Not Tom was approached by British bone china maker Buttercup China to create a stand at the Spring Fair 2012. Lining the wall with over 800 plates to create a giant scalloped pattern, Not Tom was able to demonstrate how simple, quality products can create a dramatic impact. The display won the best stand in show prize, too.

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The annual EarthFair in Balboa Park is the largest free annual environmental fair in the world. Each year, the EarthFair draws around 70,000 visitors.

Produced by 400 volunteers, EarthFair features more than 350 exhibitors, special theme areas, a Food Pavilion, a special Kids’ Activity Area, three entertainment venues, the Children’s Earth Parade, the eARTh Gallery art show, and the Cleaner Car Concourse. For more information visit www.EarthDayWeb.org.

Hundreds of printed elastic strings come together to create strange and startlingly realistic portraits of human faces and limbs in this series by Hong Sung Chul. The South Korean artist creates layered compositions by stringing the cords between two platforms; the resulting images change and shift depending on one’s perspective. Calling to mind lenticular images, which use a rippled surface to create images that change from one point of view to another, Sung Chul’s three-dimensional sculptures don’t quite come together unless you’re standing in a particular spot.

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The Norwegian Wild Reindeer Centre Pavilion, better known as Tverrfjellhytta was designed by Snøhetta, the observation pavilion is located on the outskirts of Dovrefjell National Park and allows the public to enjoy programs offered by the Norwegian Wild Reindeer Foundation. It provides shelter to the groups of students and visitors that come to learn about the program.

The idea behind the design was to contrast the boxy steel and glass exterior with the organic wood curves of the interior. The wood mimics erosion on a rock or ice caused by natural events, which provides unique seating for the public. They’ve managed to create a cozy and durable space for the people to take in the view and learn about the area.

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This original exhibition documents a fascinating, inspiring and overlooked chapter of San Diego’s recent past: the important contribution of San Diego craftsmen from the postwar period beginning in the 1940s up through the 1970s. San Diego’s Craft Revolution – From Post-War Modern to California Design will explore the progression from sleek modernism to unconventional handmade objects of use such as furniture, doors, jewelry and ceramics. Exhibit ends April 15th. For more information visit www.Mingei.org.

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San Diego’s Craft Revolution: Post War Modern to California design explores the the progression from sleek to modernism to unconventional handmade objects of use such as furniture, doors, jewelry and ceramics. Tickets are $4 for children and $7 for adults. Exhibit ends April 15th. For more information visit the event website at www.Mingei.com

The Riverside Museum in Glasgow offers not only a huge collection of transportation history, but now the building itself has become a reason to visit. The design by Zaha Hadid Architects features a cutting edge design that connects the museum to the ship building history of the area around it. The Museum opened on June 21 of this year and the museum had this to say about the design “Glasgow’s history as an industrial giant, a global leader in engineering and shipbuilding, is celebrated in an architectural masterpiece which shows that we remain at the cutting edge of design and technology.”

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The Washington D.C. mall has a new memorial open for the public. The Martin Luther King Jr. memorial is offically a National Park and a memorial to the memory of a man that changed the face of civil rights. Even though Hurricane Irene may have delayed opening ceremonies for the memorial, it is now open and is being welcomed with open arms. “Welcoming this memorial to the National Mall honors a heroic man and a critical chapter in our nation’s march toward a more perfect union,” said Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar.

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This year marks the 10th Anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks on the United States. In memory of the lives lost, the National 9/11 Memorial in New York City will open to the public. This memorial is the perfect example of how architecture and design can capture and preserve the memory of  lives lost.  The design of the memorial is best described by the Memorial’s website.

“The Memorial’s twin reflecting pools are each nearly an acre in size and feature the largest manmade waterfalls in the North America. The pools sit within the footprints where the Twin Towers once stood. Architect Michael Arad and landscape architect Peter Walker created the Memorial design selected from a global design competition that included more than 5,200 entries from 63 nations.

The names of every person who died in the 2001 and 1993 attacks are inscribed into bronze panels edging the Memorial pools, a powerful reminder of the largest loss of life resulting from a foreign attack on American soil and the greatest single loss of rescue personnel in American history.”

For more information about the National Memorial visit its website.

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Southern California is known across the country and the world for having its own distinct style. Art Platform-Los Angeles is all about showcasing the rich culture and diversity within the area that has influenced the contemporary art world. Local and international artists, dealers, collectors and museums will be present to display their favorite pieces to capture the essence of Southern California. Art Platform- Los Angeles will begin September 30 and go until October 3 at L.A. Mart.

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