Smaug Burns 'Game Of Thrones' On 'Colbert Report,' Calls Benedict Cumberbatch A 'Hack'

December 12, 2014, 9:22 am

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Sorry, Benedict Cumberbatch. Ya just got burnt.

For one of his last interviews on "The Colbert Report," host Stephen Colbert invited the great and powerful Smaug, best known for his work in "The Hobbit" movies, to the show. The fact that both Colbert and Smaug are "fiscal conservatives who sleep on giant piles of money" must have put the dragon at ease because he was completely comfortable calling out everyone from Khaleesi's "rat-lizards" on "Game of Thrones" to that "hack" Cumberbatch, which is kind of harsh considering that "hack" voices him. At one point during his rant, Smaug even quotes Daniel Day-Lewis. (Seriously, who knew dragons had such an affinity for milkshakes?)

Colbert has already announced his last week of guests on the show, but it'll be hard for anything to top this interview, which, needless to say, was straight up fire.

"The Colbert Report" airs its final episode Thursday, Dec. 18.

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Glow-In-The-Dark Table Will Make You Want To Get Your DIY On

December 12, 2014, 10:24 am

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With the start of a new year comes freshly updated Pinterest boards, high hopes of upping our DIY game and a teeny streak of narcissism that we'll one day build something to knock the socks off of our guests. At the top of our list: This incredible glow-in-the-dark table.



Mike Warren, writer and Community Manager at Instructables.com, created the table, and it might just be the most beautiful piece of furniture we've ever seen.

So maybe it isn't a project for DIY novices. Warren is somewhat of a pro at this, according to his bio, which says that he likes to "hack, circuit-bend, and modify everyday items into awesome new things."





For the rest of us, there's a 25-step guide on how to make the "glow table," which is constructed out of Pecky Cypress wood, glued and clamped together, and a photoluminescent powder mix that makes certain parts of it glow.

Check out Warren's time-lapse video above to see exactly how it's done.





(h/t Laughing Squid)

Hands Down, This Is The Best Way To See New York City's Holiday Windows

December 12, 2014, 10:28 am

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It's the most wonderful time of the year, and if you ask us, it's even better when spent in New York City.

OK, so that might be a little biased, but there is certainly something special about the city during the holidays. You have the tree at Rockefeller Center, the twinkling lights that seem to pop up everywhere you go and of course, those famous holiday windows.

In the spirit of coming together this season, the HuffPost Style team created (and took!) a Holiday Window Crawl, which not only brought us to see all the incredible windows, but also included some quintessential (and in many cases, extremely delicious,) stops along the way. Lucky for you, we traced our steps and created a map to recreate the very same route we took.


Here's what you'll need:

Comfortable shoes
An umbrella (just in case)
A camera (or more likely a phone)
A few of your favorite people
This map

It took us about four hours to complete the entire crawl, which included a stop for lunch and about two and a half miles of walking (hint: twenty NYC blocks = one mile). Whether you're visiting New York, live in New York or are just following along from the comfort of your own home, this map will give you a big taste of holiday spirit. Happy crawling!

Maine High School Displays Poster Protesting Grand Jury Decisions

December 12, 2014, 11:35 am

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LEWISTON, Maine (AP) -- A Maine school superintendent is allowing students to display a poster protesting grand jury decisions not to indict two white police officers who killed unarmed black men.

Lewiston Superintendent Bill Webster said Thursday he's allowing the Lewiston High School display after reviewing the poster and meeting with students. He says students were required to take it down Monday because he hadn't had an opportunity to review it.

The poster includes the Twitter hashtag #blacklivesmatter, which is dedicated to a discussion of race and racial injustice after the deaths of unarmed black men at the hands of police in Ferguson, Missouri, and New York City.

A student says she originally was told to change the hashtag to #alllivesmatter.

But Webster is allowing the original. He says there will be a community forum Jan. 15.

11 Remarkable Holiday Gifts Literally Made From Detroit's Trash And Abandoned Homes

December 12, 2014, 12:19 pm

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Some people look at the thousands of abandoned, crumbling homes in Detroit and see ruin and despair. Others see an opportunity.

Most Detroiters are creative by necessity, finding ways to spark big ideas with little fuel. The artisans below have taken Detroit’s plentiful but theoretically worthless resources -- like abandoned tires, or responsibly salvaged wood from blighted houses -- and turned them into objects worth coveting.

For Woodward Throwbacks co-founder Kyle Dubay, using objects he finds illegally dumped on vacant lots was a choice of necessity that turned into his signature style. “When I got here, I didn’t have any money, so I was taking stuff off the streets to work with,” he told The Huffington Post.

These products do some good, promoting sustainability and alternatives to mass production. And, in true Detroit fashion, many of the small companies and nonprofits who make the items below are giving back to their communities, donating profits to education programs, providing job training or just trying to make the city a little cleaner.

Here are 11 gift ideas perfect for people who love Detroit, or anyone who sees treasure where others see trash.

Note: Many of these items are handmade by small companies. Some are made to order and won’t be ready by the end of the holiday season. Check with sellers to verify shipping info, or for brick-and-mortar locations where items can be picked up.

Scraps of peeling graffiti paint get a second chance as wearable art.



There’s more to Rebel Nell’s earrings, cufflinks, pendants and rings than you can see at first glance. Amy Peterson and Diana Russell make their designs from shards of paint that have fallen off Detroit’s bountiful street art and graffiti works, and they scratch through the surface of the paint chips to reveal the colorful layers underneath. Youth arts group The Alley Project provides some of the chips from their outdoor mural gallery, and Rebel Nell donates some proceeds from a portion of its works back to them.

But Rebel Nell’s mission is less about making jewelry than, on a small scale, empowering and employing Detroit women. The company partners with local shelter COTS to find workers. It currently employs 4 women, paying well above minimum wage and providing classes on financial management, business and other life skills.

Rebel Nell jewelry and cufflinks, $65 to $165.


Old tires make sturdy sandals and combat a citywide problem.



Buying a pair of sandals can’t solve Detroit’s illegal tire-dumping problem, but it can make a real impact. Since 2007, Cass Community Social Services has collected 40,000 tires, which would otherwise be sitting in Detroit’s vacant lots, to make their Detroit Treads sandals and mud mats. CCSS employs 85 homeless or formerly homeless individuals in its Green Industries initiative, which creates jobs with a focus on sustainability. Due to high demand, the shoes need to be ordered two months in advance, but mud mats are still available for Christmas orders.

Cass Community Social Services Detroit Tread sandals, $25; mud mats, $35 to $45.


Guitars made from reclaimed wood let you hear history.



Wallace Detroit Guitars uses wood from deconstructed local homes. The company sources its materials from Architectural Salvage Warehouse to make the bodies of its guitars. The wood, often a century old, gives the instruments a distinctive sound you won’t hear in contemporary guitars, founder (and musician) Mark Wallace says. (A similar idea is being used by longtime custom instrument craftsman Gary Zimnicki, who has started using reclaimed wood from around Detroit to make ukuleles and mandolins.)

