Käthe Kollwitz' Timeless Vision Of Suffering And Rebellion On View In Indianapolis
Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields
A visitor to the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields could see Käthe Kollwitz' Woman and Dead Child (1903) print and not think of the thousands of mothers in Gaza similarly cradling the lifeless bodies of their children. The pieces that remain following Israeli bombings of homes and hospitals.
Israel kills a child in Gaza every 45 minutes.
It has done so since October 7, 2023. That total adds up to nearly 15,000. And rising. Every day. Every hour of every day.
A visitor could similarly regard Kollwitz' Death and Woman (1910), see the toddler crawling up her mother's front, mom's arms pinned behind her by death, and not think of the tens of thousands of orphans in Gaza.
Israel's genocide in Gaza has produced roughly 40,000 orphans.
It would be possible to regard these images and not think of Gaza. Not easy, but possible.
It would be possible to see Woman at the Crib (1897) and not think about the Trump Administration's efforts to gut federal programs helping poor people, often mothers and children, get enough to eat. Spending cuts so more money can be passed up to the wealthiest Americans by way of tax breaks. The hopeless woman grasps her head with one hand and checks her baby's cheek with the other. It must be cold.
Death, Woman and Child (1910).
Brot! (Bread!) (1924); a woman passes a share of bread behind her back to one hungry, crying child, while another hungry, crying child, begs for more.
Germany in the 1920s.
America in 2026?
Kollwitz (German; 1867–1945) stands as art history's greatest portrayer of mother and child. The primordial bond. The closeness. The connection. The reliance words can't describe. The grief resulting from that worldly bond being severed.
The artist lost an 18-year-old son, Peter, to World War I, killed in action 10 days after going to the front in 1914. Kollwitz and her husband of 49 years were required to sign a permission slip allowing the youngster to enlist. She never forgave herself. She became an avowed pacifist. She'd lose a grandson, also named Peter–honoring the previously killed Peter–who was drafted into World War II.
Having endured World War I–the war that did not end all wars; dictators, capitalists and nations love war too much to let that tradition go extinct–Kollwitz did not survive its sequel. She died on April 22, 1945. The Nazis capitulated on May 8.
Kollwitz fought the Nazis. Fascism. An authoritarian and nationalistic right-wing system of government and social organization.
Prior to elections in 1932, Kollwitz, Albert Einstein (who she knew), and a group of German intellectuals and progressives appealed to the various leftist parties across the country to unify in fighting the Nazi party. Again in 1933 she implored the splintered parties of the political left to band together to fight the fascists. Neither effort was successful.
The Nazis silenced Kollwitz' career, confiscating her artwork from museums and galleries; she was banned from exhibiting in Germany. Her art was included in Hitler's notorious 'The Degenerate Art' exhibition. A 70th birthday exhibition for her in Berlin in 1937 was cancelled.
It would be possible to think about Kollwitz' activism on behalf of the poor, in opposition to the wealthy, on behalf of peace, in opposition to war and fascism, and how she was censored by the fascist government she lived under and not think about the artists and art institutions being similarly censored in America by the Trump Administration. It would be possible to think about Kollwitz and not recognize how dictator's always attack artists and the arts.
Not easy, but possible.
"Käthe Kollwitz: Visions of Solidarity and Resilience" installation view at the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields.
Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields
Kollwitz' life also coincided with the final days of aristocratic feudalism and serfdom in Germany and the nation's economic transition to Industrialism. One system designed to exploit the working poor replaced by another. Along with suffering mothers and children, Kollwitz' prints are defined by her depictions of struggling peasants–farmers and laborers.
Oftentimes, the subjects intersect as in The Downtrodden (1900-1901). It would be possible to look at this image and not think about the inhumane wealth gap in America, widening every day. It would be possible to look at this image and not think about the number of Americans living paycheck to paycheck. The majority of Americans.
Not easy, but possible.
