This Week in Culture

Smithsonian Purchases Collection About Enslaved Poet, Phillis Wheatley

In 1761, Phillis Wheatley arrived in Boston from Senegal/Gambia, West Africa as a seven-year-old child captive and was sold to a prominent family, known as the Wheatleys, who taught her how to read and write. Yearning for knowledge of the world around her, she became immersed in a variety of subjects, including the Bible, astronomy, geography, British literature and Greek classics. Twelve years later, she had become a literary sensation, celebrated as the first African American to publish a book of poetry. 

Phillis Wheatley’s literary prowess propelled her beyond Boston’s borders; she embarked on a journey to London to promote her forthcoming book of poems, titled  Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral. Yet, it was during her return voyage from London that she penned a captivating poem titled “Ocean,” a hidden gem that would remain unpublished until 1998. It is a beautiful piece of literature that showcases Wheatley’s mastery of a language she had recently learned, as well as the mixed feelings she had being back on a boat, but this time, with different circumstances. The poem has since been acquired by the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, which plans to showcase it along with a collection of Wheatley’s work consisting of newspapers and books containing her poems, as well as material documenting her life.

After her book was published in December 1773, Wheatley was freed from slavery and later married a free black grocer named John Peters. She had planned on writing a second book, but it never came to fruition. She was also rumoured to have had three children who did not survive infancy. Sadly, Wheatley died in poverty in 1784.

Despite the challenges she faced in her life, Wheatley continued to inspire other Black poets, including Nikki Giovanni, Honorée Fanonne Jeffers, Amanda Gorman, and Young. In the 1930s, the Phillis Wheatley Club, a network of women’s clubs founded by African American women, was named after her. Today, a statue of Phillis Wheatley stands in the core of the Smithsonian museum, in front of a wall inscribed with the words from the Declaration of Independence, her quill poised as if to write over it. Her legacy lives on as an inspirational figure who overcame adversity to achieve greatness.

Kelly Wearstler, a Designer of the Heart and Soul

Kelly Wearstler is a known interior designer with a massive following of 2.1 million on Instagram. She has done it all, having judged a Bravo reality TV show called “Top Design”, graced the covers of Harper’s Bazaar’s Netherlands and Architectural Digest China, published six books, and even taught a masterclass on interior design. Her passion for the career began during her teenage years when she developed an interest in graphic design. While studying at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Kelly was drawn to 3D modelling and decided to take architecture classes as well. Wanting to merge design and architecture, she eventually found her calling in interior design.

She took an apprenticeship in New York under the watchful eye of Milton Glaser while working as a waitress on the side, but ultimately found herself drawn to Los Angeles  Her first interior design gig came along when her friend introduced her to a couple who needed help with designing their Venice bungalow. This marked the beginning of her interior design career. Three years later, she decided to leave waitressing behind to open an interior design studio full-time. 

Kelly’s unique design style has been described as Hollywood Regency, maximalist, and eclectic. However, she rejects being confined to a specific label and prefers to design from the heart. Her designs feature meticulously chosen artwork and furniture, often commissioned or sourced from antiques and galleries around the world. This blend of decor gives her work depth and complexity, which has earned her a loyal following.

Many admire Kelly’s work for its low-slung 1970s vibe, particularly in hotels. Architectural Digest editor Amy Astley has noted the masculine feel of Kelly’s designs, with her use of “weighty, hefty, juicy, meaty kinds of shapes.” Her work is far from simplistic and incorporates bold colours and shapes.

Kelly has taken on some exciting projects in recent years, such as designing a garage for an electric Hummer ad and the conversion of the former Cal Neva Lodge and Casino by Lake Tahoe into the next Proper hotel. She has even begun experimenting with A.I. and incorporating it into her designs, using it as a brainstorming tool. 

Despite her success, Kelly remains humble and grounded, believing that design is all about falling in love with what you create.

Painting with Protons: Intensity-modulated Proton Therapy Used to Recreate Artistic Masterpieces

Intensity-modulated Proton Therapy (IMPT) is a highly advanced technique for treating cancer. It involves using narrow pencil-like beams of protons to deliver radiation in complex treatment plans, which guide the protons through the patient’s body with incredible accuracy. This precision allows for maximum destruction of cancer cells while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue. 

Lee Xu, a practitioner at the New York Proton Center, found a unique way to showcase the precision of IMPT. He used the proton beams to create a series of famous paintings as treatment plans, essentially using the protons as a paintbrush. Xu noted that when he first began working in the field, he was struck by the beauty of the treatment plans. He realized that the work of dosimetrists, who create the treatment plans, is very similar to that of artists. The only differences are the medium used and the canvas on which it is applied.

Xu chose five famous paintings to recreate using proton pencil beams: Girl with a Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer, The Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh, The Scream by Edvard Munch, Composition with Red, Blue and Yellow by Piet Mondrian, and Son of Man by René Magritte. The process of creating each artwork using proton beams was similar to that of an actual artist. 

The process began with creating a preliminary sketch using a 2D brushing tool in Eclipse’s contouring workspace. Next, key elements of the painting were delineated as contours and divided into separate structures to represent different colours, textures, and tones. Even smaller subdivisions were made for more intricate details. Xu notes that not only do the replications resemble the original artwork, but they are also three dimensional, and can be viewed at multiple depths within the water phantom.

Xu believes that these paintings can serve not only as a demonstration of cutting-edge medical technology but also as an educational tool. They can help patients visualise and understand the general principles of proton therapy, or even help medical and medical physics students better understand proton physics. Overall, this innovative use of proton pencil beams showcases the incredible precision and potential of IMPT.