As of Dec. 12, Wallace Detroit Guitars is taking pre-orders for February 2015, but will send gift buyers a T-shirt and guitar strap (made from old seat belts) in advance, so there’s something to open on Christmas day.

Wallace Detroit Guitars, $1,995 and up. Contact the company directly for orders.


Reused materials make a sturdy six-pack holder worthy of the best microbrew.




Woodward Throwbacks founders Kyle Dubay and Bo Shepherd bike around Detroit to scout wood left at illegal dumping sites. Cleaning up Detroit, one discarded bookshelf and a two-by-four at a time, they use the materials to create beer holders that come with openers attached, as well as other clever novelty products.

Woodward Throwbacks beer holders, $45 to $60.


Old windows give a historic touch to ornate terrariums.




Lead Head Glass terrariums are made with windows and wood salvaged from deconstructed Detroit homes. These materials, company founders Chad Ackley and Derek Smiertka say, could not otherwise be recycled. They also say that the Victorian-style pieces are inspired by Wardian cases, used in the 19th century to transport exotic plants overseas. Their designs even have the approval of a legend in the home decor arena: They were finalists in the Martha Stewart American Made contest this year.

Lead Head Glass terrariums, $80 to $190; air plant holders, $42.


Cast-off materials from an abandoned home can furnish another.




Mutual Adoration was started by artist couple Clare Fox and Wayne Maki. It’s easy to see that their relationship has inspired their work -- not just in their company's name, but in their furniture pieces, too. The Union Table (above) is made of two triangle end tables that can be used separately; but they also come together seamlessly to serve as a larger triangle or square table. Fox and Maki use reclaimed wood from Detroit and elsewhere in Michigan to make their uniquely stained furniture. (Also worth a look are the stylish tables at Workshop, another company that uses reclaimed Detroit lumber.)

Mutual Adoration Union Table, $380 to $460.


Picture frames made with salvaged wood can have as many stories as the pictures they hold.



Mutual Adoration's picture frames have the same sense of style, but without the commitment or cost of a piece of furniture. Fox, a printmaker, and Maki, a photographer, have been constructing frames for their own artwork for years. Each frame comes with a note explaining where its wood comes from. “Reclaimed cedar fencing from a home in Detroit,” for example.

Mutual Adoration frames, $30 to $78.




Old liquor bottles get new life as luxury home accents.




After Doug Schwartz started selling his soy candles made with liquor bottles he collected at bars around Detroit and elsewhere in Michigan, people began showing up to give him their empties or sending them from around the country. His company, DetroitWick, donates a portion of its proceeds to the nonprofit Green Living Science, which partners with Detroit Public Schools to teach kids about recycling and the environment.

DetroitWick candles, $45 to $200.




Reusable objects are cooler when they’re constructed from recycled materials.




For an affordable candle holder that can be used repeatedly, The End Grain Wood Working Co. makes a reclaimed wood base that displays tea lights. The artisans behind the company, Chris Behm and Sam Constantine, also offer intricately crafted frames, coat hooks and planters.

End Grain Wood Working Co. tea light holder, $15.



Manufacturing mixed with hand craftsmanship turns old materials into modern eyewear.




It’s a 60-step process to make Homes Eyewear sunglasses, but they end up looking simple and sleek. Achille Bianchi came up with the idea and works on that long list of steps in the hackerspace OmniCorpDetroit. His glasses, which are all named after Detroit streets, were not available for purchase, as of Dec. 12, as the shop is being updated. But they should be available again by late December.

Homes Eyewear sunglasses, $188 - $248.




A gift made from reclaimed materials guarantees a one-of-a-kind item you can feel good about giving.




Many of the other items here that use wood owe a lot to Reclaim Detroit. Founded in 2011, it's the city’s destination for artists, entrepreneurs and contractors who want to purchase reclaimed wood. The organization gets materials by deconstructing -- rather than demolishing -- some of the city's thousands and thousands of blighted homes. The process is more expensive and takes longer, but Reclaim Detroit say it's saving a good deal of materials that would otherwise go to landfills. The organization has saved 50,000 pounds of materials from being trashed, according to its website.

Part of Reclaim Detroit's mission is creating and training people for green jobs. And, it makes some beautiful reclaimed wood products, including butcher blocks, flower bud vases and candle holders. The organization's tagline pretty much says it all: “Using Detroit's history for a brighter future.”

Reclaim Detroit End Grain butcher block, $109.

H/T Model D and UIX Detroit for ongoing coverage of some of these and other entrepreneurs and sustainable businesses in Detroit.

'Parks And Rec' Co-Creator Mike Schur Posts A Bunch Of Photos From The Show's Last Day

December 12, 2014, 12:25 pm

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We're just a few weeks away from the Season 7 premiere of "Parks and Recreation," and it appears to be the cast's last day on set. (Go ahead, weep all you want. We won't judge.) Co-creator Mike Schur has been posting photos of the set all day long -- of Leslie and Ben's wedding photo, an unemotional Ron Swanson and all the little details that make Pawnee Leslie Knope's favorite city on the planet.

Season 7 of "Parks and Rec" begins Jan. 13, and the series finale airs Feb. 24. Head over to Mike Schur's Twitter page to see more photos of the cast's last day on set:

pic.twitter.com/W8BOkxjeKd

— Nick Offerman (@Nick_Offerman) December 12, 2014

pic.twitter.com/QLWygNsPpa

— Ken Tremendous (@KenTremendous) December 12, 2014

pic.twitter.com/5NSjWyYz06

— Ken Tremendous (@KenTremendous) December 12, 2014

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— Ken Tremendous (@KenTremendous) December 12, 2014

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— Ken Tremendous (@KenTremendous) December 12, 2014

Raven-Symone Gives Heartfelt Surprise, Honors Mentor Debbie Allen (VIDEO)

December 12, 2014, 1:01 pm

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Since the tender age of 4, Raven-Symone has captivated television audiences across the globe with her role as Olivia Kendall during the final three seasons of “The Cosby Show.” And in addition to the iconic show, which served as a launching pad for Raven's career, she credits Golden Globe Award-winning actress Debbie Allen as a mentor who helped define her success.

In the latest installment of AOL’s 10-episode original web-series titled, “My Hero,” Raven professed her admiration for Allen’s contribution as an entrepreneur, television director-producer, mother, and choreographer.

“Ms. Debbie is my hero, because she always gives,” she said in the video clip. “And to be able to express to Ms. Debbie what she does for me and my life, and what she does for me mentally when I go into the warzone that is Hollywood is really special…If I didn’t have Ms. Debbie in my life, I’d probably be trying to figure out, like, what could I do next.”

Allen underscored Symone’s sentiments and compared their relationship to that of a mother and daughter.

“Raven, she is like one of my kids,” the “Grey’s Anatomy” director gushed. “I’m somewhere between her other mom and her aunt…because there is a trust there and you can’t manufacture that, you can’t make that.”