Nothing about Käthe Kollwitz' artwork is easy. Easy wasn't the point. She remains every bit as insightful and essential in America today as she was to turn of the century Germany. 'Käthe Kollwitz: Visions of Solidarity and Resilience' at the Indianapolis Art Museum through August 3, 2025, proves how Kollwitz' artistic commentary on mothers and children and suffering and poverty and poor people rings as true today as it did over a century ago.
And revolt.
Käthe Kollwitz (German, 1867–1945), 'Losbruch (Outbreak),' 1902, printed 1921, ink on paper, etching, soft-ground etching, drypoint, and aquatint, 30 x 40 in. Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields, Julius F. Pratt Fund, 38.93.
Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields
Germany's Peasants' War (1524-1525) and Weavers' Revolt (1844) gave inspiration or title to a pair of Kollwitz' most celebrated series, with examples on view in Indianapolis.
It would be possible to look at Uprising (1899) or Outbreak (1902) and not think about the millions of Americans who've taken to the streets across the country this spring in opposition to their government being destroyed, their social safety net dismantled, their freedom of speech suppressed, their college students disappeared, and their leadership given to oligarchs.
Not easy, but possible.
It would be possible to look at The Prisoners (1908) and not wonder if that's where this movement is headed.
It would be possible to look at The Storm (1897) and not imagine Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos or Mark Zuckerberg on the other side of the gates.
Not easy, but possible.
It would be possible to visit the Indianapolis Art Museum for its Käthe Kollwitz exhibition and not think the German artist born 150-plus years ago was making art for America in 2025. Not easy, but possible.
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Newsweek
4 hours ago
- Newsweek
Tears As Rescue Dog Takes First 'Cautious' Steps Into New Forever Home
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. A rescue dog's nervous first few steps inside his new forever home have been captured on camera. There was a time when Stephanie Ruocco, from western Massachusetts, probably would have never even contemplated bringing a dog into her home. "I wasn't exactly a dog person," Ruocco told Newsweek. "Honestly, dogs kind of scared me." But that all changed the day she spotted a white German shepherd on a trail cam in an area of woodland that makes up part of the 12-acre property where Ruocco lives. "He was mangy-looking and bone-thin," she said. "I thought it was a coyote at first and posted the video on my Facebook community page." Ruocco soon learned that the dog, who was called Ghost at the time, had been missing since late February and living in the woods. He had been gifted to a retired local resident but had quickly bolted from his new home. Ruocco reached out to the animal's former owner. Though she got a response, communication between them ultimately broke down. Despite this, Ruocco was determined to help. She began leaving food and water out for the canine every day, and, every day, he came back for more. There was something about this dog, whom she would ultimately rename CJ, that struck a chord for Ruocco. "When I first saw CJ, he was this terrified stray, dodging everyone in the woods," she said. "Something about his fear of people mirrored my own unease, and it hit me hard. I didn't have a grand plan to rescue him. I just wanted to make sure he was fed and strong enough to survive out there." For two months, come rain or shine, she showed up with food and water. Something magical began to happen. "We started to trust each other," Ruocco said. "I'd get this little spark of excitement seeing him, and he began to look healthier, his tail wagging a bit more." The bond that can form between an individual and their pup occupies a unique space. This much was highlighted by a study published in the journal Scientific Reports earlier this year; 717 dog owners were asked to rate their relationship with a pet, close relative, child, best friend and romantic partner in 13 key areas, including reliability, companionship and affection. Dogs scored higher in areas like nurture and companionship compared to best friends or romantic partners. They also scored higher for affection, support and reliability compared to best friends or close relatives. Owners also reported minimal conflict with canines. While different from human relationships, the study identified some of what truly makes a dog "man's best friend." Ruocco's bond with CJ truly began to crystalize when she started bringing him toys, as well as food and water. "His joy was infectious. I don't think he'd ever had anyone play with him before," she said. "It was just