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One of Vincent Van Gogh's most famous works of art is his 1889 painting 'Starry Night.' This famous masterpiece has inspired countless re-creations and tributes over the years, but one very committed artist thought the painting's swirling style would lend itself to a less traditional medium: dominoes.
The YouTube user, known as FlippyCat, says he used more than 7,000 dominoes to re-create the masterpiece, and it took him only two tries to get it right. His first attempt was ruined when a screw from the camera rig fell onto the setup. The second attempt was successful. FlippyCat spent 11 hours meticulously setting each domino in place. Responding to a user's question, FlippyCat said he took "lots of breaks, spread over a few days." The painting's intricacies were revealed as the individual sections fell.
So far, FlippyCat's video is a hit, having been viewed more than 125,000 times to date. In 2007, the artist created a similar project, using 'Mona Lisa' as his inspiration. One commenter summed up the video, saying "I think Vincent would approve."
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The students and staff at the University of Toronto wanted to give Chancellor David Peterson a big send-off at graduation that he would not soon forget. So they organized a flash mob gospel-choir tribute.
As final words were being said to the students by the university president, a giant pipe organ played, and a student stood up and began singing "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot." Other students began to join in, and a curtain was lifted to reveal an entire choir singing along to the gospel hymn. Peterson seemed shocked at first, but he soon realized what was happening as he listened to the words, which had been modified in tribute to him: "Farewell, dear chancellor, all your convocations are done."
Peterson wiped tears away, later saying he had no idea the staff and students were organizing such a farewell sendoff. "I was moved ... I was confused ... I was so overwhelmed," he said. What's next for the 68-year-old retiree? Peterson said, "There's always something nice around the corner in life."
The former premier of Ontario is retiring from his job after six years, during which he gave an estimated 100,000 graduation handshakes at more than three dozen ceremonies every year. In his role at the university, which was a volunteer position, Peterson is known for how "he turns up to bring grace and energy to events, and really shrinks a big place, creates a stronger sense of family and raises morale," said the university's president, David Naylor.
His official last day at the university is June 30. Peterson says the students' optimism and confidence are what he will miss the most.