Check out Raven-Symone’s heartwarming tribute to Debbie Allen in the clip above.

How To Wrap A Present In 12 Seconds -- Seriously.

December 12, 2014, 1:34 pm

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It's ironic that the first thing we notice about a present (besides its size, of course) is usually the last thing to get our attention during the frenzied gift-giving rush. But wrapping a gift won't ever be the same after you watch this 28-second video in which a Japanese department store employee wraps not one, but two boxes to Martha-Stewart-level perfection.



Game. Changed.

It is the season of giving, however, so our efforts to spread good will (and make you the czar of impeccable first impressions) don't end there. We present you with three more ways to take your gift-wrapping to new heights, excerpted from blogger Sally J. Shim's new book, "Pretty Packages." (Head over here for help with what's inside.)

Handmade Glitter Tape Gift Wrap

Photo by Madelene Farin
MATERIALS
Dressmaker’s tape measure
Wrapped gift
½-in/12-mm-wide double-sided tape with backing
Fine glitter

TOOLS
2 pieces of paper
Scissors
Small brush (optional)

BRIGHT IDEAS
Cut the glitter tape into shapes and add them to the top of your wrapped gift. You can use patterned washi tape instead of making glitter tape.

HOW TO:

1. Wrap the dressmaker’s tape measure around your wrapped gift to measure the distance around the gift, or twice its width plus twice its depth.


2. Use scissors to cut a strip of double-sided tape 1 in/2.5 cm longer than the total measurement obtained in step 1.


3. Place the tape sticky-side up onto one piece of the paper. If the ends of the tape curl up, place a small piece of the tape on each end to secure it to the paper. Sprinkle the glitter on the sticky tape so the entire surface is covered. Remove the tape that is holding down the ends of the sticky tape, if using. Shake off the excess glitter onto the second piece of paper. Use the paper to funnel the excess glitter back into the glitter dispenser.


4. Remove the backing from the double-sided tape and place it on your wrapped gift, overlapping the ends on the underside of the gift.

NOTE: Use a small brush to wipe off excess glitter that may fall onto the wrapping paper, or use a small piece of tape to pick it up.




Confetti Gift Tag

Photo by Madelene Farin
MATERIALS
Scraps of colored paper in a variety of sizes and colors
1 glassine envelope, 2 by 2 in/ 5 by 5 cm
Double-sided tape
1 gift tag, 2½ by 4 in/ 6 by 10 cm
Twine

TOOLS
Paper hole punch
Paper circle hole punches in a variety of sizes

BRIGHT IDEAS
Instead of confetti, place colored candy sprinkles inside the glassine bag. Create a birthday party invitation by printing the party details on a card and adhering the glassine bag of confetti to the invitation.

HOW TO

1. Using the paper hole punch and circle hole paper punches, punch at least twenty circles from the colored paper scraps to make confetti.


2. Put the paper confetti in the envelope and seal the envelope closed with a piece of double-sided tape. Place four strips of tape on the back of the sealed envelope, one on each edge.


3. Place the glassine envelope at the center of the gift tag, and press down to adhere it to the gift tag.


4. Thread the twine through the hole and secure in a knot.

Yarn Pom-Pom Topper

Photos by Madelene Farin
MATERIALS
Ball of yarn
1 piece of yarn, 12 in/ 30.5 cm long
Wrapped gift

TOOLS
Scissors

BRIGHT IDEAS
Make a dozen or more yarn pom-poms and string them together to make a sweet party garland. Try using several different colors of yarn to make a multi-color pom-pom.

HOW TO

1. Place four fingers together on one hand and wrap the yarn around them fifty to sixty times (the more times you wrap the yarn, the fuller the pom-pom will be). Use the scissors to cut the end of the wrapped yarn from the ball of yarn.


2. Take the 12-in/30.5-cm piece of yarn, slip it in between your second and third fingers, wrap it very tightly around the looped yarn twice, and tie a knot.


3. Pull the yarn off your fingers and double knot the yarn. Cut through the yarn loops on each side.


4. The yarn ball will be uneven. Fluff up the yarn ball, and trim it so that it is even and spherical in shape, leaving the long yarn ends.


5. Use the yarn ends to tie the pom-pom around your gift.

Excerpts reprinted with permission from Pretty Packages, Chronicle Books, 2014.

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Social Worker Empowers Muslim Women In Need With Sewing Class

December 12, 2014, 2:00 pm

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When Tahani Jabarin started the Introduction to Sewing and Dressmaking program at the Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center in northern Virginia, she was hoping to create "a road to self-sufficiency" for Muslim women in her area. Made possible by a $10,000 grant from Islamic Relief, a U.S.-based charity organization, the sewing class graduated its first class of 12 students on Nov. 5.

Jabarin, 37, told The Huffington Post she could not be happier with the results. "Thank God things went great," she said.

A social worker at Dar Al-Hijrah with no background in sewing, Jabarin said she chose the subject because it's something women with children can do from home. Jabarin runs the program, but she hired a woman with commercial sewing experience to teach the actual classes. Women ages 18 and above who earn half the area median income or less, or who receive financial assistance like food stamps, were eligible to sign up for the first round of lessons, as long as they agreed to attend every one, Jabarin said.

Participants were also asked to pay a $300 fee for the class, but were issued waivers if they were unable to afford the cost. In exchange, the women received six hours of instruction every week for 16 weeks, with an additional four-hour workshop on starting their own business. Projects included clothing and home decor like curtains and lampshades. Dar Al-Hijrah sells the students' work on-site, Jabarin said, and each student gets 50 percent of whatever proceeds her pieces bring in, meaning the women can receive an income even during the program.




Perhaps most significantly, those who completed 100 hours of sewing received their own machine, which Jabarin described as crucial for ensuring the women would continue their work after graduating. Of the 12 women who graduated in November, Jabarin said that more than half started making an income within two weeks of completing the course. A new 16-week course, she said, began earlier this month.




Jabarin spoke with one of the graduates on behalf of HuffPost Religion to illustrate the program's effect on participants. Due to a language barrier, Jabarin spoke to the woman in Arabic and translated her answers into English.

How did you find the sewing group?

My name is Fawzia, and I was born in Sudan. I am 42 years old, and I have eight children, ages 25, 23, 17, 9, 8, 5, 2 years old and 4 months old. As an immigrant mother with eight children, I was facing financial instability that lost me my apartment and led me to seek a home in a shelter. Fortunately, the shelter I was placed in happened to be within walking distance of Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center. Through [a social worker's] help, I joined the sewing class, which enabled me to become self-sufficient via training whilst establishing an income. I applied for a waiver, since I had no income through which to pay for this class, and I received it, rendering my sewing lessons charge-free.

What have been some of the biggest struggles in your life since coming to the U.S.?