us, two unlikely friends, building trust." From there, it was a slow but steady progression to the point where CJ felt ready to come into Ruocco's home. "Taking him in wasn't a decision I planned," she said. "It was one we sort of made together, day by day." Ruocco met CJ on May 19. By July 1, he was taking his first tentative steps into her home, in a moment captured on camera and posted to TikTok under the handle @stephanieruocco. While the caption on the video notes that CJ was initially "cautious" of his new surroundings, even in that brief moment, there is a sense he is already letting his guard down. That was a special moment. Ruocco said: "Honestly, I was freaking out with excitement because it was such a big step for this scared stray." The reaction online was similarly emotive, with users left in tears at what they were watching. At that stage, Ruocco was still planning to hand CJ over to a local dog shelter in the hopes of finding him a forever home. But then she realized something: he had already found one. "I started to feel protective," she said. "I wasn't OK with just handing him over without knowing he'd be safe and loved. That's when it hit me … we wanted to advocate for him and, ultimately, adopt him and care for him." CJ has gone from strength to strength ever since. Ruocco was so determined to bring him home, she even paid $800 compensation to his previous owner, while CJ has also undergone K9 training. Today, he is a dog transformed. "For a dog who spent so long in the woods, he's remarkably well-mannered and affectionate," Ruocco said. "You can see the relief in him now that he no longer has to worry about his next meal or watch his back."
National Geographic
4 hours ago
- National Geographic
World War II treasure hunters love this rugged Greek island
Top collectors on the island have amassed hundreds of thousands of artifacts — and there are still more being found. Stelios Tripalitakis holds an original rifle used during the Battle of Crete, part of his extensive collection dedicated to preserving the island's wartime history and resistance. Photograph by Demetrios Ioannou The metal helmet held by Stelios Tripalitakis is heavy, with a small hole on one side and a jagged gash on the other, likely caused by a bullet. It probably belonged to a German soldier, Lieutenant Schimkat, who fought and died in the Battle of Crete during WWII. The hole in the helmet, Tripalitakis surmises, was Schimkat's fatal wound. 'I bought this helmet from an elderly man in Daratsos village, about a kilometer from here,' recalls Tripalitakis, sitting in his living room in a village in the northwest of Crete, Greece's largest island. Crete is a rugged place, with a number of historic towns, ancient sites, and scenic beaches. While it doesn't attract the masses like the nearby Cyclades, Crete gets a fair amount of tourists. Not all who come are here for a beach vacation or even ancient Greece, though. It's something more recent that drives them to this island and into the living room of Tripalitakis. Crete is brimming with World War II treasures. Tripalitakis is just one of dozens of artifact hunters, part of a not-so-quiet subculture of amateur historians and military memorabilia enthusiasts searching for and preserving remnants of the pivotal 1941 Battle of Crete. So numerous are the remnants from this war-changing event that Tripalitakis has a collection of more than 100,000 artifacts—and it's still growing. He lives with his family of four in Galatas, a small village. The Battle of Crete began on May 20, and the Galatas area was one of its main battlefields. Tripalitakis started learning about it at just nine years old, and his collecting started at 16. Tripalitakis holds a helmet he believes once belonged to Lieutenant Schimkat, pointing out the bullet exit hole that marks its violent history. Photograph by Demetrios Ioannou He managed to identify the helmet through two original photographs, both showing the makeshift grave of the German lieutenant. 'Both photos capture the helmet from the same angle, clearly showing the bullet entry hole, which is identical in size and position to the helmet I have,' he explains. One photo belongs to Dimitris Skartsilakis, a researcher and collector from Rethimno, a nearby city. He owns more than 10,000 photographs, many depicting grim scenes, ranging from local executions and battlefield casualties to soldiers' graves. The other is from a German paratrooper's album of the 3rd Parachute Regiment stationed in the Galatas area. 