SOPHIE KNIJFF: TRANSLATIONS

February 6, 2014

Belgian photographer Sofie Knijff's latest collection,Translations, explores children's dreams and expectations for their adult life through portraiture. Knijff travelled to South Africa, India, Brazil, Mali, Iceland, and Greenland to learn, and then capture, children's "dream characters." Each child was photographed against the same black background, creating a neutral space where their dreams could come to life through their own costume, pose, and expression. Knijff also photographed the empty spaces usually occupied by the children, creating an interesting dialogue between children's internal lives and the environments that foster them.

Be sure to check out the full project on Knijff's website and let us know your thoughts @kindermodern

MAISON & OBJET PARIS

February 4, 2014

Maison & Objet, the international trade show dedicated to innovative art and design in the home, finished its winter show in Paris on January 28th, 2014. Our top picks for children from this year's event include:

Charlie Crane’s gorgeous NOGA Changing Table. We love the unique trapezoidal shape and the smooth, clean lines.

Flensted Mobiles draw inspiration from the infinitely small and the infinitely large with their Niehls Bohr Atom Mobile and the Futura Natura Mobile, reminiscent of a solar system.

These cardboard stools from Remember are fun to assemble and are a colorful, modern addition to any child’s room or play space.

Did you check out Maison & Objet this year? What are your top picks? Tweet us @kindermodern

GOING BANANAS

February 3, 2014

Jurgen Steenwelle, a graphic designer from the Netherlands, leaves a special surprise for his daughter in her lunch-box everyday: a one-of-a-kind drawing on her banana. Steenwelle finds inspiration in the natural shape and color of each fruit, and uses a ball-point pen to render his art before snapping a photo with his phone. Be sure to check out all his banana art on Instagram @Jsteenwelle

Of course, Steenwelle’s whimsical fruit is not the first artistic interpretation of the humble banana; it is a recurring motif in pop art and children’s design. Here are some of our favorites:

Pop art master Andy Warhol’s iconic and controversial banana started the trend in the 1960s.

Contemporary interpretations include Andy Rementer’s bananas, featured on this delightful wrapping paper for Nobrow.

Indikidual’s sweet and subtle grey banana print can be found on onesies, jumpsuits, and this adorable bathing suit for little ones.

This handmade children’s tee from TheTinyFarmer is uber hip.

Tell us about your favorite banana design! Tweet us @kindermodern

THE ARTISTS' COLOURING BOOK OF ABCS

January 31, 2014

Coloring for a cause is one of our favorite things, and we recently discovered this fierce book benefitting Kids Company, a UK-based non-profit supporting inner city children. The Artists’ Colouring Book of ABCs brings together original works by contemporary artists, each representing a different letter of the alphabet. The interpretations of every letter are unique, and very different from traditional representations of the alphabet. The original pieces, including work by Alex Katz, Paula Rego, and Gary Hume, were auctioned at Sotheby’s in London in December 2013 with all proceeds benefiting KidsCo. Interested in having one for yourself? Check out the paperback version.

MALO PHOTOGRAPHIES

January 30, 2014

Paris photographer Eric Maloberti’s (of Malo Photographies) delightful project “Un Jour, Mon Enfant Tu Seras” (“One Day, My Child, You Will Be) explores the limitless potential of infancy and childhood. Malo photographed his then three-month-old daughter, June, in a variety of costumes, hand-made with the help of his wife, each representing a very grow-up occupation. Malo hopes the project will inspire parents to think about what will make their children truly happy as the grow. He said to The Telegraph, “The idea behind the project is that we do not know what our children will become. One day my oldest son came up to me and said that he wants to be an explorer. My eldest daughter then told me she was going to become an artist. This made me think about what the future really did hold for them."

Be sure to check out Malo’s entire project on his website. We love the tiny, timid matador and the fierce mini-super hero. Which are your favorites? Tweet us @kindermodern

LUNAR NEW YEAR IN NYC

January 29, 2014

January 29, 2013

We wrote about our enthusiasm for horse-inspired children's design last week, and this week we’re looking forward to some of our favorite art-related activities for celebrating the Lunar New Year with kids here in New York City!

On Saturday, February 1st, 2014, the Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) will host a family festival with many activities to usher in the new year. This all day event, beginning at 11:00am, includes dance, music, and art workshops. We’re especially looking forward to the arts workshops which focus on the traditional arts of paper folding and calligraphy, as well as more modern interpretations of paper flowers and all-crafts horse-related! Tickets are $10 per person and can be reserved in advance by email.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art will celebrate with its own Lunar New Year Festival on Saturday, February 8th, 2014 from 12:00-5:00pm. With numerous family programs throughout the day, including crown making, a collaborative horse scroll, and Sesame Street puppeteersand dance performances, there’s bound to be something to delight all members of the family. The festival is free with museum admission.

Other annual Lunar New Year events include theFirecracker Ceremony & Cultural Festival on Friday, January 31st, 2014 from 11:00am-3:30pm in Roosevelt Park and the 15th Annual Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade and Festival on Saturday, February 2nd, beginning at 1:00pm at Mott and Hester St.

Celebrating the Lunar New Year artfully? Tweet us @kindermodern

YEAR OF THE HORSE

January 24, 2014

Happy Lunar New Year! As we begin the year of the horse, we've been thinking about some of our favorite mid-century child horse rockers.

Kay Bojesen's iconic mid-century wooden rocker is playful and timeless. Originally designed in 1936, this piece is as relevant today as when it was created.

Eames' plywood animals and their modern reproductions still delight children. We love the original plywood horse from the late 1940s. While it never went into mass production like the popular elephant, it's unique charm captivates young and old.