My most immediate issue was the language barrier. I required some time to learn the English language and become accustomed to speaking it. Secondly, as a mother, I faced the enormous problem of finding an apartment to rent for me to live in with my children. Having been blessed with a large family, it was difficult finding a place big enough to accommodate us. Not being able to be a self-sufficient mother who could provide for her children shook me to the core.

In what ways, if any, does the holiday season affect these concerns?

The holiday season is more taxing, as this is a family-oriented time during which I wish to present my children with the most joyous experience possible whilst also working hard to provide for them. I received support from my children’s elementary school, which donated gift cards to me in order to be able to purchase the Thanksgiving turkey. Simultaneously, I receive continuous support from Dar Al-Hijrah, which has a thrift store on-site. At any point that I need assistance buying clothing, I apply for aid and receive a $100 gift card to use at the store in order to keep my children and myself warm during this colder time of year.

In what ways has joining the sewing class made a difference in your life?

During this difficult year of my life, these obstacles enclosed me in a severe depression that I even received therapy for. Nothing seemed to really help me deal with the crippling mentality that I was unproductive until I joined the sewing group. Walking down from the shelter to the Islamic Center every Monday and Wednesday became something to look forward to, and my mood was automatically elevated on those days.

Additionally, the shelter kept telling me that I had an “exit date” and that I had to find a place to live. It just so happened that my graduation date coincided with my exit date from the shelter. It was my graduation, and the program director’s recommendation, that allowed the shelter to extend my stay for one more week. My life had finally begun looking up. I was becoming self-sufficient, which had always been my dream, and I was finally able to provide for my children.

I learned that much like sewing, life occurs in several stages, not all at once. Having acquired patience, I was able to push myself through these difficult times and persevere until I was able to improve my life. Having received my certificate of completion and my sewing machine, I finally felt like a productive member of society.

What are your hopes for improving your family’s circumstances moving forward, and how will the skills you’ve learned through the sewing group help you?

The day I graduated, I received my sewing machine from Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center. Furthermore, Dar Al-HIjrah connected me with the county’s case workers, who held several workshops that taught us to transform our sewing skills into a commercial method in order for us to establish our own businesses and become self-employed.

I walked into this class thinking I would only be taught to sew clothing, but soon thereafter I learned that was not the case. Aside from sewing clothing, I learned how to create home décor items like handkerchiefs and even custom-made draperies. I am now beginning to build my clientele, and I plan to develop my skills in this field in order to become more proficient and to find even more stability in my job. This way, I will finally have a steady income and be able to independently support my family.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Learn more about Islamic Relief and how you can contribute to its ongoing grants and programs here.

This story is part of series called 12 Days Of Giving. Huffington Post Impact, Religion and Parents have teamed up to feature stories from 12 families in need over 12 days between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Read more here.

Babe Lincoln, Amelia Armheart, Ruth Hater Ginsburg : Ladies Who Arm Wrestle

December 12, 2014, 6:10 pm

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This post originally appeared on Slate.
By Jordan G. Teicher


The Cosmic Crusher and Grandmaw Foots face off in the final match.


When Katrina Arnold photographed a ladies arm wrestling brawl in New Orleans a few years ago, she was instantly hooked. The raucous events, which are hosted by New Orleans Ladies Arm Wrestling, combine the performative, athletic elements of a WWE match with the communal, boozy aspects of a trivia night. It’s one of more than 25 chapters across the world under the umbrella of the Collective of Lady Arm Wrestlers.

“They're such colorful events. You never know what's going to happen,” Arnold said. “I got addicted. I ended up joining the collective and taking pictures of my friends.”

At NOLAW’s events, which are held a few times a year at bars, galleries, and other spaces across the city, eight arm wrestlers—each with their own costumed persona, theme song, and entourage—compete before hundreds of spectators. According to NOLAW, “rules are determined and managed by the referee, only to be manipulated and corrupted by celebrity judges, crowd hecklers, and dolla billz.”

The events aren’t just fun and games. They’re also fundraisers, with all proceeds benefiting local groups supporting women and children. (The groups, in return, create the winner’s trophy and submit a member to wrestle in the tournament.)

Photographing arm wrestling, Arnold said, is like photographing a concert: It involves shooting fast-moving subjects in low light, as well as avoiding getting in the way of audience members. Still, she said, NOLAW’s events are “a photographer’s dream.” Hilarious wrestler alter egos—Babe Lincoln, Amelia Armheart, Ruth Hater Ginsburg—come with equally outrageous costumes and stunts as they prepare to compete. Half-time acts include drag queens and burlesque dancers. Crowds are loud and enthusiastic.

“We want to create a fun, safe atmosphere where we can show off these strong, empowered women doing something that allows them to act out however they want,” she said. “You can be sexy, strong funny—you create a character. The best part is seeing these expressions come out on stage. It's more about performance than the actual arm wrestling.”

Arnold’s photographs will be on display in the exhibition, “Katrina Arnold: Wrists Up” at New Orleans’ Gradoux Gallery as part of PhotoNOLA from Dec. 4 through Dec. 7.

See more photos on Slate.

Designers Recreated Wes Anderson's Grand Budapest Hotel IRL

December 12, 2014, 6:10 pm

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Do you wish the world around you was just a little more symmetrical? Maybe eternally washed in a candy-colored Instagram filter? Perhaps with a stronger Bill Murray presence? Basically, do you yearn for a daily life that looks identical to a Wes Anderson film?

You should think about booking a trip to Budapest.



Earlier this year, during Budapest design week, curators at NextArt Galeria teamed up with designers Zsuzsa Megyesi and Attila F. Kovacs from A+Z Design Studio to lift Anderson's aesthetic from the screen to real life. Opting to creating an art experience far removed from the "white cube," NextArt installed its gallery's goods in a space crafted to mimic the set of "The Grand Budapest Hotel."

The resulting lounge, a lavish medley of furniture, design, film and contemporary art, feels like a haunted version of Anderson's set, imbuing the famously twee visionary with an extra dose of darkness. A+Z contributed the eerie design touches like the candle-holder and chandelier, while artists including András Braun, Tamás Dobos and Lili K. Fehéri submitted artworks equally ominous.

Anderson buffs, eat your heart out and enjoy the unorthodox gallery experience below. Bill Murray not included.

h/t DesignBoom

Saudi Artist Photographs Daily Life From Behind A Veil And Learns Unexpected Lesson

December 12, 2014, 6:10 pm

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While the mandate that women should cover their hair is an tenet of Islamic belief, the act of wearing a veil that completely shields a woman's face is a matter of tradition, not religion. For Saudi photographer Faisal Almalki, this female ritual remained one shrouded in mystery. He resolved to experience the practice for himself, documenting the entire experience with his camera.



"It started as both a visual and investigative experiment," Almalki told the Huffington Post Arts. "From a visual point of view, I -- as a photographer and person -- cherish sight and I've always wondered how veils affect sight and seeing. But on a more contextual level, I've always wanted to understand this sub-culture and I thought if I managed to at least see the world they way they see it, I might scratch the surface of 'walking a mile in their shoe.'"