'The lieutenant's grave is visible with the same helmet, and the name on the cross is also clearly seen,' says Tripalitakis. When he searched the German archives, he found that Schimkat was killed on May 22 in Galatas, shot in the head. A generational pursuit Tripalitakis' front yard resembles a WWII vehicle cemetery, with several pieces of rusted metal scattered on the ground. But it's the room on the first floor of his house where history truly overflows. The 42-year-old has transformed his former living room into what may be the world's most densely packed private WWII museum, showcasing relics ranging from rifles and grenades to rare photographs and uniforms. Tripalitakis is not alone. Collectors in Crete become interested in this history from a very young age and many who had lived during the German occupation were still alive in the 1990s. 'My family runs a pastry shop in Rethimno, and I used to hear countless war stories from our customers, many of whom were around 70 years old at the time,' fellow collector Skartsilakis, now 42, says. 'Both of my grandmothers also shared stories from those years. That's how I first became interested in all this.' Tripalitakis talks about his artifacts with such passion, and so fast, it's as if he's trying to share as much as possible before time runs out. He's had to practice talking fast. He collaborates with at least six travel agencies in Chania that run daily Battle of Crete tours, all of which include a 'strictly one-hour visit' to his museum. Mortar rounds, grenades, and ammunition, recovered by Tripalitakis during more than 25 years of searching the island for wartime remnants. Photograph by Demetrios Ioannou A U.S. Army medical stretcher, used during WWII, now preserved as part of Tripalitakis' collection. Photograph by Demetrios Ioannou According to Yannis Skalidakis, historian and professor at the University of Crete, the Battle of Crete played an extraordinary role in WWII. It was the first—and last—large-scale battle in which the attack was carried out entirely from the air using paratroopers. And Crete "was essentially the only free territory left in Europe,' he explains. Due to the strong local resistance, however, the elite German unit suffered heavy losses, which prevented them from attempting further airborne operations during the war. The relentless opposition by the Cretans was another harbinger. 'The resistance of the Cretan people marked the beginning of armed civilian resistance across Europe against Nazism. The citizens of Crete—ordinary people—were the first to fight back, alongside the Greek and British armies," notes Skalidakis, author of a book on German-occupied Crete. (There is also the disputed theory that the Germans getting bogged down in Crete contributed to the delay of the German invasion of the Soviet Union—a delay which cost them dearly.) A uniquely documented battle Collectors like Tripalitakis can be found across the island, with the Chania region holding the largest share. But you would be mistaken to think this is a mere hobby. 'In reality,' asserts Skartsilakis, who is currently collaborating with the Historical Museum of Crete for a temporary exhibition, 'if it weren't for us, much of this material would have ended up as scrap and been lost forever.' Since Tripalitakis started collecting in 1999 he estimates he's spent more than €100,000 on artifacts, and nearly €50,000, maybe even more, just on fuel. 'I work several jobs and invest everything into this," he admits. Guided by history books, local testimonies, and intuition, Tripalitakis has scoured the island's battle sites by land and sea multiple times. Most of the collectors also scan the web for important findings. That's because Crete might be the most photographed battle of the war, the historian Skalidakis contends. 'Almost all the Germans had cameras with them and captured many moments of the battle, both before and after it, resulting in an extremely rich visual archive that doesn't exist for other battles.' The regime did it for potential propaganda purposes. The collector Skartsilakis has used photographs to find objects. 'It's sometimes astonishing to see that, even after 80 years, shell casings from the battle are still lying on a wall where I have a photo of soldiers positioned during the battle,' he shares. Tripalitakis examines a selection of original wartime photographs from his collection —some costing him around 300 euros. Underneath are displayed personal items such as buttons and belt buckles found in the islands' battlefields. Photograph by Demetrios Ioannou It should come as no surprise, then, that these photographs can fetch lofty sums. 'I've bought a single photograph on eBay for €300. Especially the ones showing paratroopers with full gear in the midst of battle are extremely expensive,' Tripalitakis shares. 