The folk-inspired designs blend frolicsome graphic patterns with plucky colors and rich textures. Take a peek at the following sampling; don’t these swatches beg to be touched? To see the company’s entire range of textiles, clothing and furniture, visit the Minä Perhonen website.

Bird

Festival

Fogland

Forest Parade

Oasis

All images © Minä Perhonen, used by permission.

I love the efficiency of this tiny Hong Kong apartment! Architect Gary Chang designed an elaborate system of movable walls with folding furniture, allowing a flexible configuration of twenty-four spaces within a tiny footprint of 300 square feet.

Chang gutted the interior, opening up the entire space for a fresh overhaul. He also warmed up the interior by tinting the windows yellow, instantly banishing grey days from entering the flat. Check out the video to see how he fits two beds into this space, along with a full kitchen, living room, library, video game room, laundry facilities, wet bar, and even a private theater complete with a hammock.

Jim Denevan offers a fresh take on sand art, albeit at an enormous and prolific scale. He’s graced northern California with hundreds of beach drawings, each disappearing as nature takes its course: sun, wind and ocean waves gradually erode the short-lived marks, often in the same day they were created.

Here’s a sampling of his work; many more beautiful aerial photographs can be found on his website.

Kawana has also been commissioned by the Mint Museum to produce a new bamboo installation for Project Ten Ten Ten, which celebrates the museum’s grand opening in October.

New York Botanical Garden, 2007

Five Elements - Water, New Zealand, 2009

Airplant, succulent + lily arrangement

Sunflower + driftwood ikebana arrangement

Tulips, sculpted plaster and draped fabric | De Young Museum

One of my favorite annual shows, Bouquets to Art, opens this week at the De Young. In a dramatic interplay of the museum’s strong architectural lines, its diverse art collection, and otherworldly floristry, this exhibition offers the public a fresh take on contemporary design principles.

Members of the Fine Arts Museums can enjoy a preview evening tomorrow from 6-8 pm. I can’t wait! Here are some pictures taken from last year (above and below):

Main lobby installation | De Young Museum

Hanging glass pendants | De Young Museum

Feather wings, heliconia and daffodils | De Young Museum

Pantha du Prince - Black Noise

Hooray for National Record Store Day! I went by Aquarius Records and picked up the new Pantha du Prince album, Black Noise, on vinyl. It’s every bit as good as This Bliss (2007), and includes pop-infused tracks produced with Panda Bear (Animal Collective) and Tyler Pope (!!!, LCD Soundsystem). There’s even a nod toward the Durutti Column’s “Hilary.” It was nice to see the store bustling with people who enjoyed free beer and snacks as they shopped.

The folks at AQ were also nice to order two albums which had sold out earlier: Etienne Jaumet’s Night Music and Jan Jelinek + Masayoshi Fujita’s Bird, Lake, Objects. If you haven’t supported your local record shop in some time, go and refresh your ears by picking up some new music!  It’s good for the economy and your soul.

Thomas Fehlmann

I can’t wait to catch Thomas Fehlmann‘s live ambient set this Thursday evening! Come out and experience him and the super chill vibes of the Ambi-Sonic crew. Live visuals will be provided by Ty Humphrey of the Los Angeles Video Artists.

Thomas Fehlmann (The Orb/Kompakt)
8 pm – 2 am
Sanctuary for the Arts (Map)
38th Street
Oakland, CA

Kokoro Studio is pleased to announce Magic Mountains, an upcoming exhibition featuring new mixed media work by Kristin Farr, a San Francisco-based painter, sculptor and video artist. Farr’s latest work consists of delightful renditions of cocoons, miniature houses, and abstract mountain forms. This will be Farr’s first solo exhibition in San Francisco.

The opening for Magic Mountains is Thursday, April 1, 2010 from 7-10 pm at Kokoro Studio, 682 Geary Street, San Francisco. The opening coincides with the monthly First Thursday Art event in San Francisco. The exhibition is also available for viewing during regular gallery hours, Tuesday – Saturday, 1 – 7 pm.