For his photographic investigation, Almalki took inspiration from 20th century German biologist Jakob von Uexkull, particularly his idea of the 'umwelt' or 'self-world as perceived by organisms living within it.' The artist stepped into the role of biologist to fully immerse himself in this alien way of life. "Understanding how organisms experience their surroundings, needs and motivations can only be achieved by stepping into their perceptual world," the exhibition expressed. "An organism creates and reshapes its own umwelt when it interacts with its environment."



Almaki titled his series "Lone Canyon," referencing the gap between a woman and her veil. Yet as the photographic process continued, the artist noticed it changing shape. "I took a few photos of flowers as seen from behind the veil, except some of those flowers weren’t real –- but the veil affects vision enough for us (ie. Her) not to see the difference. And that’s when I realized that I wasn’t trying to understand veiled women, I was trying to judge them." While the project began as an effort to see through an Islamic woman's eyes (and veil), it ended up revealing the biased mode of viewing the artist himself possessed.

"Those pictures instead became a portrait of my prejudice," he explained. "I’ve always resented how some western media outlets profiled Muslims and Middle Eastern, and this showed me how I was doing the same. Turning the veil onto that barrier between us and 'the others,' whoever that might be."



As Almaki's series progressed, the symbols associated with the veil changed shape. "When I started working on this project, I kept saying that I wasn't pro or against veils, I just wanted to offer their perspective to the world." Yet Almaki realized that for many, the veil isn't just a symbol of difference but of inferiority, of otherness. "Suddenly, the veil, became a symbol of prejudice, that wall between any person and 'the others.'" Almaki's project then transformed into an investigation of the invisible veil that so many unknowingly wear, the obstructive layer of prejudice.

"Lone Canyon" runs at Athr Gallery in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia until January 10, 2015. If you're not in the area, get a preview of the images below.

15 Of The Most Beautiful Architectural Photographs From Around The World

December 12, 2014, 6:10 pm

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This article originally appeared on ArchDaily.
by Katie Watkins


Fifteen images ranging from a close-up of Herzog & de Meuron’s Beijing National Stadium to a portrait of a graveyard-turned home in the Philippines, have been selected as the finalists of the Chartered Institute of Building’s (CIOB) 2014 Art of Building Photographer of the Year competition. The public will now decide who will take home the title and a £3,000 cash prize.

“There is a cornucopia of styles and stories in this year’s final,” said Saul Townsend, CIOB spokesman in a press release. “In a world full of high definition colour technology, black and white photography still inspires a host of photographers. Voters are in for a visual treat and will hopefully be inspired to look at the built environment in a new way and to take part themselves next year.”

The fifteen finalists were selected by panel of judges that included photography critic and editor Sue Steward, award-winning photographer Matt Wain and the editor of Construction Manager magazine, Elaine Knutt.

Take a look at the 15 finalists after the break and don’t forget to vote for your favorite before January 11, 2015 on CIOB’s Art of Building website. The winner will be announced February 5.



File ref: 9222
Name: Frank Machalowski
Title of Photograph: Multiexpo Potsdam#5
Photo taken in: Potsdam, Germany
Photographer from: Germany
Photographer’s description: This multi-exposure picture reduces the building to its core without any irrelevant background. It emphasizes the building.






File ref: 9573
Name: Hoang Long Ly
Title of Photograph: Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
Photo taken in: Abu Dhabi – UAE
Photographer from: Vietnam
Photographer’s description: This mosque is a religious icon not only for Abu Dhabi but also for the Islamic world of UAE.






File ref: 9805
Name: Mario Bejagan Cardenas
Title of Photograph: Bird’s Nest Puzzle Close-Up
Photo taken in: Beijing, China
Photographer from: Abu Dhabi, UAE
Photographer’s description: Beijing National Stadium is an eye-catching state of the art structure. The stadium is a work of exceptional design and proves to be a mind-boggling complex artifact as you get up close.





File ref: 9910
Name: Rajaram
Title of Photograph: Near to fire for bricks
Photo taken in: Pondicherry, India
Photographer from: Pondicherry, India
Photographer’s description: The people are working near a hot fire to burn the bricks. To make a single brick is not as easy as we think.





File ref: 9381
Name: Richard Pennington
Title of Photograph: Concrete Arteries
Photo taken in: Amsterdam, Holland
Photographer from: Essex, UK
Photographer’s description: A rare infrastructure perspective of Amsterdam’s newest Metro Line. I liken the concrete Metro tunnels of the city to the arteries running throughout or bodies that keep it alive and functioning.





File ref: 9003
Name: Flores Giorgini
Title of Photograph: Water pipe on a roof
Photo taken in: Sao Paulo, Brazil
Photographer from: Paris, France
Photographer’s description: When I took this photo it was because I found it really strange that this pipe was on the roof; it is an interesting contrast with modern buildings.






File ref: 8856
Name: Pierre Cuony
Title of Photograph: Up
Photo taken in: London
Photographer from: Switzerland
Photographer’s description: This picture is a low angle shot of a beautiful building in London. Good place, right time.





File ref: 9806
Name: Mario Bejagan Cardenas
Title of Photograph: My home, my playground and my cemetery
Photo taken in: Manila, Philippines
Photographer from: Abu Dhabi, UAE
Photographer’s description: Thousands of families have made a city’s graveyard their home as authorities grapple with rising population and housing shortage. Depressing community where hapless residents call this place a home among the dead.





File ref: 7858
Name: Lisa Shalom
Title of Photograph: Giuseppe Perugini Bathroom
Photo taken in: Fregene, Italy
Photographer from: California, USA
Photographer’s description: Giuseppe Perugini was a famous architect who built very modern home decades ago in the heart of Fregene, Italy. Since his death, the home is abandoned. Here is a woman gazing through a small window in the bathroom.






File ref: 10170
Name: Pessoa Neto
Title of Photograph: Library by Siza Vieira
Photo taken in: Portugal
Photographer from: Portugal
Photographer’s description: I really loved the light coming down the centre of the Library building. I saw two young kids and just waited for the moment.






File ref: 8151
Name: Pulock Biswas
Title of Photograph: Little House
Photo taken in: Bangladesh
Photographer from: Bangladesh
Photographer’s description: It becomes a work of art.





File ref: 8869
Name: Wahid Adnan
Title of Photograph: Getting lost on a roof
Photo taken in: Bangladesh
Photographer from: Bangladesh
Photographer’s description: A Muslim man is deep into his thoughts on a roof of a building surrounded by other buildings. Access to a roof in Dhaka is not always possible for people as the owners don’t allow tenants to go up.





File ref: 8523
Name: Yana Bulyizheva
Title of Photograph: Songs of light
Photo taken in: Milan, Italy
Photographer from: St.Petersburg, Russia
Photographer’s description: The photo shows Duomo not from the main facade, it shows details, and this architectural element is like a powerful luminous song for me.