'A paratrooper's full photo album, can go for as much as €5,000 and may contain 150–200 photographs.' Under Greek law, items from 1453 and earlier are considered antiquities and are automatically state property. Anything found that dates after 1453—the fall of Constantinople to the Ottomans and the end of the Byzantine Empire—is not considered ancient and can be legally owned as collectibles. Weaponry and ammunition that are still functional must be officially registered with the Greek police. Small arms require a permit and must be deactivated. 'I handle that myself,' Tripalitakis says. 'I'm a reserve officer in the special forces, in the paratroopers, but I knew how to handle explosives like these long before the army." In total, Tripalitakis owns around 200 weapons, though not all of them are complete. Other items include uniforms, gas masks, field telephones, mess tins, motorcycle goggles, ID tags, cutlery sets, first aid kits, cooking pots, buttons, pocket watches, and unit insignia. Much like Schimkat's helmet, each item in a collection carries its own life story. 'We have found many personal belongings of soldiers, such as wedding rings with engraved initials, some of which we've traced back to their owners,' says Skartsilakis, who recently made a particularly rare discovery. 'I found three wooden crosses from graves at the Battle of Galatas. A local had them to support the roof of his stable.' From screws to barrels the entire island is dotted with repurposed WWII relics. Some became flower pots or water troughs. 'I've seen a raki still made from a German fuel barrel," Skalidakis laughs. Photograph by Demetrios Ioannou But don't mistake the ways they've been repurposed to mean they aren't valued. After all, many in Crete have family lore about ancestors who fought and died to stop the Nazis. 'You should know,' Tripalitakis concludes, 'that everyone has objects like these in their homes. Some people consider them family heirlooms and don't want to part with them.' Given the island's riches, Tripalitakis's former living room isn't the only stop for aficionados. One of the first private collections to open to the public was the War Museum Askifou at Sfakia, created by collector Georgios Hatzidakis and now maintained by his son Andreas. 'My father started this when he was 16, a few years after the war ended, in 1946,' says Andreas, who inherited the collection after his dad passed away in 2007. 'He was a young boy during the war. The Germans killed one of his sisters, and my grandfather was in the resistance,' he says. Today, they own thousands of artifacts and exhibit them at their home at Askifou village, which is open to visitors daily. Andreas continues the tradition of searching for relics with his younger son, who is now the same age his father was when he started the collection. 'I am trying to teach him the history of our place', he says. 'It's important for the older generations to remember, and for the younger ones to learn'.
Los Angeles Times
a day ago
- Los Angeles Times
German shepherd rescue group in Orange County hopes to fetch a miracle
Good morning. It's Wednesday, Aug 13. I'm Carol Cormaci, bringing you this week's TimesOC newsletter with a look at some of the latest local news and events from around the county. Smart, loyal and courageous by nature, German shepherds can be great pets. In fact, they are among the most popular breeds in the U.S. I grew up in a household with one and adored her, from her puppyhood through her old age. She was a fantastic companion and, even after she developed hip dysplasia, nothing could keep her from enthusiastically joining us on adventures. She was the first in the car when we headed out on road trips and the first to bound out the door when we arrived at our destination. Sadly, for a host of different reasons, some people who take a German shepherd into their homes come to the realization at some point they can no longer care for their beautiful canine. An astounding number of the shepherds are suddenly without a home and the situation has worsened recently, according to Marie Dales, founder and director of German Shepherd Rescue of Orange County. Dales first founded the organization in 1998 and by 2005 had turned it into an award-winning nonprofit that has to date rescued, rehabilitated and found new homes for more than 10,000 dogs, according to the Daily Pilot/TimesOC news feature published over the weekend. How many more years it will be able to keep its efforts going depends on whether it can find some major donors, or 'angels.' An infusion of cash is required to help pay for veterinary needs, pet food and boarding of the German shepherds, which have all risen by 30%, according to the story, at a time when the number of residents seeking placement of the dogs they can no longer care for has risen by 300% and the number of shelters reaching out to the nonprofit for help has grown by a whopping 500%. Donations, alas, are trending downward at a time when costs have skyrocketed. To make matters even worse, 'the phone lines and emails jam up with more requests than can be handled, adoption rates for their shepherds have plummeted 50% since before the pandemic to hit a 10-year low,' according to the story. 