fun stuff Archives - Improvised Life

The Onion and Riz Ahmed on The Pressure to Be Productive During Lockdown

Perspective we need: The Onion’s sublimely funny, spot-on commentary on the pressure to be creative during the “free time” of quarantining + Riz Ahmed’s wise view.

It Feels SO Great to Laugh at Our Dark Fear

We found ourselves laughing out loud at this perfect 1-minute clip from a 1983 segment of Cheers. That would be US.

New Yorker’s Coronavirus Cartoons are Funny, Wise and Curiously Comforting

These New Yorker cartoons describe the peculiar brand of anxiety that has become our weird shared experience. They give a much-needed sense of connectedness, AND levity…

A 16-Second Film’s Moment of Zen Sparks Haiku and a Writing Practice

In this 16 second film, a blow torch + hair dryer + popcorn makes for a curiously zen moment. We found two haiku to go with it. Then we remembered our friend Tim Chegwidden’s timed poetry-writing practice…

Copy This: Pamela Hovland’s Holiday Wreath

Spotted on the instagram of designer Pamela Hovland, who masterminded Improvised Life’s first iteration ten years ago: her holiday wreath in an imaginative, uniquely festive application…

Crazy Beautiful Joy Dance via Issey Miyake PFW20

We’ve watched this little video on instagram many times now, vicariously soaking up its unexpectedly BIG expression of joy AND its insight into the most common of personal catalysts…

Fred Sandback on Needing a Place to Play and Letting Your Fingers Think

Artist Fred Sandback stretched lengths of colored yarn taut in a space to make people experience it differently. His booklet, A Children’s Guide to Seeing, made to accompany an exhibition provides serious illumination for adults…

Universal Everything’s Flower People Parade of Joy and Wonder (with Rumi)

Here are a few moments of delight and wonder from video artists/experience designers/future thinkers, Universal Everything. A Rumi poem that jumped into our hands cast it in a surprising light.

A Few Sexy Things in Honor of a National Self Pleasure Month

We’ve just learned that May is National Masturbation Month. To celebrate, we thought we’d post a few of our favorite finds on the theme, which include everyday “niche” pleasures, phallic skywriting and a charming animated film.

At 85, Madhur Jaffrey Goes Gansta Sexy and Fierce

Zohran Mamdani’s astonishing rap video, “Nani”, featuring 85-year-old food writer Madhur Jaffrey is both hilarious and riveting, NOT your usual old-person-doing-rap thing. Jaffrey is sexy and fierce.

Running With Wild Horses (W.S. Merwin)

View this video full screen to feel like you are galloping with one of the oldest breed of horses on earth. Then read this astonishing poem.

When An Artist Fails as a Person, Is Their Work Invalid?

When I was young, I thought that an artwork reflected the values of the person who made it. Over time, I learned that this was very often not the case…

Write Messages and Poems Instantly In Katie Holten’s Tree Alphabet

Katie Holten developed her Tree Alphabet to let us “translate our words into something beyond us”. Experience just that at when you type in words to her webportal and/or download her gift of a font.

How Wigs Changed My Life (Fran Black)

Fran Black resorted to wearing a wig while she was growing her dyed hair out gray. Then she realized how fun and transformative wearing a wig can be, and bought more.

Mallomar, the Seasonal, Interactive, Pop Culture Cookie

Available only in winter months when it’s real chocolate coating won’t melt, Mallomars are a deeply satisfying seasonal cookie that inspires very personal improvisation…(and has MANY cultural references to boot).

Because Something is Invisible Doesn’t Make It Any Less Fun

We got a big smile on our face when we saw this surprising, very magical little video. It is charming, and, as Swissmiss put it so perfectly: HAPPINESS.

Perspective: Politics 75 Years Ago, via The New Yorker

Things seem so dire politically, that we jumped on to the New Yorker’s cartoon bank to see if we could find something that would lighten things up a bit.

Practice ‘How to Be an Explorer of the World’ by Traveling into Ancient Paintings

This charming 3-minute animated journey through four ancient Chinese paintings is a lesson in experiencing art and life; it called to mind Kerri Smith’s How to Be an Explorer of the World….

How a Cheap Wig and Selfies Revealed Another Possible Self

About 2 years ago, I bought a cheap, silvery wig on Amazon for $13. It would prove to be a might catalyst for change…

‘The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore’ A Short Animated Film about The Healing Power of Books

We took out 15 minutes to watch the wonderful short animated film The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore and found oursevles charmed and refreshed.

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