SOUTHERN GUILD + PORKY HEFER

November 4, 2015

This November Southern Guild, the premiere design gallery in Cape Town, South Africa, presents Monstera Deliciosa, the gallery's first solo exhibition show featuring avant-garde South African artist Porky Hefer. Monstera Deliciosa is a collection of over-sized animal-inspired hanging nest seats that take the viewer on a fantastical under-the-sea journey. Gallery co-founder Julian McGowan says of Porky, "Not many people are doing environmentally inspired pieces of this nature, especially at this scale. Porky’s work pushes boundaries and perceptions of what art and design are, and ultimately what furniture is and can be.”

Monstera Deliciosa runs November 2015-February 2016.The Southern Guild Gallery is open Monday-Friday 10am-5pm.

BERLIN BOOMBOX

November 2, 2015

How cool is the Berlin Boombox by German illustrator and DJ Axel Pfaender? This flat-packed, DIY sound system kit combines fun nostalgia with sustainable tech. Designed to resemble an old school boombox, the graphic black and white is eye-catching as is or can be colored to fit the user's individual taste. Special limited artist editions are also available, showcasing work by illustrators from around the world, including Jeremyville,Rob Flowers, Golden Green 179, and LouLou & Tummie. Compatible with all smartphones and mp3 players, the tool- and glue-free kit comes with easy to follow instructions. The Berlin Boombox consists of recycled (and recyclable!) cardboard and includes all internal electronics. Visit the Berlin Boombox website to learn more, order your own, and watch Pfaender speak about crowd-funding, production, and more!

LDBA BROOKLYN

October 29, 2015

How fun are these classes for kids by L'Ecole De Beaux Arts (LDBA) Brooklyn? In addition to hosting an after school arts program, as well as summer camps, LDBA offers weekend workshops on natural cloth dying with indigo and flowers, bow and arrow making, knot tying, and special classes focusing on the work of master artists, like Picasso and Kandinsky. LDBA Brooklyn, founded by Sara Moffat, is an artist supply and housewares store and workshop center located in Brooklyn, NY.

BLEEPBLEEPS

October 27, 2015

We may be all about the vintage here at kinder MODERN, but we love a well-designed piece of tech! The bleepbleeps collection ("cute, connected devices that make parenting easier") measures and tracks everything from your child's location to your partner's fertility and alerts you via a very cool smartphone app. Visit the sleek website to order your very own "Sammy Screamer" motion alarm, and sign up to be the first in line for the rest of the devices, dropping soon. We also love their cool Instagram, full of fun production shots and good times in the company's London office.

THE ART OF PING PONG

October 23, 2015

Fivefootsix, a UK branding and design agency, presents its annual charity event "The Art of Ping Pong" next month at KK Outlet in London. Benefiting BBC Children in Need, Fivefootsix invites prominent and upcoming artists, including Anthony Burrill, Kate Forrester, Owen Gildersleeve, and Noma Bar, to design one-of-a-kind paddles, which are then auctioned off in late November. We love the many interpretations of this simple game piece, from whimsical and playful to stark and utilitarian. Visit the The Art of Ping Pong website to learn more and even bid online for one of your own!

The Art of Ping Pong will be on display at KK Outlet November 1-30, 2015, with an opening party on November 5, 2015 from 7-9pm. KK Outlet is located at 42 Hoxton Square in London.

DOMINIQUE COULON

October 22, 2015

This chic (and pink!) school by Dominique Coulon & Associates in Strasbourg, France is a clever re-working of a 1960s building into a safe and up-to-date educational environment. The strict boundaries of the original structure have been transformed into fluid and playful shapes, encouraging students to appreciate the rhythms of daily life. The firm even collaborated with a neuroscientist to create playspaces and learning environments that are both pedagogic and beautiful. Visit Dominique Coulon & Associates' website to learn more about this project and others.

DESIGNING FOR PLAY

October 20, 2015

Space is still available at tonight's "Designing for Play" lecture, given by Cas Holman, at the School of the Visual Arts. Holman will discuss designing products that stimulate imagination and encourage children to "develop habits of agency, independence, and self-determination." Holman is a professor at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) and has spent the last decade exploring play, education, and imagination.

Cas Holman, "Designing for Play." Tuesday, October 20, 2015. 6:30-8:30pm. Free with pre-registration. SVA Department of Design Research, Writing, and Criticism. 136 West 21st St, New York City.

FAMILY GROWTH CHEST

October 19, 2015

This clever take on the homey ritual of marking a child's growth in a doorway is both chic and nostalgic. The Family Growth Chest by Jeremy Zietz Studio is a hidden chest of drawers, allowing the family to record growth and stow away special childhood keepsakes. Made of white oak, a brass inlay, and poplar, the piece "becomes a chronology of childhoods, with an inlay which evolves as a fruitful vine - representing life and the vitality of the family and home." Jeremy Zietz is a furniture maker and product designer based in Richmond, Virginia who explores the use of furniture as a medium to cultivate valuable social traditions. See more of his work on his website.

ISABEL + HELEN: CONSTRUCTIVIST SWING SET

October 16, 2015

We love this conceptual swing set created for last month's London Design Festival by UK-based duo Isabel + Helen. A free-moving interpretation of the Constructivist movement, this interactive kinetic sculpture uses oppressive and heavy Constructivist elements in new and playful ways, an arch and subtle commentary on the extremism of the bold, graphic movement. The swing set is a continuation of their Constructivist Playground, created for the Victoria & Albert Museum's Friday Late White Nights exhibition celebrating Russian art and culture. Visit Isabel + Helen's website to learn more about both projects.

