Design
June 19, 2012

Okinawa’s Banyan Treehouse Restaurant

In Japan, there's a structurally inventive restaurant called Naha Harbor Diner that takes the traditional treehouse to another level. It is a pan-Asian restaurant sitting atop a tree trunk, nestled amidst its branches, in the Banyan Town shopping center in Okinawa. The restaurant which offers “locally grown and organic harvested foods fresh from the farm” stands out amongst the surrounding businesses, drawing attention with its towering presence, not to mention its extraordinarily intriguing design.

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Art
June 15, 2012

Massive Undulating Styrofoam Cup Cloud

American artist Tara Donovan uses all kinds of everyday household items, like plastic cups, No. 2 pencils, or drinking straws, to create her visually complicated and surprisingly complex sculptures. She doesn't start with a design but, rather, chooses to start with the object and let the material emerge organically into the end result. She says, “In a sense, I develop a dialogue with each material that dictates the forms that develop.

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Art
June 14, 2012

San Francisco’s Secret Mosaic Staircase

If you've ever wanted to find a hidden art gem in San Francisco, head to 16th and Moraga to discover The 16th Avenue Tiled Steps. Not only will you be able to see some amazing views of the city, you'll get to appreciate a beautiful mosaic running up 163 steps.

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Art
June 11, 2012

Fragmented Paintings Reveal Complex Narratives

When reflecting on these paintings by artist Agnes Toth, viewers are challenged to fill in the missing pieces to each visually compelling narrative. The subjects of each painting form both very literal representations of reality as well as splintered forms that are left open to interpretation. She challenges us to interact with the paintings and to create experiences with the fragmented stories. Toth says, “We cannot speak about incompleteness.

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My Modern Met

Celebrating creativity and promoting a positive culture by spotlighting the best sides of humanity—from the lighthearted and fun to the thought-provoking and enlightening.