File ref: 8477
Name: Patrick Mouzawak
Title of Photograph: Inception
Photo taken in: Milwaukee, USA
Photographer from: Madrid, Spain
Photographer’s description: The multiple layers created by this architectural form with a human attending to it as if carefully repositioning the triangle shapes herself.





File ref: 9330
Name: Lana Yankovskaya
Title of Photograph: Capsule
Photo taken in: Germany
Photographer from: Kiev, Ukraine
Photographer’s description: Mysterious construction, as if it’s from the future, but at the same time from the past. Reminds about aliens or mad architect, about emptiness and uselessness, which in fact, no one needs what we do, and it all will turn to ash.




Cite: Watkins, Katie. "15 Finalists Nominated for the Art of Building Photographer of the Year Award" 11 Dec 2014. ArchDaily. Accessed 12 Dec 2014.

15 Finalists Nominated for the Art of Building Photographer of the Year Award originally appeared on ArchDaily, the most visited architecture website in December 2014.

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Jeffrey Marsh, Vine Star, Discusses Their Work As An Activist

December 13, 2014, 6:29 am

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Editor's Note: Jeffrey Marsh is open to the use of any pronoun but for the purposes of this profile, we are using "they/them/their."

You may not know who they are -- but you've no doubt heard their message.

Jeffrey Marsh is a social media star who utilizes Vine to spread messages of positivity and awareness on a massive digital platform. Their Vines have collectively received more than 90 million views, ultimately providing Marsh with the opportunity to take their message outside of social media and speak and perform all over New York City.

Marsh is most notably known for spearheading the viral hashtags #DontSayThatsSoGay and #NoTimetoHateMyself.

In the technological age, the face of activism has evolved along with the way in which we communicate. Marsh is part of a generation of LGBTQ activists who, through social media, are changing minds and perceptions in parts of the world where people may not encounter a queer person in their day to day lives.

The Huffington Post chatted with Marsh this week about their work as an activist, the way in which they utilize social media and what they have planned for the future.

The Huffington Post: How did you become a Vine star?
Jeffrey Marsh: By accident! I'm doing what I always did: dress up like Julie Andrews, dance around, tell people they're awesome as heck, sing them songs and (literally) kick up my heels to some catchy Katy Perry.

The only difference now is the camera, the chance to post those moments for gay kids in Arkansas and Canadian moms. No other form of social media I've tried allows me to immediately connect like Vine does. It is very much like a face-to-face social experience. Each day I'm shocked and excited to find messages from people who feel like my videos help them to be themselves. I guess I became a "star" by being myself.

When did you realize that things were really heating up and people were starting to take notice?
That's the funny thing, it was so gradual -- so natural. There are plenty of people in social media who burn brightly and fast, who go viral and get (almost) instant fame. For whatever reason, my journey so far has been consistent and incremental. I picture one friend telling another; a grass roots approach to fame.

It would be hard to argue that my message isn't popular. But is it the most popular? Not by a long shot. I'm reminded of Joan Rivers talking about some advice she once got: if 0.1% of America thinks you're funny, you'll fill stadiums for the rest of your life. I'm not sure I will ever fill a stadium, but I think Joan and I are both talking about quality over quantity. This is most true when it comes to cultivating a relationship with the like-minded people who call themselves fans. And I'm happy to say that those fans are all over the figurative (and literal) map: old, young, black, white, trans, bi -- you name it! Everybody is welcome and can hopefully connect with my inclusive message.



Did you have a strategy or a plan in the beginning or were you just creating Vines that felt right to you and putting them out in the world?
Did I have a plan? Definitely not! I always knew I wanted to tell as many people (in as many ways as I could) that there is nothing wrong with them. I just started posting things that brought a smile to my face, that helped me feel excited to post again -- to connect again.

I don't like dwelling on the "larger" implications of what I'm doing. There have been hundreds of messages from people who decided not to commit suicide because of my channel, for instance. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad that's happening! It's just that all I did was look into my iPhone camera and tell a friend they're beautiful for being alive. I don't ever want to lose that connection. Is that simple direct approach a strategy? Maybe it is…



Do you approach your vines differently now than you did at the beginning? What has changed for you?
Maybe part of my success, and the success of Vine overall, is the relatability factor. People can see me; they can look into my eyes, which never happens on Twitter. I've shied away from making more polished, "produced" vines because I'm concerned they will lose a personal touch -- a humanity that is so essential to one of my missions: showing that LGBTQ folks are just folks. We are all human.

One thing that has changed for me is the recognition of the responsibility I have. I say it in a grandiose way because I don't think I'm representing just LGBTQ folks. I've realized recently that my gender identity is a metaphor. I have the chance to be a voice for many of the voiceless outsiders in the world -- the heartbroken people who have felt left out. If my interactions on Vine are any indication, there are a lot of us out there!

What’s it like to see a hashtag campaign you’ve created take off and touch so many people?
It's ultra-fulfilling and fun. To know that people benefit, to know that people get it and are changed by what I do is a reason to get up in the morning. It's also a reason to glue on false lashes when I'm a little tired and skim through hate e-mail to answer my followers. #DontSayThatsSoGay and #NoTimetoHateMyself brought out so many different kinds of people; people who would never be in front of a camera, never would be that visible on social media. They felt the message, their participation was that important. And everyone's participation is that important! It really excites me to see that. Being in front of the camera feels natural for me, but when someone else who might be nervous or shy puts their truth on Vine, it is very inspirational.

#Dontsaythatssogay @jeffreymarsh I am gay. And that's perfectly okay! https://t.co/hMzwZEJfK1

— Cole Kirby (@digitaldesign17) October 9, 2014

If I ever start to have worries about my numbers or how many "likes" I'm getting, I go through those videos from everybody. That's what's important: the connection, the changed lives. I often feel like my life has been changed most of all.

When it comes to gender identity and sexual orientation, how would you describe yourself?
I never want anyone to feel bad. Ever. So, I decided a while ago that there is no "wrong way" to refer to me. I know that words and pronouns are really important to a lot of people. I respect that deeply. Several times a week, people ask "what's your preferred pronoun?" which is nice of them, but I have no idea!

For me, connecting is most important. If someone is being respectful, I don't care what they use. I'd love to have an interaction with someone who says a pronoun that doesn't seem true for me at that moment, and we talk about it -- we connect over it. Excluded from all this is, of course, is hate speech. I just don't engage that.

I don't want to deflect the heart of the question though! Personally, I don't walk around thinking of myself as "her," "man," "they" or any other word we've currently got going. I guess that's part of why I love hearing everybody's stories on Vine -- I can relate to men and women and everyone. When we're talking about being human and having feelings, there is so much that we have in common.

What’s the one thing you hope people take away from what you're doing? If you could boil everything down into one message, what would it be?
Always, always, always the message is the same: There Is Nothing Wrong With You. With varying degrees of success I'm sure, I keep it all hovering around that theme. Tweets, Instagram and, of course, my Vines are all an effort to help people ditch the self-hate and self-judgement. What could be more important?