The curving, organic lines of this red lacquered Nässjomöbel schauelpferd from the 1970's encourages imaginative play. The organic shape, firey color, and the almost industrial feel adds to the fun. Ride on!

We've blogged about Marc Newson's 2012 piece "Rocky" before and we still can't get enough.

Gloria Caranica's Creative Playthings rocker from the 1970's is one of our own, and one of our very favorite modern takes on the traditional rocking horse. Horses come in all shapes and sizes--who says you need a mane and tail to be one?

Tweet us @kindermodern and tell us about your favorite horse-inspired design!

ROB PRUITT AT CHILDREN'S NATIONAL HOSPITAL

January 23, 2014

We blogged about RxArt and their incredible mission in December. Their coloring books are not only a fun and creative outlet for anyone, but bring joy and welcome distraction to children in hospitals all over the United States.

In 2014 Rob Pruitt's zebras, the featured cover art for RxArt's Coloring Book Volume 3, will become an interactive dry erase room at Children's National Hospital in Washington, D.C. This permanent installation in the Diabetes Care Center aims to give control and relief to children and their families as they wait for medical results and procedures.

Interested in learning more about RxArt or making a donation? Check out their website!

ELENA SHUMILOVA

January 22, 2014

Elena Shumilova’s enchanting photos of her children have completely captivated us. Taken on their family farm in Russia, Shumilova’s work tells a fairy-tale story of childhood wonder and magic, set against the natural phenomena of the changing seasons and accompanied by animal friends. Shumilova only began shooting in 2012 as a way to document her quickly growing children. Be sure to check out Shumilova’s full portfolio on her website.

CARDBOARD HOUSES

January 20, 2014

These sweet cardboard houses from Kickcan & Conkersdesigned by Michaela Horáčková are sure to inspire any kid’s imaginative play. They would also look great on mom or dad’s desk as delightfully tiny pieces of art.

CABINETS OF WONDER

January 17, 2014

The Children’s Museum of the Arts spring show “Cabinets of Wonder: The Art of Collecting” is a contemporary interpretation of the traditional German Wunderkammer or “Wonder Cabinets.” Pieces by both established and emerging artists explore the art of collection, taking everyday objects from life or nature and transforming them through original groupings and fascinating displays. Featured artists include Barton Lidice Benes, Mark Dion,Cui Fei, Vanessa German, Jean Shin, Jan Staller, andPenelope Umbrico.

Cabinets of Wonder runs February 4th - June 1st, 2014, from 12:00-5:00pm and is suitable for all ages. Admission is $11 for ages 1-65 and free for all other patrons. The museum is closed on Tuesdays.

Going to check out the exhibit with your little collector? Tweet us @kindermodern

THE SOCIALITE FAMILY

January 16, 2014

We’ve been reading Constance Gennari’s chic blog “The Socialite Family,” featuring design-conscious families and their homes from around the world . . . and you should too. Gennari, formerly a children’s fashion journalist and art buyer, features uniquely styled family homes, and interviews with each family, to inspire her readers and encourage us all to teach our children how to appreciate beauty and art within the home and beyond.

Here at kinder we believe in much the same philosophy. Our children are an important part of our home and inspire its aesthetic. The incorporation of their vibrant lives into a home’s creative design forms the family space, loved and used by all.

How do you bring your children into all areas of your home? Tweet us @kindermodern

ARTY WINTER FUN FOR KIDS!

January 15, 2014

When it’s too cold to play outside this winter with your little ones, don’t forget to visit some of our favorite NYC museums. Not only is sharing art with your kids a rewarding experience, but many museums have family programming to help fill those long afternoons.

Throughout January and February MoMA will be presenting “Piece by Piece,” a sculpture workshop for children ages 10-14 and an accompanying adult. This inspiring event allows children to follow in the footsteps of Iza Genzken, learning about her techniques and interpreting them in their own work. Be sure to register online.

The Guggenheim’s Midwinter Break Camp, February 17-21, 2014 from 9:30am-4pm, gives kids the opportunity to work with real artists in the studio and explore the galleries. The Guggenheim also regularly updates their calendar with Second Sunday Family Tours and drop-in programming, so be sure to check it out frequently. Family activity packs are also available to help guide your family’s personal journey through the museum.

At the Whitney in January the Whitney Wees (families with children ages 4-5) are exploring colors, shapes, and lines through the work of artists of the twentieth century such as Roy Lichtenstein and Ellsworth Kelly. In February, the Wees will examine the use of the human body in modern art with the "Strike a Pose" workshop. Whitney Kids (families with children ages 6-10) will examine the work of performance artists in January and photographers in February to create their own original pieces. All workshops are $10 and pre-registration is recommended.

Which NYC art museum is your favorite to share with kids? Tweet us @kindermodern

FEDERICO BABINA: ARCHIBET

January 14, 2014

Barcelona-based artist and architect Federico Babina’s newest project is a delightful alphabet based on iconic buildings by famous architects of the 20th-century and beyond. The playful collection, entitled “Archibet” includes interpretations of buildings by a large range of architects, from Le Corbusier to Zaha Hadid. Prints for each individual letter, as well as “Archibet City” showcasing the entire alphabet, are available for purchase from society6.

ART AND BASKETBALL

December 30, 2013

This new edition of Grotesk's "6ft 6in" sculptural lamp in black and royal blue, made in partnership with Case Studyo, revisits the artist's ongoing creative investigation into the complex, interconnected world of sports and business, as symbolized by the expensive footwear of professional athletes.

Grotesk, also known as Kimou Meyer, is a Brooklyn-based graphic artist and illustrator, highly influenced by hip-hop, American athletics, and urban street art. Case Studyo is a Belgian gallery dedicated to producing contemporary art of all forms and styles.