Collages

Before photoshop and AI, there was the collage. A humbler and more honest method of adapting and combining different and sometimes conflicting elements into something new. A successful work is something that blends seamlessly to become a world wholly its own. Artists share their techniques and even how they went about sourcing different components of their work, or tell stories about the inspirations behind their masterpieces. The layering adds texture and depth. From bold splashes of color to gently harmonious attempts at visual storytelling. The beauty of the collage is that it seems so accessible. It's a discipline where you add and add and add until the picture seems complete. It is visually rich and vibrant. And fun too. Don't forget that. Look at these images for long enough and you'll start looking for a scissors and something to cut up.

Members: 149.5k, at the time of writing

Trigger Warnings: None.

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I love Haworth and the Bronte Parsonage

The Bronte sisters have always fascinated me. Their incredible bond with each other and to their Byronically tragic brother Branwell. Their imaginative exploration of the inner worlds that fueled their creativity. The sheer audacity with which they set out to undertake what so few women of their age did - get published. This Facebook group is dedicated to the English town where the Brontes spent most of their lives, and nurtured their talent. Where their father preached his sermons. The pictures shared breathe life into the powerful backdrop of their classic novels, showing the timelessness of Haworth and the moors that inspired them. Contemporary perspectives are interwoven with historical narratives and memorabilia. We get a rare glimpse of one of Charlotte's miniature books. There are historical photographs from the 1850s, showing Haworth and its people as the Bronte sisters must have experienced it. A post on Charlotte's friend Elizabeth Gaskell, who wrote a biography of Charlotte and later became a literary giant herself. For anyone who loved the books and want to get closer to the young women who created them. 

Members: 14.4k, at the time of writing

Trigger warnings: None.

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Keep the Dream Flowing - A Podcast About Woodstock 1969

The Woodstock Festival that took place from 15-18 August 1969 in Bethel, New York state was a pivotal moment in popular culture that defined an era and the youthful, idealistic spirit that drove it. Although the generation that experienced those heady days are now in their seventies and eighties, the legacy endures. And, although this particular Facebook group has a very modest membership, it makes up for that in the sheer richness and diversity of the content shared, which delves into numerous different aspects of what made the festival awesome. There are posts about Max B Yasgur, the dairy farmer who hosted the event on his property, the opposition he faced from the neighboring community and even the crazy bet he made with event organizer, Mike Lang. There are details about the stage construction. Snapshots and videoclips. Links to articles, essays and oral history retrospectives from attendees. There's even media about lesser known, contemporary events and posts about artists who were invited to perform but had to decline due to prior commitments. Many artist profiles include set-lists and other details of their performances. Today, the site is demarcated by a memorial marker that remembers the magic of those three, music-filled days. 

Members: 1.4k, at the time of writing

Trigger Warnings: None.

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Ancient Stone Bothering

When seen in context to the brief lives of humans and the even shorter spans of many animals, stone, rock and boulder seems eternal, strewn across the landscape by the long-ago giants of myth. Some stones are lone reminders of a bygone era. Others hosted mysterious rituals or secret roundevous. From the impressive and instantly recognizable image of Stonehenge to the Dolmen of Menga, Spain, here's a Facebook group that celebrates all those enigmatic corners of the world that retain a little of the timeless mysteries of our past. Carnac. Stenness in Orkney.  Pentra Ifan. Carn Goch. Maen Llia. Callanish in the Outer Hebrides. These stones remember our ancestors. And that is where the bothering part comes in, capturing the temporary intrusions of humans, sheep, cows, dogs and an assortment of other indignities. What do the stones make of us? Heaven alone knows. We can but wonder...

Members: 47.2k, at the time of writing.

Trigger Warnings: None.

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Paul Klee

The diverse and highly individual work of the Swiss-German artist Paul Klee serves not only as a testament for his creativity, but also hint at a vast internal landscape populated in equal measure with expressions of his intellectual musings and moments of mischief. Unafraid of experimenting in different genres, media and indeed art movements, he had a life-long, passionate love affair with color that informed many of the 9,000 works of art he left behind. As did an early education in music and a deep interest in literature. His epitaph speaks of the sense of wit and whimsy that characterized his very being: "I cannot be grasped in the here and now, for my place is as much among the dead as the yet unborn. Slightly closer to the heart of creation than usual, but still not close enough." This Facebook group share works that are beguiling in their simplicity, or subtle and complex in their shifting palettes. There are also posts that focus on his lesser-known creations, his writings and his more unusual inspirations. 

Members: 137.6k, at the time of writing.

Trigger Warnings: Mild nudity.

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Photo Credit: Wiki Commons

Mia's Bayeux Tapestry Story

The Bayeux Tapestry is one of the world's most famous pieces of handcraft. And it tells the story of one of the most significant events in English history - the 1066 invasion of William of Normandy. The original is believed to be around 950 years old. To single-handedly reproduce this incredible piece of cultural art is no mean feat, but that is exactly what the self-taught, Swedish-born artist Mia Hansson has set out to do. To tell the story of this incredible project (which started in July 2016), and to share media about its tie-ins, she had created this Facebook group. The posts offer fascinating insights into the scale and effort involved in bringing the work to life. 

Members: 5k, at the time of writing.

Trigger warnings: None.

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Mia's website: https://www.miasbayeuxstyleart.uk/

Mia's other Facebook Group: https://web.facebook.com/groups/miasdrawingandsewing?_rdc=1&_rdr

Dandelion Appreciation Society

There is something absolutely irresistible about dandelions that calls up memories of the innocence of childhood and the wonder of nature. If you are looking for a daily dose of that wonder in your social media newsfeed, then this is the perfect Facebook group to scratch that itch. The vast majority of posts here are visual in nature, featuring photographs, art and inspirations focussed on the humble dandelion in her many guises. Here and there you will glimpse fairies or woodland creatures, and there is also an info-graphic on the health benefits of dandelions. 

Members: 71.6k, at the time of writing.

Trigger warnings: None.

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Photo Credit: Herbert/HG Fotografie at Pixabay. 

Fabulous Lovers of Weird Everything

 It's always a good sign if I browse through the first few posts of the group I'm visiting and I'm going wow! Wow! Wow! The content ranges from natural wonders to heart-warming, feel-good human interest stories, and mind-blowing examples of animal intelligence and staggering reality checks. Although there is a really wide range of topics, the general theme alligns to wonder and upliftment. Here are some examples. The Hartashen Megalithic Avenue, a Stonehenge like Ancient site in the USA. A beautiful collection of polar stratospheric clouds over Iceland. An animal shelter who came up with a really novel way of matching humans with dogs for some TLC and a new pet parent devised a novel way of naming the dog he adopted.

Members: 107.9k, at the time of writing.

Trigger Warnings: None.

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