Murano, Italy, has a rich history of glassblowing that spans 700 centuries and counting. However, it is in very real danger because of rising gas prices, made worse by the Russo-Ukrainian war. Part of the measures Murano’s glassblowers are taking to curb their gas bills is to cut down on the number of furnaces they use. While it’s worked out for them so far, their creativity is crippled in the process; for example, they can only use a limited number of colours for their pieces. Read full article here
History
The Women Who Built Grunge
Despite being acknowledged as the “Godmother of Grunge”, Tina Bell is rarely included in the history of grunge music. Women in general are hardly ever mentioned in music history unless they’re close to famous male musicians. Looking back at Tina Bell, music journalists often leave her out of Bam Bam, the band that she fronted, wrote music for, and co-founded with her husband. When she is mentioned, it’s in relation to Kurt Cobain, who was said to have been a fan of Bell and her band before founding Nirvana. Read full article here
Merv
October 2, 2022