What do you want to accomplish in 2015?
Let's take over the world! I would be very happy if The Message (see above) could reach more people and bring more of us together. Helping one person is a cause for celebration to me, and I plan to keep celebrating that one-at-a-time connection by Vining my heart out.

Want to see more from Jeffrey Marsh? Check out their Vine, Twitter, Instagram or website.

New J.K. Rowling Story Reveals The History Of The Leaky Cauldron

December 13, 2014, 11:19 am

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J.K. Rowling posted a new riddle on Harry Potter fan site Pottermore today -- part of a 12-day series during which new writings and magical tidbits will be released as the ultimate Christmas gift for wizard-loving muggles.

Here's today's quiz:



The answer, as Hogwarts fanatics know, is Diagon Alley, the bustling street where Harry first picks up his school supplies and wand. Rowling rewarded those who responded correctly with further details about the Leaky Cauldron, the famous pub that serves as a gateway to Diagon Alley, including the names of a few of its former owners.

Today's prize was a two-for-one: Rowling also shared an anecdote about Florean Fortescue, a Diagon ice cream shop owner who was originally slated to play a bigger part in the Harry Potter series.

While some fans delight in such details, others think that Rowling let readers take over the Potter narrative rather than meddling with the concluded plot.

If you're in the first camp, check out these stories J.K. Rowling posted earlier this year: one about the infamous reporter Rita Skeeter, and the other exploring the background of professor Dolores Umbridge.

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Why Were So Many Beloved Christmas Songs Written By Jewish Musicians?

December 14, 2014, 5:05 am

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(RNS) Christians don’t seem to mind that so many beloved Christmas songs were written by Jews, and Jews tend to reel off the list with pride.

White Christmas. Let It Snow. Santa Baby. I’ll Be Home for Christmas. Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire. Silver Bells. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

Those not mentioned here could fill an album.

But why didn’t the Jews write any similarly iconic songs for their holiday that falls around Christmastime: Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights?

“I Have a Little Dreidl”? Great song … if you’re 4.

There are reasons that Jews are good at Christmas songs and why so many of these songs became so popular. And there are reasons why Jews didn’t write similarly catchy tunes for Hanukkah — or any other Jewish holiday.

But first, a little music history.

In the first half of the 20th century, Jews flocked to the music industry. It was one business where they didn’t face overwhelming anti-Semitism, said Michael Feinstein, the Emmy Award-winning interpreter of American musical standards.

“White Christmas,” written by Jewish lyricist Irving Berlin, topped the charts in 1942 and launched popular Christmas music, encouraging many others — Jews and non-Jews — to write more odes to the holiday.

And although celebrating the birth of Christ was not something these Jewish songwriters would want to do, they could feel comfortable composing more secular Christmas singles.

“The Christmas songs that are popular are not about Jesus, but they’re about sleigh bells and Santa and the trappings of Christmas,” Feinstein said. “They’re not religious songs.”

In their music and lyrics, Jews captured Christmas not only as a wonderful, wintry time for family gatherings, but also as an American holiday. What they drew on, said Rabbi Kenneth Kanter, an expert on Jews and popular culture at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati, was their background as the children of European-born Jews, or as immigrants themselves, in the case of Russian-born Berlin and others.

Jewish songwriters’ own successful assimilation and gratitude to America pervades their midcentury Christmas and other songs, and appealed to a country that wanted to feel brave and united as it fought World War II.

“These songs made Christmas a kind of national celebration, almost a patriotic celebration,” Kanter said.

The irreligious nature of these Christmas songs may not sit well with pious Christians, said Feinstein, who is Jewish and who cut “A Michael Feinstein Christmas,” among many other albums. But they are now part of the fabric of our larger culture, he said, and “any singer who is a singer of the American songbook will sing Christmas songs,” said Feinstein. “We all sing them.”

Feinstein is in good Jewish company. Barbra Streisand made “A Christmas Album.” Neil Diamond cut not only “A Christmas Album,” but also “A Christmas Album, Volume II,” and then a “Cherry, Cherry Christmas.” This year, Idina Menzel, who started out singing at bar mitzvahs and is best-known as the strong, melodic voice in the hit movie “Frozen,” just came out with the very Christmas-y “Holiday Wishes.” This list is far from exhaustive.

And how about Hanukkah songs?

First, singers want an audience, and with Jews making up less than 2 percent of the U.S. population, and Christians nearly 80 percent, the natural market for Hanukkah tunes is relatively tiny. Though the story of Hanukkah is about religious freedom, a theme Americans can relate to, few know the tale of the ancient Maccabees — how they threw off their Hellenistic oppressors, and the drop of oil which miraculously lit their lamp for eight days.

Feinstein, who was raised in a Conservative synagogue in Columbus, Ohio, said many people have tried to get him to lend his voice to a Hanukkah song, but he’s just not that interested.

“They usually are in a minor key,” he said. “And there isn’t as much imagery that one can put into a Hanukkah song compared to Christmas.”

There are still plenty of tuneful and moving Hanukkah songs, some of them in major keys — the rousing “Al Hanisim,” for example. But many are written in languages other than English — Hebrew, Yiddish and Ladino — and aren’t going to get much airplay in the U.S.

But a growing body of Hanukkah music aims to break through the subdued and somber stereotype.

In 1982, for example, the folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary first performed “Light One Candle,” a social action song that invokes the Maccabees’ struggle.

The Jewish reggae star Matisyahu came out with “Miracle” in 2011. And the Maccabeats, an a capella group based at Yeshiva University, remade the pop song “Dynamite” into a 2010 Hanukkah hit called “Candlelight.”

And then there’s Kenny Ellis, the cantor at Temple Beth Ami in Santa Clarita, Calif., who is on a mission to convince Jews and non-Jews alike that Hanukkah songs can be a zippy part of the national songbook. Each Hanukkah, Ellis sings from his 2005 album, “Hanukkah Swings,” a big-band take on some of the most well-known Hanukkah songs, starting with “Swingin’ Dreidel.”

To Ellis’ delight, Feinstein once sang “Swingin’ Dreidel” in his New York nightclub. It wouldn’t hurt if more Jewish singers tried a Hanukkah song or two, Ellis said. Maybe a whole album.

“I love all the Jewish performers that do Christmas albums,” Ellis said. “But what’s the big deal about doing a Hanukkah album? Does anyone think that if Barbra Streisand did a Hanukkah album, that her career would be finished?”

This Michigan Parish Is Home To More Than 525 Nun Dolls

December 14, 2014, 5:07 am

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Yes, there is a museum entirely dedicated to nun dolls -- more than 525, in fact, all made by one woman over the course of her lifetime.

Michigan's Cross in the Woods National Shrine is best known for housing one of the world's largest crucifixes, but what is one cross to 500 nun dolls? Sally Rogalski is the woman behind these miniatures, which she began making as a young girl in 1945.

