“The Plot to Hack America”: Lecture by Bestselling Author and NBC/MSNBC Analyst, Malcolm Nance

Join Us | Lecture and Book Signing by NY Times Bestselling Author and NBC/MSNBC Analyst, Malcolm Nance Lecture and Book Signing: 2PM, Saturday, January 28 Free, Open to the Public, Unlimited Free Parking Books Available for Purchase In The Plot to Hack America, published one month before the 2016 presidential election, New York Times bestselling author and MSNBC contributor Malcolm Nance not only identifies the hackers as Russian but digs deep into the biggest political scandal since Watergate. Malcolm Nance (born 1961, Philadelphia) is an American career cryptologic senior chief petty officer, author, scholar and media commentator on international terrorism, intelligence, insurgency and torture. He is an internationally recognized expert in the history, personalities and organization of al Qaeda and its affiliates including the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant ISIL; jihadi radicalization, Islamic extremism in Middle East, Southwest Asian and African terror groups, as well as counterinsurgency and asymmetric warfare. In 2007 Nance wrote an article for the counterinsurgency blog Small Wars Journal titled "Waterboarding is Torture... period." Republished in the Pentagon Early Bird, it set off a firestorm as the first credible description of the torture technique as used in SERE. The article strongly swayed the Pentagon against the use [...]

2019-02-03T11:30:28-05:00January 3rd, 2017|Store News|

LOVE IS THE BOMB | Saturday, Dec. 10, Trunk Show Sale, Lecture, Book Signing!

Watch "Buying Back the Bombs" Video The Secret War was waged in neutral Laos between 1964 and 1973.  An average of one bomb-load every eight minutes, 24 hours a day, for nine years. Of the 250 million bombs dropped, 80 million failed to detonate, leaving a deadly legacy that plagues the agrarian population today. The Philosopher's Style, by Beatrix Ost "Nothing is as it seams. Black and white is just a color. I design jewelry made from bombs detonated in Laos, turning horror into beauty." Since 2015, artist and fashion muse Beatrix Ost has brought design talent and vision to ARTICLE22’s New Luxe Line. With a shared ethos, Beatrix was inspired by the transformation story of Peacebomb.  Her personal transformation story was skin cancer that left a Z-shaped scar on her forehead. Embracing this personal horror, she turned it into beauty by tattooing it light purple.  Visit the Beatrix Ost dot com website  

2020-01-07T13:18:07-05:00December 1st, 2016|Store News|

Lecture and Reception: “Human Trafficking: Modern Day Slavery”

 Lecture and Reception: “Human Trafficking: Modern Day Slavery” Matt Friedman, CEO, The Mekong Club Thursday, August 18, 7pm Free, Open to the Public, Refreshments Every five seconds, another person enters slavery somewhere in the world. It is estimated that there are over 45 million people in slavery today — more than any other time in history. One minute it might be a fifteen year old girl forced into prostitution, or a young boy forced onto a fishing boat to work 18 hours a day for years without coming to port. To make sense of this crime against humanity, Matt Friedman will offer a compressive update on the State-of-the-Art of human slavery. Friedman’s talk will explore the changing human trafficking paradigm; the relationship between human trafficking and slavery; global trends and patterns; new, emerging responses; evolving funding trends; what is working/not working; the role of the private sector; and what is really needed to win the fight. The presentation will offer a glimpse behind the curtain of this terrible human rights abuse — one that is much closer to home than we might expect. Presenter Matt Friedman Matt Friedman is an international human trafficking expert with more than 25 years of experience as a [...]

2019-02-03T11:30:32-05:00July 25th, 2016|Store News, Uncategorized|

“Dreams of My Brother: Visions of Obama by Folk and Popular African Artists” Aug 6 – Nov 8

PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release Just In Time For DNC, Visions of Obama by African Artists By Ellen Adair PHILADELPHIA, PA., July 20, 2016: In time for Philadelphia hosting the Democratic National Convention, Material Culture is presenting an exhibition titled “Dreams of My Brother: Visions of Obama by Folk and Popular African Artists.” In the tumult of this year’s presidential race, these views of our nation’s 44th President, collected by Material Culture in 2008 and 2009, serve as a reminder of our global interconnectedness, and demonstrate art’s role as a universal manifestation of humanity’s passion and hope. The exhibition, free and open to the public, will be on view at Material Culture from August 6 to November 8, 2016, from 11 AM to 5 PM. Read the Calendar/Exhibition Essay by George Jevremovic, November 4, 2009 George Jevremovic, the founder of Material Culture, relates that when he first traveled to West Africa in the 1990's in search of textiles and other artifacts, the most arresting pieces of art were in fact the ubiquitous painted signs of folk and popular artists. Dotted on roadsides, emblazoned on businesses, these painted works on canvas, board, metal or on the sides of buildings serve to [...]

