ARTpublika Magazine

09/10/2026

On this day in 1947, the Harvard Mark II, one of the earliest computers, encountered a bug. Quite literally. People have used the term “bug” since the 19th century to describe mechanical problems. So when the Mark II began malfunctioning, the engineers working on it, including the legendary programmer and mathematician Grace Hopper, knew they were looking for a bug—they just didn’t realize it would be so literal. — Britannica

In honor of this moment in history, check out our exclusive interview with the American Computer Robotics Museum: "Inch for inch, the best museum in the world."

by Liz PublikaTo collect, preserve, interpret, and display the artifacts and history of the information age. This is the mission statement of the American Computer & Robotics Museum (ACRM) located in Bozeman, Montana. Founded by Barbara and George Keremedjiev (1952-2018) in 1990, it is the world’s...

09/08/2026

According to Britannica: "When Michelangelo’s David was unveiled on September 8, 1504, outside Florence’s town hall in the Piazza della Signoria, it was impossible to ignore. Towering 17 feet high, the biblical hero appears poised to confront Goliath: muscles tense, sling at the ready, eyes fixed on an unseen enemy.
At the time, the figure was adorned with a wreath on its head and a garland around its hips.
Yes, that’s right, the world’s most famous n**e sculpture was once outfitted with a belt of 28 copper leaves to hide its genitalia. And the idea of covering up its privates may have originated with Michelangelo’s great rival, Leonardo da Vinci."

But this likely has to do with jealousy, not modesty, so read on and decide for yourselves!

👉🏻 https://www.britannica.com/.../September-8-1504...

Michelangelo found a different David inside the stone than any artist before him. This David was no warrior that stood over the body of his

09/07/2026

New | "Sherlock Holmes may be one of the most reimagined or adapted characters in literary history, but his formidable arch-nemesis and intellectual equal Professor James Moriarty is fairly close behind. Over the years, Moriarty has undergone some of the most drastic reinventions of any literary villain, transforming from a briefly mentioned plot device into a pop-culture archetype of the criminal mastermind, setting the pop-culture standard for the intellectual bad guy that has survived to this day."

Read the new article on the ARTpublika Blog! https://www.artpublikamag.com/blog

09/05/2026

Friends, check out the original t-shirt designs, unique wall posters, and awesome accessories only available The ARTpublika Shop!

Welcome to The ARTpublika Shop | Where deep-dives become daily drivers. Explore goods and apparel inspired by the rabbit holes of our investigative arts journalism.

09/01/2026

Most people who are familiar with "Dogs Playing Poker" are not aware that the humorous canine paintings were actually successful business advertisements.

Although the Dogs Playing Poker series proved to be his most enduring, Coolidge also painted dogs ballroom dancing and playing football and baseball, which somehow never made the same splash or helped him achieve fame. So, when the successful but unknown Coolidge died in 1934, the obituary in the lo...

08/31/2026

"David Kalakaua (1836-1891) was the king of Hawaii from 1874 to 1891. But our story begins in 1881, when he first took a trip around the world. Apparently the voyage made him realize that his reign did not commence with an obscenely opulent coronation — complete with all the pomp and bling typical of Western traditions — and he was determined to rectify the situation, eight years into his reign."

A fascinating read about stolen crown jewels, family ties, and one clever detective.

The coronation occurred on February 12, 1883, and the king got to wear his crown, but that was the one and only time. He died shortly after.

08/28/2026

Something fun for the weekend.

Mentions of Classic Lit on Songs by Metal Bands Iron Maiden, Manowar, and Iced Earth

08/28/2026

Sometimes you need a woman's touch and skillset.

Zaha Hadid and Norma Merrick Sklarek Were Badass Female Architects Who Shattered the Glass Ceiling

08/26/2026

On this day in 1856, 18-year-old chemist William Henry Perkin patented the world’s first synthetic dye. He had discovered the brilliant purple substance accidentally while trying to make quinine, a malaria treatment. Dubbed mauveine, the dye made fashionable purple clothing far more affordable, sparked a “mauve mania,” and helped launch the modern synthetic dye and chemical industries.

Before that, to make purple, people would get spiny murex sea snails and squeeze a gland inside them to get this creamy liquid out, which they exposed to sunlight until it turned purple. It’s called Imperial Purple, because you used it on the Emperor’s garments. That is an extraordinary amount of effort – you need hundreds of thousands of mollusks to get an ounce of pigment.

Check out our conversation with Narayan Khandekar, keeper of the Forbes Pigment Collection, for more amazing history about colors and pigments.

The Hues of Human History: Narayan Khandekar discusses art, conservation, and the Forbes Pigment Collection housed at Harvard University

08/24/2026

How accurate are films about the Radium Girls? We take a closer look.

When the women left their jobs and stepped out into the night, they glowed in the dark, earning a secondary nickname, the ghost girls.