06.08.2023 21:30 Date: August 7, 2023 While Singapore is renowned for its sky-scraping architecture and well-loved gastronomy, it’s also home to a group of smooth-coated otters who have stolen the hearts of people around the world — today’s hand-crafted Doodle celebrates the original Bishan Otter Family. On this day in 2016, Singaporeans voted in a poll by The Straits Times to select the otters to represent the country on its 51st birthday. Classified as a critically endangered species in Singapore, five otters were spotted at Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park in Singapore in 2014 — an incredibly rare sighting in the country’s urban area at the time. After clashing with another group of otters, the family of critically-endangered animals moved into Marina Bay that same year. Since then, residents and tourists have gathered to watch the ten otters go about their day. On a typical day, the Bishan family catches fish and basks on the shore. After dinner, the otters play with each other in the water before rolling around in the sand. The Bishan Otter Family became internationally famous in 2016 when English broadcaster Sir David Attenborough based a documentary on their lives. Since their spotting, more families of otters have emerged around Singapore. The otters’ ability to exist amid urban development has gained the interest of global researchers. Many credit Singapore's reforestation and anti-pollution efforts for the animal’s resurgence in the country. These cute creatures aren't just a testament to the country's environmental conservation—now, they're a symbol of Singapore itself. Behind the Doodle Check out how Doodler Helene Leroux hand-crafted today’s Doodle! Work in progress felt otters and vegetation assembly Early Doodle Drafts Location: Tags:
06.08.2023 12:15 Date: August 6, 2023 Today’s Doodle celebrates Jamaica’s 61st Independence Day! On this day in 1962, the Jamaican Independence Act was put into effect, effectively ending 300 years of British colonial rule. Independence Day is on August 6th every year, but the celebrations start on August 1st . The timing of these two significant holidays means there will be festivities all week long including cultural displays of art, dancing, and music. And, of course, Caribbean food like boiled corn and jerk chicken are staples for the celebrations! One of the main events on Independence Day is the Independence Grand Gala, held in the capital Kingston. People from across the island flock to watch colorful and lively parades and listen to traditional folk songs. Jamaica is where the reggae music style originated, and it is also a meaningful part of celebrations. As seen in today’s Doodle, the Jamaican flag features a gold saltire that creates two triangles of black on the sides and two triangles of green at the top and bottom. Many wear the colors of gold, black, and green throughout the celebratory week to show their national pride. Fun fact: Jamaica is the only country in the world that doesn't have red, blue, or white in the design. Happy Independence Day, Jamaica! Location: Tags:
06.08.2023 12:15 Date: August 6, 2023 Today’s Doodle celebrates Bolivian Independence Day. On this day in 1825, Bolivians concluded a 16-year war with Spain by signing the Declaration of Independence. Independence Day kicks off with vibrant street parades in cities like Sucre and La Paz, which at more than 3,500m above sea level, is the highest national capital in the world. After military demonstrations and speeches by public officials, many enjoy picante de pollo, a national dish featuring fried chicken and boiled potatoes. Bolivians attend open-air concerts and dance into the night. On this national holiday, Bolivia’s flag, like the one flying in today’s Doodle, decorates homes and buildings throughout the country. Its design features Bolivia’s coat of arms atop three horizontal lines. Red represents the nation’s fight for independence, yellow symbolizes the country’s extensive mineral resources, and green stands for its beautiful landscapes. Happy Independence Day, Bolivia! Location: Tags:
04.08.2023 01:45 Date: August 4, 2023 Today’s Doodle celebrates Belgian cyclist Willy De Bruyn. On this day in 1914, he was born intersex, with a body that didn’t fit into the binary categories of male and female, in Erembodegem, Belgium. Gender norms were even stricter during this time, and De Bruyn’s parents had to register him as either a boy or a girl. He was assigned female at birth and named Elvira, but in his teenage years, he started to question the gender identity that was assigned to him. He grew up in his parents' cafe, where he worked for a while after completing school. During that time, he picked up cycling and won his first race at 15 years old. At this time, in the eyes of society and legally he was considered a woman and, therefore, became the female world champion cyclist in 1934 and 1936. But after a few years, he stopped competing with women as he felt uncomfortable in this competition set and the victories he earned. De Bruyn moved to Brussels and worked as a dishwasher, sawmiller, and baker — jobs that were exclusive to men — but was fired once people discovered his ID said “female.” At this point, he had been researching and considering his gender identity and