CUPCAKES + CRAFTS

March 20, 2014

Image from locustprojects.org

Image from locustprojects.org

Locust Projects, a Miami non-profit exhibition space dedicated to contemporary visual artists, encourages kids to interact with their current exhibition by inviting little artists, ages 4-13, to create a project and have a snack in the gallery space among the artwork.  Little LAB: Cupcakes and Crafts takes place this Saturday, March 22, 2014 from 11:00am - 1:00pm.

Little LAB is an extension of Locust Projects LAB (Locust Arts Builders) program, which celebrates its fifth year of celebrating high school art in 2014 with LAB's annual collaborative group exhibition. LAB graduates serve as mentors for Little LAB artists.  

Current exhibitions include Christy Gast's Inholdings andFelice Grodin's A Fabricated Field.

VS SCHOOL MUSEUM

March 18, 2014

Image from vs.de

Image from vs.de

The School Museum, sponsored and curated by German furniture company VS, documents the development and design of school furniture and interiors from the late nineteenth century through present day. The permanent exhibition, located at VS's headquarters in Tauberbischofsheim, Germany, presents an impressive collection of school furniture, from the Rettig bench of the early 1900's to the tubular steel and plastic of the 1950's to today's diverse and wired classrooms. Not visiting Germany anytime soon? Visit the wonderful online exhibition to learn more about the amazing transformation of school interiors worldwide throughout the twentieth century.

TUBULAR STEEL

 

Rapid industrialization through the first half of the twentieth century allowed for the widespread use of bent steel.  Designers and architects, with a new-found focus on design for schools and the child, were drawn to this material because it could be easily cleaned, providing both a literal sterilization and a visual cleanliness.  Below are some of our favorite pieces featuring tubular steel, including kinder MODERN's own Tubax Table and Children's Lounger.

Image from moma.org

Image from moma.org

Marcel Breuer, Child's Armchair, 1924, tubular steel and canvas

Image from moma.org

Image from moma.org

Gerrit Rietveld, "Beugel" Child's Chair, 1928, tubular steel and bentwood

Image by Lora Appleton

Image by Lora Appleton

attr. to Willy Van Der Meeren, Tubax table, 1950's, plywood and metal legs

Image from vs.de

Image from vs.de

Jean Prouvé, School Bench, 1935, sheet steel, tubular steel, and wood

Image by Lora Appleton

Image by Lora Appleton

Children's Lounger, 1940, leather and chrome tubular steel

PLATONIC SOLIDS

March 13, 2014

Image from erichstussi.com

Image from erichstussi.com

Canadian designers Darryl Agawin and Erich Stüssi's cool geometric toy prototype "Soh Cah Toa" was inspired by their 10-year-old co-creator's love of construction toys. Agawin and Stussi's version involves brightly colored interlocking shapes that expand into all kinds of fantastic 3-D configurations.  Be sure to check out the whole project on Agawin and Stüssi's websites.

NENDO & WALT DISNEY JAPAN

March 12, 2014

Image from nendo.jp

Image from nendo.jp

The Pooh Table collection, commissioned by Walt Disney Japan from Japanese design studio Nendo, is a delightful and subtle homage to the classic children's story.  Each maple piece, and its colorful knitted details, mimics the iconic characters' features and personality.  We especially like Eeyore's drooping gray side-table and the sweet mother/child Kanga and Roo pairing.

Have a favorite in this collection? Tweet us @KinderModern

ARCHIST

March 10, 2014

Image from federicobabina.com

We love artist Federico Babina's unique mash-ups of art and architecture.  His newest project, Archist, imagines and reinterprets the seminal work of 27 artists as architectural masterpieces.  Check out the full series, re-imagining the art of twentieth century artists from Pablo Picasso to Damien Hirst, on Babina's website. Prints are available from society6.com.

THIS IS NOT A TOY

March 6, 2014

Image from dx.org

Image from dx.org

The Design Exchange, Canada's premier design museum, presents This Is Not A Toy, February 7-May 19, 2014, in Toronto.  Exploring designer toys, the exhibit examines the concept of the "toy" as both a design piece and a cultural signifier.  The exhibit was curated by John Wee Tom and Sara Nickleson with guest curator Pharrell Williams.  It includes work by Takashi MurakamiKAWS,FriendsWithYouCoarseHuck Gee, and Frank Kozik.  Pre-register for the exhibit online.

Lucky enough to see this awesome exhibit in person? Catch a special Curators' Tour if you can!  March 24, April 28, and May 12, 2014. Tickets available here. Tweet us about your experience @kinderMODERN

PAPER + FASHION + KIDS

March 3, 2014

Image by @2sisters_angie

Image by @2sisters_angie

We're inspired by artists of all ages and mediums. This fashionista, nicknamed "Mayhem," and her mom have created some incredible pieces out of construction paper and tape, gorgeous in their own right and even more so when animated by their mini designer.  Read about Mayhem's artistic process on her mom's website and be sure to follow all of Mayhem's creations on Instagram @2sisters_angie and #fashionbymayhem 

Inspired to make your own paper creation? #inspiredbymayhem

THE LEGOGRAPHER

February 28, 2014

This tiny lego photographer always get his shot, even when confronted with some very big obstacles! We’re enchanted with “Legography” by UK photographer Andrew Whyte.  Whyte took a series of photographs of the mini artist over the course of a year using just his iPhone. Be sure to check out the full series on his website.  