'Pets being surrendered because of their owners losing their job or income has tripled this year,' Dales told my colleague Gabriel San Román. 'We get requests every single day and the animal shelters are telling people to call the rescues because they're full. Shelters being so oversaturated is something we've never seen before.' So, German Shepherd Rescue of Orange County will launch a $100,000 'Sheptember' matching pledge campaign next month that can keep the Newport Beach kennel it runs operational. 'We're relying on hope and kindness,' Dales said. 'I never would have started this rescue if I didn't believe in the goodness of people and our ability to work our way out of this challenge.' • The city of Irvine on Aug. 3 reopened two former county libraries, Heritage Park and University Park, that were transformed into city branches. City officials say they will be able to provide greater funding to the libraries in hopes of improving services, according to this Daily Pilot/TimesOC story. An estimated $9 million a year in property taxes will fund the city system, roughly double what the county provided in 2024. The Katie Wheeler branch of the county library system is expected to be reopened as a city library early next year. • A Meritage Homes project that will bring 142 new residential units to property that was formerly home to Trinity Broadcasting Network was approved last week on a unanimous vote by the Costa Mesa City Council. In other actions, the panel voted to support Senate Bill 805, also known as the 'No Vigilantes Act,' a bill related to immigration enforcement efforts that would require local police to request identification and also make impersonating a law enforcement officer a misdemeanor offense. Further, the City Council allocated $100,000 to Enough for All, a coalition of Costa Mesa churches providing food and other assistance to Latino residents living in hiding from the ICE sweeps. • People taking in games at the Huntington Beach Sports Complex will be allowed to buy beer and wine at two of the site's outdoor patio areas, located at 18260 Goldenwest Street and 7300 Talbert Street, following two separate and equally narrow 4-3 votes of the city's planning commission. The decision is considered final unless it is appealed to the City Council. • La Habra is considering placing a moratorium on new smoke shops in town and tightening regulations on the 20 already existing ones, 70% of which opened in the past five years, according to this Daily Pilot/TimesOC story. 'I've walked through La Habra's [streets] for almost 10 years,' resident Norma Perez told the City Council during a public comment portion of its most recent meeting. 'We had very few smoke shops. Now, I walk through La Habra and there's one every two blocks.' • In March, well ahead of the June arrival in Orange County of immigration enforcement teams, an undocumented man named Arturo, who asked not to be fully identified out of concerns for his family's safety, self-deported from Anaheim to Tijuana alongside his wife and child, both of whom are U.S. citizens, to avoid any chance of family separation under the Trump administration. Since relocating, Arturo, 28, whose parents brought him from Mexico to the U.S. as a newborn, described the experience of being Mexican in Mexico as a 'peace' he has not felt before, my colleague Gabriel San Roman wrote in this feature story about the move. In fact, having the ability to rent a two-bedroom apartment for $500 is just one of the upsides to living south of the border. 'I've shown that you can come here to make a life,' Arturo said. 'If it's a viable option for others, I would tell them to come to Mexico, too.' • Andrew Do, the disgraced former Orange County supervisor convicted in a bribery scheme, owes the government $878,230.80, it was determined Monday by a federal judge, according to a City News Service report. In June, Do was sentenced to five years in prison, a term he is expected to begin Friday. • Amy Phan West, a member of the Westminster City Council who was in hot water after bribing a Westminster Police Department parking officer to keep her husband's parked Jeep from being towed on a city street, learned Monday she will be allowed to participate misdemeanor diversion program. As part of the agreement, Phan West will perform 20 hours of community service and take a two-hour ethics class, after which she can have the misdemeanor dropped. • And, in case you haven't read enough along the same lines, here's a third bribery case involving Orange County politics: Melahat Rafiei, a former Orange County Democratic Party leader and key