intersex traits for years. He decided to officially have his gender recognized as male, and brought a doctor’s certificate confirming he was a man to the court of Oudenaarde. The court initially denied the request, but a year later after much persistence with lawyers and additional doctor’s notes, De Bruyn received his identity card declaring him a man named Willy. Cycling still brought him joy, so De Bruyn began racing with men. In 1938, he married fellow cyclist Clementine Juchters, and together they opened and ran a sports bar in Brussels called Café Denderleeuw for many years before settling in Antwerp. Today, De Bruyn is remembered for his athleticism, his perseverance on the journey to becoming legally recognized as a man, and his fight for the acceptance of intersex people. In 2019, a street in Brussels was named after the cycling champion, the first road in the city to be named after an intersex person. Happy birthday, Willy De Bruyn! Early Drafts Location: Tags:
04.08.2023 01:45 Date: August 4, 2023 Today’s Doodle celebrates the life of Altina “Tina” Schinasi, an American artist, designer, and inventor most known for designing the Harlequin eyeglass frame — known today as the widely popular “cat-eye” eyeglass frame. Schinasi also patented several other inventions throughout her career and produced documentaries. Schinasi was born on this day in 1907 in Manhattan, New York to immigrant parents. Her mother was a native of Salonica and her father was a Sephardic Jewish Turk. After graduating high school, Schinasi studied painting in Paris, which sparked her appreciation for the arts. Once back in the US, she studied art at The Art Students League in New York and took a position as a window dresser for multiple stores on Fifth Avenue. During this time, she found herself working with and learning from prominent artists she admired such as Salvador Dalí and George Grosz. Schinasi’s time working as a window display designer inspired the creation of her now-famous “cat-eye” frames. At the window display of a nearby optician's office, she noticed that the only option for women’s glasses tended to be round frames with mundane designs. This observation inspired Schinasi to create a different option for women, mimicking the shape of the Harlequin masks she saw people wearing in Venice, Italy during the Carnevale festival. She found the pointed edges flattering to the face and started by cutting paper demos of her innovative frame design. Schinasi approached all of the major manufacturers with her creation — all of which rejected her, claiming her design was too edgy. But, she didn’t give up. She struck luck when a local shop owner believed in her vision and asked for an exclusive design for six months. To their delight, the Harlequin glasses quickly became a success, earning Schansi much publicity. By the late 1930s and through the 1940s, Harlequin glasses became an overwhelming fashion accessory among women in the US. Schinasi was awarded the Lord & Taylor American Design Award in 1939 for her invention, and was recognized by major magazines including Vogue and Life. Already an established and successful artist, Schinasi also ventured into the world of film. In 1960, she produced a documentary about the celebrated artist and her former teacher George Grosz titled George Grosz' Interregnum. It was nominated for an Academy Award and won first place at the Venice Film Festival. In her later years, Schinasi did not slow down. She wrote and published her memoir The Road I Have Traveled , volunteered as an art therapist, and even invented unique portrait chairs and benches which she called Chairacters. Today, almost 100 years after its inception, Altina’s cat-eye design continues its influence in fashion accessory trends worldwide. Happy birthday to the woman who was a visionary in more ways than one! Special thanks to Altina Schinasi’s son Terry Sanders for his collaboration on this project. Below, he shares a note on behalf of his family. Happy Birthday, Tina! Thank you for your courage, kindness and inspiration. Much love, always. -Terry , Victoria, Juliette, Peter, David, Eve, Jessica, Brittany Location: , , , , , , , , , , , , , Tags:
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01.08.2023 06:00 Date: August 1, 2023 Today’s Doodle celebrates Switzerland’s National Day, a day when people from all 26 cantons come together to honor the country’s history and culture. On this day in 1291, the three cantons of Uri, Schwyz, and Unterwalden signed the Federal Charter and formed an alliance that promised unity against outsiders. Exactly 600 years later, the historic pact was celebrated for the first time, in 1899, and has been an annual observance ever since. Festivities often start with a traditional farmers brunch offered by many local farmers on their estates to be continued by political speeches and a gathering on the “Rütli” Meadow where it's said that the confederates took their oath that formed the historic alliance. At night, bonfires on the many mountaintops and fireworks enlighten the sky. Swiss flags, like the one waving in today’s Doodle, are flown across the country and even sit atop special bread rolls called zopf. Happy National Day, Switzerland! Location: Tags:
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