WHITNEY BIENNIAL 2014: FAMILY PROGRAMS

February 27, 2014

Image from whitney.org

Image from whitney.org

New York City art museums offer many programs to delight your little ones during this seemingly never-ending winter.  The upcoming Whitney Biennial 2014, March 7-May 25, 2014, includes a special series of family programs each month exploring artists featured in the biennial exhibit. 

The March family events kick off with an open studio for families with children of all ages on Saturday, March 8, 2014, from 2-4pm, where children can learn about artist Dona Nelson and experiment with their own two-sided paintings.  Free with admission. On Saturday, March 22, 2014, the Artist’s Choice Workshop, from 10:30am-12:30pm, gives kids ages 8-12 the opportunity to interact with abstract artist Suzanne McClelland, who will lead the workshop. Pre-registration is required and costs $10 per family.  

Hoping to check out the Biennial exhibit, but have an infant or toddler in tow? The Whitney Biennial 2014 Highlights Stroller Tour will take place on Friday, March 14, 2014 at noon. Led by Whitney Teaching Fellows, families with children ages 0-18 months are invited to enjoy the exhibit when the museum is closed to the public. Pre-registration is required and costs $35 per adult.  

Other fun events include a sketching tour through the 2014 Biennial  (ages 6-10; March 8, 15, and 22, 2014; 1:30-2:30pm), a family fun art workshop experimenting with painting techniques (ages 6-10; March 15, 2014; 10:30-12:30pm), and an interactive Whitney Wees experimenting with texture (ages 4-5; March 15 and 22, 2014; 10:30-11:30am). 

Mark your calendars and tweet us about your experience at the Whitney Biennial 2014 @KinderModern

CRAZY FOR PAPER ART

February 25, 2014

Image from wanteddesignnyc.com

We’re crazy for paper art! Right now we can’t wait for this year’s 2014 WantedDesign School Workshop.  Part of the International Design Event in New York City, May 16-19, 2014, the workshop seeks to “re-envision the expressive qualities of paper in the context of ubiquitous computing” and teams will be challenged to use the paper itself as the medium.  Penny Herscovitch and Dan Gottlieb of the Art Center College of Design and pAdLAb will lead the workshop, sponsored by Design Milk.  

In Rotterdam, Studio Inherent is using paper masks to explore the complicated relationships between man, nature, and city life. The Happy Faces masks, bundled together as a booklet, act as a city guide, directing urban adventurers to ten of Rotterdam’s monumental trees. Each mask then becomes an infographic that requires interaction with the tree itself before it can be completed. If you can’t make it to Rotterdam, be sure to explore the full project online.

Image from mibo.com

Image from mibo.com

Looking for some paper art for your little one? Check out Mibo’s Paper Animals. These adorable collections give kids the chance to create their own animal friends with a little bit of paper and glue. Their newest collection “Animal SOS,” produced under license for the WWF UK, seeks to educate children about endangered species and includes an amur leopard, a rhino, a gorilla, a panda, and an orangutan. Suitable for children ages 6 and older. 

WOODSDUCK

February 21, 2014

Image from florianhauswirth.ch

We can’t resist an amazing rocker and this week we’re feeling particularly inspired by Swiss designer Florian Hauswirth’s “woodsduck” (2012).  The simple, curving lines of the ash plies mimic the animal’s natural grace, while still remaining fun and playful.  This limited edition design-craft project originally exhibited at the contemporary design gallery Helmrinderknecht

Hauswirth began his career as a technical model maker and researcher for Vitra. He is the co-founder of the design collective Postfossil and currently works as an independent designer and design professor in Biel, Switzerland. 

RENATE MÜLLER AT R & COMPANY

February 19, 2014

Image from r-and-company.com

We can't wait for spring! Not only will there be warm weather, but we're super excited for Renate Müller's solo exhibition, March 18-April 26, 2014, at R & Company. Müller's jute and leather therapeutic toys have been collected by design-lovers since she first began making them as a student in the 1960s. We love the simple, playful functionality of her whimsical animals and their iconic place in mid-century children's design.

The exhibition will begin with an opening reception on Tuesday, March 18, 2014 from 6-8pm. R & Company will also hold a Family Day on Saturday, March 22, 2014 from 2-6pm, where children can engage with the exhibit and meet Müller and her collaborator Bernd Rückert. Be sure to check it out with or without your little ones in tow!

URBAN PAPER COLLECTIVE

February 17, 2014

The Urban Paper Collective is a talented group of international paper artists with a passion for paper toys of all shapes and sizes.  The Collective seeks to share their love of paper toys with the world through their interactive website and create a space where paper artists can collaborate and exhibit their unique pieces through gallery shows, workshops, and promotional projects.  Current UPC artists include 3EyedBearCubeecraftMCKNick Knite, and Tougui.

UPC's platform toy "Elephriend" is available for download on their website.  This DIY template gives you the creative freedom to create a paper friend of your very own and share your creation in their online gallery.  There will also be a new paper toy model available for download each month.

Who are some of your favorite paper artists? Tweet us @kindermodern

SANS SOUCI KIDS

February 14, 2014

We’re all about family and so is this cool furniture collection by Sans Souci Atelier.  The 2014 collection includes an imagination-fueling child-sized version of their combination desk/dollhouse and a whimsical “Princess and the Pea” inspired bench. Be sure to check out their full look book online.