witness in the FBI's O.C. political corruption probe who pleaded guilty to attempted wire fraud and admitted to attempted bribery, is expected to be sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Fernando Aenlle-Rocha on Aug. 22. Federal prosecutors argued in recently filed court documents that she be given one-year probation and a $10,000 fine. • A 15-year-old girl who attended school in the Newport-Mesa Unified School District was fatally stabbed over the weekend in a gang-related incident in Costa Mesa, police reported. Allison Castillo was identified by the county coroner's office Monday as the teenager found collapsed in an outside courtyard on the 700 block of Shalimar Drive at around 12:30 p.m. Saturday by police. A student athlete, Castillo played soccer for two years with So Cal Select. The suspect in her stabbing, Matthew Juarez, 31, was traced to an Anaheim residence where police took him into custody; he was charged with her murder on Tuesday. Costa Mesa police detectives are asking anyone who may have information about Saturday's incident to contact Det. Eloisa Peralta at (714) 754-5039 or Investigator Eric Molina at (714) 754-5694. • A few other public safety news briefs reported by City News Service: — A woman was fatally struck late Saturday night by vehicles when she exited a car on the southbound side of the Santa Ana (5) Freeway at the Tustin Ranch Road offramp, according to the CHP. — Michelle Gutierrez, 36, was sentenced Friday to 16 years to life in prison for fatally stabbing her husband, Cesar Omar Reyes Zuno in their Santa Ana home on Jan. 21, 2021. — Firefighters quickly contained a vegetation fire in Santiago Canyon that was reported shortly after 10 p.m. Sunday. The blaze was kept to one-quarter of an acre before it was extinguished, according to the Orange County Fire Authority. • L.A. Times prep sports columnist Eric Sondheimer has put out his preseason Top 25 SoCal high school football rankings. No. 1 on the list is none other than Santa Ana's Mater Dei. Not far behind, at No. 3, is another O.C. private school, Orange Lutheran. • The United States Lifesaving Assn. National Lifeguard Championships returned to Huntington State Beach for the first time since 2010 last week. • Monster-faced plush dolls called Labubus have become the latest hot trend, first in South Korea and now across the U.S. My colleague Sarah Mosqueda was one of about 400 people who attended a special Labubu event held at Morning Lavender Cafe and Boutique in Tustin and learned first-hand just how popular these wild-looking creatures are. On Tuesday, the L.A. Times reported that $30,000 worth of the customizable Labubus were recovered in an Upland home by law enforcement authorities as part of an investigation into a series of thefts from a local warehouse. They were believed to be headed to the black market. • After teaching plastic fabrication and manufacturing for decades, Bob Schureman now organizes archaeological digs in the park for kids to find replica Sabertooth cat and Megalodon shark teeth in a sand box. Schureman has a wealth of knowledge in his field; from 1965-85 he taught industrial arts at Estancia High School and just a few years ago retired from ArtCenter College of Design where he taught materials fabrication and manufacturing. Last week, the Costa Mesa resident crafted molds from fossils kept at Los Angeles' La Brea Tar Pits, 'creating exact replicas of every fiber, crack and crevice in the original pieces,' according to this feature story, for children attending a day camp to dig up and keep as souvenirs. • Pacific Chorale's Choral Festival takes place at 5 p.m. this Sunday at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. Robert Istad conducts and Jung-A Lee is the organist for this event, which brings together up to 400 members of Southern California's choral community to present a free public concert. Choose between pay-what-you-can general concert hall seating (no purchase required to reserve) and $50 limited-availability premium seating in the Box Circle. More details, including the program, can be found here • The three-day Sea Country Festival hosted by the Laguna Niguel Parks and Recreation Department will take place Friday, Aug. 22 through Sunday, Aug. 24 and will feature live music, rides, games and more. The festival is located on Dorine Road and El Lazo, between the Laguna Design Center and the Chet Holifield Federal Building. Hours are from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, 2 to 10 p.m. Saturday and 2 to 9 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free. To learn more, visit the city's website. Until next week,Carol We appreciate your help in making this the best newsletter it can be. Please send news tips, your memory of life in O.C. (photos welcome!) or comments to