ELLE DECOR

October 14, 2015

Check out kinder GROUND in the November issue of ELLE DECOR! We're so excited to be included as a bold accent in a children's room designed by the super talented Kelly Behun.

kinder GROUND, kM's innovative and award-winning modular carpet and area rugs, are made of 100% New Zealand wool and hand-tufted, -cut, and -carved by skilled artisans. Every modular piece is backed with EcoNet, an environmentally friendly material made of natural rubber that completely eliminates the need for rug pads. Although we think you'll find something you like in our 37 different styles and 3 signature shapes, kG also loves working creatively with clients to create gorgeous custom and bespoke carpets for any aesthetic. Send us an email at design@kindermodern.com or call 212-627-2917 to begin your kinder GROUND journey!

SUGAR HILL CHILDREN'S MUSEUM

October 2, 2015

Tomorrow marks the grand opening of the Sugar Hill Children's Museum of Art and Storytelling. This progressive new museum embraces and explores the intersection of art and storytelling against the rich, cultural background of Harlem. With exhibits and curriculum designed specifically for children ages 3-8, kids have the opportunity to be both author and audience as they learn about the historic and contemporary artists and storytellers of this iconic neighborhood, plus build important visual, language, and critical thinking skills. The opening exhibitions includePeople, Places, and Things: Selections from The Studio Museum, showing artwork depicting daily life in communities throughout the US; Txt: art, language, media, investigating new forms of digital literacy; andThe Pollen Catchers' Color Mixing Machine, a site-specific mural by artist Saya Woolfalk in collaboration with her young daughter.

The Sugar Hill Children's Museum of Art and Storytelling is located at 898 St. Nicholas Avenue at 155th Street in New York City and is part of The Sugar Hill Project, designed by renowned architect David Adjaye. The opening day celebration will take place on October 3, 2015 from 11am-5pm, with free admission to see the galleries, interact with the artist-in-residence, partake in a marathon storytelling event, and enjoy a variety of performances. Regular hours during October 2015 are 12-5pm; admission is $7 for adults, $4 for children ages 9-17, and free for children under 8.

FIELD + SUPPLY

September 30, 2015

Next weekend, meet us at Field + Supply, a “modern makers craft fair” in upstate NY, to see our offbeat mix of collectible vintage and contemporary child design, featuring pieces from Russia, the United States, Japan, and the Netherlands, and highlighting important historic child design from the late 19th and 20th centuries. We can’t wait to shop and enjoy the upper valley autumn beauty! Field + Supply, presented by Brad Ford ID, reinvents the traditional arts and craft fair, elevating it to new heights with lux goods from high-end studios and workshops, including Fern NYC, Apparatus, The Future Perfect, and Fort Standard.

If you make it, be sure to check out F+S’s fun and inspiring workshops for the whole family. We’re personally excited for the Kids Bow & Arrow Making with Sara Moffat, founder of the Brooklyn-based L’cole Des Beaux Arts (LDBA) andIndigo Dye with Isa Rodrigues, the founder and director of Sewing Seeds at the Textile Arts Center (TAC) in New York City. Sign up for workshops here.

Field + Supply will take place October 10-11, 2015 at the Black Barn (4-8 Bruceville Rd. ) in High Falls, NY. Hours are 11am-6pm on Saturday and 12pm-5pm on Sunday. Admission is $5 for adults; children under 12 are free.

THE WHITNEY: FAMILY FUN

September 16, 2015

This September at the Whitney bring your little ones, ages 4-5, on Saturdays from 10-11am to explore "The City Inside Out" with the Whitney Wees program. This month, the interactive gallery exploration utilizes the museum's indoor and outdoor galleries to show how artists are inspired by the city. At the same time, kids ages 6-10 can take a "sketching tour" through the exhibition America is Hard to See and create their own artist's interpretations of America. Still enjoying the museum in the afternoon? From 2:30-4:30pm the hands on "Family Fun: Painting Practices" workshop lets kids and caregivers try unique techniques by artists exhibited in the gallery, including Jay DeFeo, Alfonso Osorio, and Jack Whitten.

Family Tours will take place September 19th and 26th at 10am and 2:30pm. Tickets are $5 or $10, depending on the tour, plus museum admission. The Whitney Museum of American Art is located at 99 Gansevoort St. in New York City.

GRO^

September 14, 2015

We're going crazy for the Gro^ Rocking Horse by Danish designers Christian Troels and Michael Knap for the Republic of Fritz Hansen. Sleek and simplistic, this rocker is the epitome of Scandinavian child design. But what we really love? The clever build that allows the piece to develop with your child, from sweet rocking bassinet to boisterous horsey to fun balance board. Check it out on Behance to learn more and don't miss this fun video featuring the world's cutest furniture testers.

SMALLPAPER*

September 10, 2015

We're super excited to be included in this year's edition of Smallpaper*, Wallpaper* magazine's annual issue on everything kid! Our TISCH STUHL HAUS KREIDE, designed by Clemens Tissi, takes center stage in a feature on architectural design for little ones. Also included are some of our favorites, like the super practical bench/bookshelf combo, "Pauli," by Perludi and the seriously cool miniature dollhouse reproduction of Arne Jacobsen's Charlottenlund Villa by Minimii. Check out the full spread here or catch the October 2015 issue on newsstands now!