Author: Matt Maldre
4,090 posts
Artist and designer. Sharing creative sparks to brighten your day. Inspiring curiosity, play, and new ways of thinking. Blogs at spudart.org, mattmaldre.com, 57hits.com, and christiannotebook.com.
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What happened to medium.com?
Did you ever post articles on Medium? How about reading articles on Medium? Maybe around 2015 to 2019. The service seems to have dropped off a bit since then. I took all the people I follow (473 people) and imported…
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Use Facebook without their algorithmTired of algorithmic noise? One simple URL trick lets you view Facebook posts in order they're shared. Reclaim your social media experience!
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The most unrelevant painting in the Art Institute of ChicagoIn a collection of 927 paintings, there’s always one that lands dead last. For the Art Institute of Chicago, it’s The Sand Pits, Hampstead Heath by John Linnell. The least relevant—or quietly profound? Decide for yourself.
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Pausing for two minutes to observe somethingYour phone can help you find mindfulness. Film two minutes of life unfolding and reconnect with the world around you.
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Are the birds on this cabinet doves or hoopoes?Decoding a bird motif on an Arts and Crafts cabinet in the Art Institute of Chicago
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I joined Pixelfed, but it’s way too confusing how to follow other peopleIf Facebook hates Pixelfed, all the more reason to check out Pixelfed as a place for my photos. I signed up as [email protected].
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Misaligned screws and the framework of powerTime, control, and chaos—all encapsulated in Zuckerberg's $900,000 watch. What does this mean for the billions who live under his digital framework?
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I post my photos on Bluesky 🦋 spudart.bsky.socialI might make this into a series where I occasionally post a photo to Instagram saying I’m on Bluesky. But each time I’ll write the message in a different way.
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Design flaws in a Mark Zuckerberg’s $900,000 watchZuckerberg announces end of fact-checking while wearing $900k watch with randomly aligned screws. The irony is perfect. Chaos in design meets chaos in content.
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X-ray shows a turtle swallowed my Christmas treeNot your typical baseball card. My 2024 Topps Allen & Ginter #XR-7 card features a turtle X-ray, but the real star is the Christmas tree reflection.
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Interpreting sidewalk patterns on U of I’s Quad through a modernist perspectiveU of I Quad looks like a Kazimir Malevich
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The Estonian Christmas tree at Chicago’s Museum of Science and IndustryHandwoven mittens, regional belts, and county shields tell Estonia's story at @msichicago's Christmas Around the World exhibit. Each ornament carries centuries of tradition!
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A basketweaver has a show at the Art Institute of ChicagoI've long wanted to see an artist from Etsy to get a solo show in a major art museum. Someone who really started grassroots and built up their work among the common platforms like Etsy and eBay.
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Potpourri in Google PhotosIs this giant-sized potpourri, according to Google Photos?
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2025 is a square year (45 × 45)Did you know 2025 is a square year? That’s right! 45 × 45 = 2025. The last one was 1936, and the next won't be until 2116.
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In 2025, celebrating the 25 primes under 100Mark April 7, 2025 on your calendar. It will be the 97th day of the year, which is is the 25th prime number.
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How one song can define your Christmas yearThis year’s Christmas tradition: a 10-hour playlist with 158 versions of Last Christmas! Next year? Maybe Marshmallow World. What’s your holiday anthem?
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Bringing home the Art Institute LionOur Art Institute of Chicago lion is out and ready to guard the holidays on our porch! Feels like we’re living in an art museum.
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Skipping to the popular parts of a YouTube videoIs that candy corn video REALLY hiding a secret? Sparklines (aka engagement graphs) on YouTube can be quirky. Dive into the psychology behind them.
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Efficient in Google PhotosStacking 245 pennies is efficient…right? Found this blast from 2004 in my Google Photos. What comes up when YOU search “efficient”? Post with #WordoftheDayEfficient!
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Adorable sculptures whisper from museum cornersA ceramic hippo looking despondent. A tiny figure side-eyeing centuries of art. These are the museum treasures we need to see. Little Guys Tour: coming soon to an exhibit near you.
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Finding the perfect snowblower for seniors who love to clear their own drivewayEGO snowblower guide: plastic vs steel auger
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Christmas is not a genre in SpotifyIs Santa and Spotify in cahoots together to hide the Christmas metadata?
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Sublimate in Google PhotosDoes sublimate happen in your photos? It does in mine.
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Is that Mary riding a reindeer?I was stumped by this sculpture until AI shed light on its symbolism. Learn how AI can enhance your art appreciation.
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Comparing the cost of artificial Christmas tree needlesDo you have an artificial Christmas tree? If you do, you might have done some comparison shopping before purchasing your tree. This is our first time buying a fake Christmas tree, so we are new to the variety of fake…
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12/3/45 is coming12/3/45 will occur on this day in 21 years. I put it on my Google Calendar, do you want it on yours? I'll send you an invite.
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Desk by Frank Lloyd Wright could hold a laptop with second monitorA timeless desk perfect for modern tech
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First to reach one million followers on Twitter, Youtube, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky
First to one million on each network —Twitter: Ashton Kutcher, YouTube: Lucas Cruikshank, Instagram: Justin Bieber, Threads: MrBeast, Bluesky: Alexandria Osasio-Cortez
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Spudart monthly newsletter now includes notepad postsThere’s a slight change to the format of my monthly newsletter. Starting now, the emails will also include my notepad posts from spudart.org. What are notepad posts?Notepad posts are quick ideas or observations that I share. They’re not as fully…
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Ice cactusFrost grows in cold, cacti thrive in heat—but both share a stunning fractal symmetry.