2019-02-03T11:30:33-05:00July 19th, 2016|Store News|

DREAMS OF MY BROTHER | Aug 6 – Sept 6

DREAMS OF MY BROTHER: VISIONS OF OBAMA BY FOLK AND POPULAR AFRICAN ARTISTS August 6 to September 6, 2016 A Retrospective Exhibition of Works Collected in Africa in 2008-2009 Calendar/Exhibition Essay by George Jevremovic, November 4, 2009 WELCOME PROOF THAT THERE IS NO such thing as "the art world," only worlds of art, are the legions of folk and popular artists in Africa, from Ghana to Kenya, Togo to Mali, whose painted works on board, canvas, metal or wall surface —seen daily by an audience of millions — provide visual branding and identity to thousands of small businesses and enterprises: beauty salons, tailors, cinemas, grocery stores; on and on. From free-standing ma and pa's to itinerant vendors, late-night cafes to trucks for hire, herbalists to hairstylists, their commissioned works serve the common, practical purpose of advertising anywhere: to stand out and be noticed. For a first-time visitor, it can be exhilarating and shocking: global and local brands, African and non-African celebrities and international icons; all appropriated and rendered in a mosaic of popular and homegrown styles, languages and regional dialects; all competing for the attention of the passerby. Many are signed and dated or feature a studio's logo, and every [...]

2019-02-03T11:30:33-05:00July 1st, 2016|Store News|

5 Days In May: Return of The Tibetan Monks of Drepung Gomang Monastery

Material Culture is deeply honored to again host the Tibetan Monks of Drepung Gomang Monastery, India. Please join us for the Construction and Dismantling of a Sacred Tibetan Buddhist Sand Mandala 5 DAYS: Wednesday, May 4 - Sunday, May 8, 11am-5pm, Daily DISMANTLING: Sunday, May 8, 3:30 pm Free to the Public During their stay with us, their lovely sacred crafts will also be offered for sale. The sale of these items and donations for their ceremonies and events go to funding the monastery in India. It is truly an honor to host the monks and support the important spiritual works which they dedicate their lives to.

2020-01-07T13:18:04-05:00April 19th, 2016|Store News|

Material Culture Pitches Tent for King Midas Show at Penn Museum

Penn Museum Presents The Golden Age of King Midas For the opening of The Golden Age of King Midas, Material Culture transformed Penn Museum’s Pepper Hall into an oasis reminiscent of the Turkish Kervansaray, or roadside inns, that offered Silk Road travelers a place to recover from a day’s journey. (Photos Courtesy of Penn Museum) THE GOLDEN AGE OF KING MIDAS: OPENING DAY CELEBRATION SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 10AM - 4PM Penn Museum opens the world premiere exhibition The Golden Age of King Midas—featuring ancient treasures on loan from the Republic of Turkey—with a spectacular day-long public celebration, and an immersive experience into the world of the Phrygian ruler King Midas. More Info Photos Courtesy of Penn Museum View CBS News Coverage of Penn Museum's King Midas Exhibit

2020-01-07T13:17:59-05:00February 9th, 2016|Store News|

Tibetan Monks Create Sand Mandala at Material Culture, May 2-3

WE INVITE THE PUBLIC TO JOIN US THIS WEEKEND On Saturday and Sunday, May 2-3, 11am - 5pm For the Creation of a Sand Mandala of the Medicine Buddha By the Tibetan Monks of the Drepung Gomang Monastery, India, For the Healing of the World & Specifically Earthquake-Ravaged Nepal Please Note: Material Culture will Donate a Portion of all Sales this Weekend to Relief Efforts in Nepal! Free, Open to the Public, Unlimited Free Parking, Children Welcome

2020-01-07T13:17:51-05:00April 27th, 2015|Store News|

Tibetan Cultural Celebration and Performance at Material Culture, Saturday, April 11

Please Join Us For A Very Special Cultural Celebration and Performance Of Traditional Tibetan Dance, Lively Debate, Chanting, Prayer and Meditation By the Tibetan Buddhist Monks Of Drepung Gomang Monastery, India Saturday, April 11, 2PM, FREE Everyone Welcome, Bring Kids! PERFORMANCE PROGRAM: WELCOMING HIS HOLINESS THE DALAI LAMA AND OFFERING OF MANDALA. According to Tibetan custom, if His Holiness in not physically present, his holy portrait is displayed to symbolize that he is nevertheless the Chief Guest at the function or gatherings. At the same time, one offers all that one values in the Universe by reciting prayers, and visualizing that one is offering these to the guru or lama. TASHI SHOLPA (Good Luck Dance). Tashi Shoelpa is the oldest opera company in Tibet. This dance originally appeared in a dream of the Great Fifth Dalai Lama in 1645 and was performed during the enthronement ceremony of Fifth Dalai Lama. The performer wearing the white-beard mask represents Saint Thantong Gyalpo, the founder of Lhamo/Tibetan opera, who reputedly lived for 140 years and also symbolizes long life and good health. Lhamo/opera conveys the teachings of Lord Buddha through historical reenactment. The purpose of this very dance is to bring good luck and good omens specially to inaugurate [...]

2020-01-07T13:17:51-05:00March 23rd, 2015|Store News|