational community celebration of the holiday with symbols of freedom including a dove, Juneteenth flag and Kente cloth patterns. Happy Juneteenth! Guest Artist Q&A with Laura Freeman Today’s Doodle was illustrated by Atlanta-based guest artist, . Below, she shares her thoughts behind the making of this Doodle: Q. What was your creative process for this Doodle artwork? A: It was a real honor to be asked to do the Juneteenth doodle! For this doodle, I focused on two themes, Celebration and Freedom. I incorporated the Juneteenth flag and Kente cloth patterns. In some of my initial sketches, I also used a pattern made up of the Adinkra symbol for freedom/independence. The colors of the Kente cloth also inspired the palette for the rest of the doodle. The sketch that was ultimately chosen focuses on the celebration aspect. I originally had only one woman's profile on the right side and the people at Google suggested I incorporate the additional profiles showing people of different ages and genders — I think it was a good call. As always I work in Photoshop from start to finish, except for some very rough concept sketches doodled into my sketchbook in pencil. Early Doodle Draft Concepts Location: Tags:
18.06.2023 00:15 Date: June 18, 2023 Happy Father's Day! Click today’s Doodle to browse some animal family throwback pics with mom over the years! Check out the behind-the-scenes process for today’s hand-crafted clay artwork by Doodler Celine You Early clay forms of the animals Partially painted clay forms Location: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Tags:
18.06.2023 00:15 Date: June 18, 2023 Today’s Doodle celebrates the 112th birthday of Indian biochemist Dr. Kamala Sohonie. She was the first Indian woman to achieve a Ph.D in a scientific field during a time when Indian women were conspicuously underrepresented in scientific disciplines. By breaking barriers and proving her doubters wrong, Dr. Sohonie not only did pioneering work in her field of biochemistry but helped forge a path for future Indian women to overcome gender bias and pursue their dreams. Per family historical records, Dr. Sohonie was born in Indore, Madhya Pradesh on this day in 1911 to parents who were respected chemists. Wanting to follow in her father’s and uncle’s footsteps, she studied chemistry and physics at Bombay University and graduated at the top of her class in 1933. She became the first woman to be inducted into the Indian Institute of Science but was imposed with stringent conditions during her first year — all because its director doubted the capabilities of women in science. Dr. Sohonie proved her competence and was granted permission to continue her research. In fact, she impressed the director so much that the IISc began accepting more women into their program. For the next few years, Sohonie studied the various proteins found in legumes and concluded they boosted nutrition in children. In 1936, she published her thesis on this subject and obtained her master’s degree. One year later, she earned a research scholarship at Cambridge University. Dr. Sohonie discovered Cytochrome C, an enzyme important to energy generation, and found that it was present in all plant cells. In just 14 months, she completed her thesis about this finding and acquired her Ph.D. When she returned to India, Dr. Sohonie continued studying the benefits of certain foods and helped develop an affordable dietary supplement made from palm nectar. This nutritious drink, called Neera, is a good source of Vitamin C and has been proven to improve the health of malnourished children and pregnant women. Dr. Sohonie was awarded the Rashtrapati Award for her work on Neera. She also became the first female director of the Royal Institute of Science in Bombay. Happy birthday, Dr. Kamala Sohonie! Location: , , , , , Tags:
17.06.2023 05:30 Date: June 17, 2023 Today’s Doodle celebrates Iceland National Day, or Þjóðhátíðardagur Íslands in Icelandic. June 17th marks two significant historical anniversaries in Europe’s westernmost country: the day it officially became a republic in 1944 and the birthday of iconic independence leader and politician Jón Sigurðsson. In 1944, Icelanders voted in favor of complete independence from Denmark and elected their own president. Today, cities and villages throughout the country celebrate in their own unique ways. Riders on small and friendly Icelandic horses traditionally lead parades, accompanied by brass bands. Onlookers paint their faces with the blue, red, and white Icelandic flag, like the one seen in today’s Doodle. In the capital of Reykjavík, crowds commemorate the day by gathering in front of the parliament near a towering, bronze statue of Sigurðsson. Other common celebrations include traditional music performances and speeches from government officials. Many people enjoy national dishes like hákarl or skyr . Happy National Day, Iceland! Location: Tags:
15.06.2023 05:45 Date: June 15, 2023 Location: Tags:
12.06.2023 01:45 Date: June 12, 2023 A salty, smoky aroma in southern Spain can only mean one thing: It’s espeto season. Today’s Doodle celebrates the flavor of the summer, a popular Spanish dish of skewered sardines that are traditionally roasted over firewood on the beach. On this day in 2006, the city of Malaga inaugurated a statue of the Espetero — a person who makes the sardine skewers — to celebrate the traditional job. Espeto gets its name from the Spanish word espetar, which means “to skewer." The snack's origins date back to the late 19th century in Málaga, Spain. Hungry fishermen skewered fish and dug pieces of wood in the sand next to a fire for a quick meal. Over time, people experimented by making espeto with sea bream, sea bass, or even squid, but sardines became the most common choice. Insider tip — Espetos are only eaten in months without an “R” in their name and never on a Monday since there are no fish markets on Mondays. Today, espeto remains a celebrated beachside snack, but the prep work has moved to boats filled with sand and wood fires. Chefs place six sardines on a skewer, season them with salt, and grill them over an open wood fire. Once fully cooked, the golden sardines are drizzled in lemon juice. Sardines are more plump during the summer months, which gives them even more flavor. Happy eating! Check out the behind-the-scenes process for today’s Doodle artwork by Doodler, Helene Leroux Work in progress clay formations Early Doodle sketches Location: Tags:
