Category: WOW

With its beautiful gardens, plant-draped balconies, and florists in every quartier, Paris is an undeniably flower-friendly city—and it’s about to get even greener.

Thanks to a recent initiative, members of the Parisian public are now entitled—and even encouraged—to plant and maintain their own urban gardens. The plant-y proposal has popped up amid Mayor Hidalgo’s determination to introduce 100 hectares of green space to the city by 2020. Interested (and hopefully green-thumbed) residents will receive renewable three-year-permits that enable them to grow anything from fruit and vegetables to flowers and plants (namely, local honey plants). 

While typical flowerbeds and traditional potted plants are entirely acceptable, the proposal prompts people to get creative; living walls and rooftop gardens are only a couple of creative suggestions offered by the city. Though the verdant possibilities are endless, the initiative does have its guidelines: the flora must by cultivated using sustainable methods (no pesticides!) and intended as a means to improve the aesthetic of the city. With an innate interest in promoting both a greener metropolis and a stronger and more united community, the new initiative truly is the perfect grassroots campaign.

via [Inhabitat, La Relève et La Peste] 

Images via Patrick Blanc and Christophe Noël and Jean-Pierre Viguié/Mairie de Paris. 

If there’s one good thing that has come out of Hurricane Matthew, it’s knowing that this kitty, snug in a makeshift sock sweater, now has a loving forever home. This adorable little 1-month-old kitten was rescued from the destructive wind and waves that struck Raleigh, North Carolina and was taken to the local Petsmart’s Banfield Pet Hospital. To warm her small, wet body and stop her shivering, veterinarians placed her inside a tube sock that fit her perfectly. They even ripped two holes near the top of the sock to let the kitten’s legs free.

The rest of Tube Sock Sweater Kitten’s story was witnessed and told by Twitter user Sarahfu (aka @crysomemore). She was at the Petsmart store, picking up a new tag for her own pet, when she saw a man with three kids in awe over the small cat. She writes in a Tweet that the kids were “OBVIOUSLY IN LOVE” but because the family had never owned a cat before, the dad showed some hesitation. In a few minutes, the wife arrived to the pet store, gave the nod of approval, and the family began buying all the necessary supplies. Sarahfu ends her tale with an uplifting update: “They bought this hilariously huge and fancy litter box and they were all extra excited so I think Tube Sock Sweater Kitten is in good hands.”

In a time of disaster and fear, sometimes it only takes a simply cut tube sock and adorable rescued kitten to provide a glimmer of comfort and hope.

via [Mashable, LoveMeow]

All images via Sarahfu (@crysomemore).

The newly released fall clothing line from Tokyo-based clothing store, Trove, allows you to channel your inner samurai with chic and contemporary style. Although the color palette is subdued in wintry grays and autumnal saffrons, it is the exquisite material and make of these haori jackets that give it the sharp look to complete any outfit. The designers at Trove pride themselves on crafting their samurai-style jackets with a silky-soft wool/nylon/polyurethane shell and cupra rayon lining to provide extra warmth as days grow chillier.

Haori jackets were traditionally worn over kosode, a basic Japanese robe for men and women. With no buttons or snaps, the jackets are kept open so as to show off more detailed clothing layers underneath. Throughout different periods of Japanese history, haori were worn by various classes of people. For example, in the Sengoku Period (1467–1603), the jackets were worn solely by samurai warriors as the outer layer of their armor. Later, during the economic growth of the Edo Period (1603-1868), haori expanded its reach and popularity to the middle class, who could now afford such a luxury item. Today, in 2016, Trove is bringing the traditional haori back with a new and updated twist.

Last year’s Wool Haori, as well as this season’s newest item—the ivory-toned waffle-print Masu-Ori Haori—are both priced at 29,700 yen (US $288). 

The newest addition to the collection: the Masu-Ori Haori

Trove: Website | Facebook | Twitter
via [RocketNews24]

Born and raised in Lebanon, photographer Rania Matar moved to the United States in 1984. Setting aside her training in architecture, Matar embarked on a career as a photographer, with numerous projects that bring the spectator inside the intimate world of girls and women. In a particularly topical and globally relevant series titled Invisible Children, the photographer shares portraits of Syrian and third-generation Palestinian refugees in Lebanon.

The project, which began in 2014, grew organically from Matar’s other work. “I was working on a different project about mothers and girls, but this was so in my face when I went to Lebanon,” Matar shared with us. “It was before it was even on the international news because the issue started earlier in Lebanon. It was incredible for me to see these kids on the street. The first boy I started talking to looked like my son and was the same age, so it really moved me to the core. It grew into a separate project from the rest of my work.”

By engaging the children in conversation and creating a human connection, Matar is able to draw out the personality of her subject beyond their fear or initial skepticism. Through her art she aims to give a human face to a crisis that is often reduced to statistics by the news media. “I live in the US, but I am from the Middle East. When you put on the news here all you hear about is conflict and terrorism, but for me this is not the Lebanon I know. People are people. It was important for me to tell that story through the universality of the kids.”

Matar has continued her work on trips to Lebanon over the past two years, noting that while she is able to keep in touch and visit the Palestinian refugees, who are third generation and more permanently set in the refugee camps, the shifting crisis of Syrian refugees makes it difficult to know what has become of the kids unless she happens to come upon them again.

Above image: Mohammad 12, Beirut 2016

Samira 15, Bourj El Barajneh Refugee Camp, Beirut Lebanon 2015

More than anything she wishes to remind us that her subjects are children. And as the next generation, they deserve the same access to education and opportunity as children living under different circumstances. “There was one 12-year old kid, Mohammad, who was posing for me like a GQ model and there was something endearing about that,” Matar recalls. “At the end of the day, they are kids and they want to be talked to, paid attention to. We are leaving them on the street and not educating them, this is what is worrisome. This is the second year those kids are on the street and not in school.”

The children are placed carefully in their environment, against the city walls that they often call home. Perhaps harkening back to her eye for architecture, these backgrounds become an important visual key to the series. Matar notes, “All my other work was about people in their surroundings. These kids’ surrounding are the walls, so these walls became important—they have layers of history. For me these kids became an extra layer of history on the wall.”

A selection of 15 images from Invisible Children is currently on view at C. Grimaldis Gallery in Baltimore, Maryland, until October 22. A special benefit print, “Khadija 11, Beirut,” is an edition of 50, with all proceeds going to the Karam Foundation, a US-based nonprofit that aids Syrian refugees.

Tamer 6, Beirut 2015

Refugee Kids, Beirut 2014

Bayan 16, Beirut, 2015

Malek 11, Beirut 2015

Mohammad 7, Assaad 12, Beirut 2014

Amal 9, Zahra 5 (girl in the mirror), Beirut 2014

Baddoura 13, Beirut 2015

Rym 18, Beirut 2016

Hassan 15, Beirut 2014

Installation at C. Grimaldis Gallery. Image via C. Grimaldis Gallery.

Rania Matar: Website | Facebook | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to use photos by Rania Matar.

Earlier this year, a Reddit thread posed a simple-yet-brilliant idea. “Add ‘ing’ to the end of a movie title,” it instructed, “what is the movie about now?” With the addition of these three letters, the entire premise of blockbuster films are completely changed. Titles are transformed from nouns into verbs and communicated actions rather than a person, place, or thing. The results were both amusing and showcased the power of language from seemingly small change.

Inspired by this metamorphosis, fellow Redditor shifter2000 turned some of the submissions into movie posters. Jurassic Park became Jurassic Parking and is now an uplifting tale with the tagline, “Against all odds, a T-Rex starts a valet service despite his inability to reach the steering wheel.” Likewise, The Jungle Book is The Jungle Booking, where characters in the film have the forest all to themselves.

Once shifter2000 posted his handiwork, fellow Redditors came up with plots and even theme music for the new “films.” It sounds like we’ve got some hit movies on the horizon!

shifter2000: Reddit
via [Reddit]

If a celebrity were to pose on a sandwich, which one would they choose? According to artist Jeff McCarthy, Sia would sit on a brioche bun loaded with veggies while Beyoncé would slay on a pepperoni and cheese panini. These amusing associations are part of McCarthy’s ongoing project called Celebs on Sandwiches, and it’s exactly as it sounds—the Los Angeles-based creative realistically paints some of pop culture’s biggest icons sitting, lying, and standing on top of delectable-looking food.

Inspiration struck for McCarthy while enjoying this classic culinary delight. “The idea came to me, naturally, while eating a sandwich,” he told the Instagram blog. In a world where a fantastic meal can garner the same attention as a movie star, McCarthy has made it easier to enjoy both at once. “Our culture has a pretty serious love for celebrities and food, so pairing the two together just made sense.”

McCarthy sells each of his paintings as fine-art prints through his website, Celebs on Sandwiches.

Above: Jason Alexander as George Costanza on a pastrami on marble rye

Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson on a pizza bagel sandwich

Beyoncé on a pepperoni and cheese panini

Katy Perry on an In-N-Out Double-Double cheeseburger

Will Ferrell as Ron Burgundy on a BBQ brisket sandwich

Nicki Minaj on a turkey and pepperoni with lettuce, oil, and vinegar 

Michael Phelps on a double decker fried egg and cheese

Kirsten Bell and a sloth on a fried egg white sandwich

Betty White on an egg salad sandwich

Ben Affleck on a meatball parmesan sub

Kevin Hart on a turkey and cheese with pickles and chips on whole wheat

Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool on a chimichanga sandwich

Drake on a Canadian bacon and cheese

Dwayne Johnson (aka The Rock) on a steak and egg

Sia on a grilled eggplant on a brioche bun

Jeff McCarthy: Website | Instagram | Facebook
via [Instagram Blog]

A creative and unique costume mystified audiences at New York Comic Con this past weekend. Rebecca Lindsay, who has attended NYCC for the last seven years, debuted her brilliant Mystique cosplay, which showcases the shapeshifting Marvel character mid-transformation. She knew she wanted to show off both sides of the character, so she scoured the Internet for Army costumes and electric blue bodysuits. With the help of her mother, she cut off the excess blue from the suit and sewed the uniform on top. The addition of sequins helped to cover the outfit seams and also made for an exciting makeup challenge. The sequins marching up the diagonal of Lindsay’s face give the impression that her face is in the process of transformation, too. The masterfully sewn wigs of red blending to silver complete the costume, as they cover Lindsay’s naturally blonde hair. 

She writes on Cosplay in America: ”The response at the convention was super positive. Everyone (even a lot of artists and vendors) loved seeing a different type of transformation.” Perhaps even more impressive was how Lindsay proved that you don’t have to be scantily clad to be a tough comic book cosplayer.

Above photo credit: Jody Houser (@mindeclipse)

Rebecca Lindsay: Facebook
via [reddit]

All images via Rebecca Lindsay unless otherwise stated.

To many lovey-dovey couples, a Disneyland proposal is a picture-perfect way to pop the question. Ty Junemann and Ashley Idema made all of their Disney dreams come true when they got engaged in front of Sleeping Beauty’s Castle in the “Happiest Place on Earth.” Following such a magical marriage proposal, the couple aptly opted for a Disney-themed wedding, complete with a collection of one-of-a-kind centerpieces created by the blushing bride.

Each table at the reception was adorned with DIY décor inspired by a different Disney film, from Snow White to Frozen. While some of the centerpieces’ influences are obvious—like the well-known characters included in the Beauty and the Beast display—others require a bit more in-depth Disney knowledge to discern (if you’ve never seen The Little Mermaid, for instance, a kitchen-utensil-candelabra may leave you scratching your head). The entire enchanting affair was shot by photographer Dawn Browne, who beautifully captured every detail of Idema’s homemade creations to produce photos fit for a fairytale.

In addition to the movie-inspired centerpieces, Julemann and Idema incorporated other Disney details into their reception’s décor. Each magical touch—from the miniature Sleeping Beauty’s Castle on their own table to their adorable Up-inspired cake topper—worked together to perfectly capture the couple’s “happily ever after.”

via [Bored Panda, Country Living]

All images via Degrees North Images. 

Inspired by architect I.M. Pei’s great glass entrance to the world famous museum, bioKamino’s new Louvre fireplace is a modern alternative to the traditional hearth.

The chic floor fireplace features a minimalist aesthetic, echoing the simplicity and understated elegance of the Louvre’s iconic pyramid and Parisian landmark. A frame—available in either black or white—connects four panes of clear glass to form the pyramid structure. Its innovative, all-around glass construction also enables a unique 360-degree view of the fire.

Like all of the company’s fireplaces, the Louvre relies on bioethanol—“an energy source of plant origin that belongs to the renewable energy family.” It features a real flame that produces heat without the soot and smoke of a traditional chimney, and does not produce any unpleasant aromas. The Louvre model is also a floor fireplace; it does not need to be installed, and is completely portable, which means it can be placed anywhere at anytime. With its simple yet sleek design and its focus on sustainability, the Louvre is both a versatile statement piece and a compact (and cozy) addition to any room.  

bioKamino: Website | Facebook | Instagram |Twitter
via [Homecrux]

All images via bioKamino. 

For the past year we’ve been sharing the incredibly dynamic portraits of self-taught artist Sean Yoro (Hula), which he typically paints in hard-to-reach locations, arrived at via his paddle board. The touching new short film What If You Fly, produced by The North Face and Camp4Collective, takes us inside Yoro’s world as he embarks on one of his biggest challenges yet—painting in the Canadian Arctic. One of the artist’s main motivations for working outdoors is to interact with the environment and directors Renan Ozturk and Taylor Rees share his journey to find the perfect piece of ice to use as a canvas before it comes to its natural end.

While the Canadian Arctic is quite different than Yoro’s hometown of Oahu, he nonetheless forms bonds with the Canadian Inuit. This indigenous group has a population of over 50,000 in Canada and face a wide array of issues from suicide to substance abuse. Jesse Mike, the Inuit woman Yoro photographed and painted on the ice, confirms this in the film. “For most people it’s about the polar bears, it’s not about the people.” she shares, “Well, let’s make it about the people. If i can somehow be in a position to influence the message that’s given to the rest of the world, that’s the most important thing for me.” She continues, “The message that I wanted to send is, Inuit are very skilled, smart, awesome people. And you kind of have to be to survive in this environment.”

After sleeping on the ice, Yoro and the crew race to complete his work before the ice begins to break up. To preserve the environment, a thin transparent sheet is placed over the surface. Meant to be an impermanent installation, his work is removed nearly as soon as its finished and is painted using non-toxic materials made with alkali-refined linseed oil or safflower oil and natural pigments. 

The work can be seen as a continuation of his A’o ‘Ana series painted on a North American glacier. While that particular project was aimed at bringing attention to climate change, he’s now turned his focus toward the Inuit, bringing the spotlight to an indigenous culture oft overlooked and reminding of us the fragility of our environment. As a whole the film also gives clear insight into the process of artists who work outdoors and the enormous effort needed to integrate into the environment and interact with a community through the language of art.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tO3HnIGihw?rel=0&w=750&h=422]

Hula: Website | Instagram | Facebook

My Modern Met granted permission to use photos by Hula.