Designer Seung Jin Yang’s whimsical furniture appears to be made of the kind of twistable balloons used to entertain kids. OMG, we thought, could we make furniture out of balloons?
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Real-Life Comics about Letting Go of Expectations and Other Important Topics
We’re loving comic artist Edith Zimmerman’s wonderful site,, Drawing Links. It features comics that tell the story of an experience she’s had along with links she’s found apropos. Subjects include Time, Tao Te Ching, Home Decor… Here’s a favorite…
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Risk Equivalents of Common Activities (Roz Chast)
At the New Yorker, cartoonist Roz Chast takes on the kind of equation we are seeing everywhere, of “experts” assessing the level of risk in commonly enjoyed activities of human existence.
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Experience a Feeling of Flying, with Rumi UPDATE
We love the feeling of flying in Universal Everything’s beautiful little video and find ourselves watching it over and over; it’s amazingly refreshing to our lockdown minds. It reminds us of this Rumi poem.
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Nature’s Ascent: An Opera Plays to an Audience of Plants, Penguins Visit Museums…
Among the many challenges the lockdown has brought, the ascent of nature has been among the unexpected gifts. Cultural institutions are embracing that view to shift and refresh their locked-down patrons.
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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.
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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.
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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…
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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.
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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.
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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).
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