In 1964 she and her husband, Wally, donated their entire collection to the Cross in the Woods parish with the stipulation that they never charge for entry. Each doll's outfit is representative of real habits that nuns of more than 217 religious orders in North and South America.

If 525 nun dolls aren't enough to draw your interest, there are also life-size mannequins with donated habits, as well as a few priests and bishops thrown in the mix!

Raw Photos Depict The Magic Of Motherhood, From A Father's Perspective

December 15, 2014, 6:42 am

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"Drei" is the third segment in photographer's Fred Huening's visual trilogy. The earlier portions, "Einer" and "Zwei," followed Huening as he fell in love with his girlfriend and later, more tragically, as the two gave birth to a still born child. The final installment captures life after the birth of his healthy son, documenting the beginning of his family of three.

For those who don't speak German, the series titles translate to "One," "Two" and "Three."



The final chapter in Huening's visual story revolves around "motherhood, motherly love and the mystery of childhood," the artist explained to The Huffington Post. The images chronicle those small yet miraculous early days of parenthood, the magic of every swim, every lunch, every round of dress-up, every nap.

"I hope that the viewer will get a notion of the lost or forgotten mysteries and wonders of childhood," Huening explained. "I want them to feel or react the way I did, when I became a father at the age of almost 40. Before that happened I never planned to have a child. And my memories of my own childhood were lost and hidden in my mind. When I saw my son growing up I rediscovered my own childhood through him and this was magic."



Huening's images aren't, however, purely sentimental and blissful. While some are filled with joy and light, others radiate with ambivalence -- alluding to the family's broken past and changing future. "When my son was born my girlfriend turned from a lover into a mother," Huening explained. "Her love and attention concentrated (of course) on my son. So I felt sometimes like an outsider observing the 'inner circle' of mother and son. I had ambivalent feelings and so I took my camera to express my emotions."

In its entirety, however, Huening's portrait is one of raw and staggering beauty. The intimate depiction of motherhood and family may not depict the entire story, but it surely captures some intimate aspect of reality. "My goal was to say something universal and deeply human," the artist told Lucida Magazine. "But this is not our real-life one-to-one; it’s a piece of art."

Fleshy Stilettos Made With Human Hair Question The 'Sexiness' Of High Heels

December 15, 2014, 6:52 am

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Artist Zhu Tian crafts high heels. Only instead of creating footwear from leather, plastic or suede, she uses a far more unconventional medium: human flesh.

Actually, it's rubber, but the China-born, London-based artist yields such a realistic looking specimen we'd surely believe the grotesque pumps were made of the same stuff as the feet squeezed inside them. The wiry human hairs on top -- which, to be clear, are actually human -- finish off the fleshy fashion statement.



"This work was a special project commissioned by ELLE China for their 25th anniversary," the artist explained to HuffPost. "ELLE invited me to create a work using a pair of Dior’s stilettos. I was trying to question and challenge the 'sexy' image of high heels in contemporary culture. Are they inherently sexy? Or are we ‘told' they are sexy?"

To question our immediate associations between stilettos and sex, Zhu constructs forms at once viscerally attractive and repulsive, pinning our contradictory learned reactions against each other. "By creating this stiletto-shaped sculpture from an ambiguous combination of flesh-like texture and human hair, the intention was to deconstruct the stereotype of the femininity of high heels," she continued. "Hopefully, the new possibility of a more individual and objective reading is revealed as a result."

To top off the jumble of flesh and fashion, Zhu hangs some of her sculptures from string and chains, associating them both with BDSM and the binds of consumer desire. "Zhu’s work makes the sexual connotations of high heels explicit, both as ‘lust-worthy’ commodities and as accessories that mechanically increase sexual attractiveness by lengthening legs and raising buttocks," Sam Gaskin wrote in ArtInfo. "The inclusion of bondage gear problematizes high heels’ sexiness, implying the potential for both erotic play and exploitation."



Zhu Tian has been included in The Catlin Guide 2015 | New Artists in the UK, a limited edition book featuring images and interviews with 40 of the most exciting new artists to graduate from UK art schools in the last year.

Lorna Luft On Her Legacy, The Holidays And Her New Show At New York's 54 Below

December 15, 2014, 6:56 am

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Lorna Loft loves a good Christmas celebration, and for good reason. She's been associated with the holiday season since she was 11 years old, when she made her show business debut performing alongside her mother, Judy Garland, on the 1963 Christmas episode of "The Judy Garland Show."

Luft, now 62, has come a long way since her days of singing "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" on the now-iconic TV special. The singer-actress has been seen in the movies, on Broadway and on concert stages around the world. But she couldn't be happier about returning to Manhattan for the holidays, and says her three forthcoming cabaret performances at New York's 54 Below on Dec. 17 and 18, will have their own personal significance.

"In my opinion, New York City is the only place to be for Christmas," the show business veteran, who currently lives in Palm Springs, California, told The Huffington Post in an interview. "It's the excitement, it's the tradition, it's Radio City, it's the hustle and the bustle and the craziness of the streets."


Luft performs on "The Judy Garland Show" in 1963.

Luft said audiences can expect a number of holiday songs in her new act, as well as a selection of show tunes and standards that she's carefully curated so that "every single song has a personal meaning." Featured in the set is a loving tribute to composer Johnny Mercer as well as "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," which Garland introduced in 1944's "Meet Me In St. Louis."

"I think being able to sing a Christmas classic that was written for a member of your family is pretty amazing," she said. "There are very few of us who can have that gift … like 'Over The Rainbow,' it's a such a huge, timeless classic, and to know I have that as part of my legacy is very, very cool."

54 Below, she added, was a natural choice for her shows given the club's location in the basement of the former Studio 54, one of her former hangouts.


Luft attended the 2014 Oscars, which honored the 75th anniversary of "The Wizard of Oz" starring Garland, with brother Joey Luft and half-sister Liza Minnelli.

"I spent a lot of time at Studio 54 in the '80s, and they tell me I had a good time," Luft quipped with a laugh. "It was a period of time that was so fantasic -- yes, it was decadent; yes, it was over the top -- and I was lucky to have been a part of that. I've in that basement, but it sure as hell didn't look like that nightclub."

Joking aside, Luft has had other struggles and milestones in recent years. In 2013, she underwent treatment for breast cancer, which she previously described as "being punched in the face by Muhammad Ali, George Foreman and Mike Tyson all at once." On a brighter note, she welcomed her first granddaughter, Jordan Eloise Richards, earlier this year.

Luft, who is now cancer-free, said both experiences have taught her to "live in the moment" and have helped shape the message of her new show.

"Treasure your past, but live in the moment, and appreciate every single thing you have today," she said. "If you constantly live for what's coming up in three weeks, you will be disappointed. If you live in the moment, you're never disappointed."

Lorna Luft plays New York's 54 Below on Dec. 17 and 18. Head here for more information.