"The Secret Gestural Prehistory of Mobile Devices is cultural anthropology. It seeks to recover those moments of intuitive prehensile dexterity, when the famous and the ordinary alike felt the unconscious desire to occupy their hands for an as yet unknown purpose. Like Roy Neary's obsession with the image of Devil's Tower in Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), this gesture was vague, uncanny and compelling. It is the intimation in images of a gestural second nature to come." [more inside]
posted by taz on Mar 20, 2012 - 16 comments

Pony Creator - create ponies (in the My Little Pony:Friendship is Magic style). [Flash]
posted by Wolfdog on Jan 4, 2012 - 73 comments

Everyone knows how to draw a stickman. This cool game brings your stickman to life!
posted by rozomon on Sep 21, 2011 - 56 comments

The artists of Draw2D2 are given two "geeky things" based on a monthly theme, and then have two weeks to create mash-up illustrations. Art is posted every other Thursday at 12:00pm EST, with a poll for the public to vote for their favorites. Artists with the most votes can show their process in a spotlight post. [more inside]
posted by zarq on Sep 12, 2011 - 14 comments

The most exciting and ridiculous 404 page you'll ever see [via]
posted by Blazecock Pileon on Aug 2, 2011 - 51 comments

Minimal Movie Posters [more inside]
posted by zarq on May 1, 2011 - 38 comments

Candy Chang is a public installation artist, designer, urban planner and 2011 TED Senior Fellow based in New Orleans. Her Civic Center creates projects that try to "make cities more comfortable", and encourage residents to envision alternate urban realities: "I Wish This Was...." (site) / The NYC Street Vendor Guide / "Before I Die... In NOLA" / The Restroom Map Notepad / The Sexy Trees of the Marigny 2011 Calendar / The Neighbor Doorknob-Hanger / A Nice Place for a Tree and Post-It Notes for Neighbors. (Via). [more inside]
posted by zarq on Mar 2, 2011 - 7 comments

Psykopaint is really fun, visually interesting and free. It is a rich internet application in which you can turn your pictures into paintings by grabbing one of the 6 brushes provided and start painting while the colors are selected automatically for you. Created by Mathieu Gosselin.
posted by nickyskye on Feb 21, 2011 - 16 comments

"Art is a legalized form of insanity, and I do it very well."

Amarillo, Texas is home to the Cadillac Ranch, artist & sculptor Lightnin’ McDuff’s “Ozymandius,” the Amarillo Ramp and the “Dynamite Museum” project, which gave residents the opportunity to order fake, fun road signs and place them on their properties.  Over 5000 signs (Someone did a study!) have been erected throughout town.  But what do all of these projects have in common? They’re all elaborate art works commissioned by Stanley Marsh 3rd, eccentric millionaire, philanthropist and inveterate prankster. [more inside]
posted by zarq on Jul 13, 2010 - 28 comments

Surreal and spectacular paintings of Vladimir Kush. [more inside]
posted by nickyskye on Jun 6, 2010 - 16 comments

50 mostly flash fun sites. These include Record Tripping; Sound of Hamburg; Echogenesis; Incredibox in English and French; Optus Whale Song; Blues Master; Flame. And many more. Soundtrack For A Book is one of my favorites.
posted by nickyskye on May 26, 2010 - 3 comments

From the same wicked awesome site that brought you the totally unofficial Ren and Stimpy soundtrack, Kirk Demarais gets nostalgic, drawing family portraits of cult-famous families of the last three decades. Take a stroll down memory lane with the Torrances, the Lundegaardes, the Griswolds, and other infamous families. [more inside]
posted by Blazecock Pileon on Sep 9, 2009 - 5 comments

Hooping. The hoops adults use to dance and perform tricks are larger and heavier than the children's toy called the Hula Hoop. As hooping becomes more popular, people across the States and across the world are pushing the boundaries of dance and sport with a simple, easily made tool. Hooping for pleasure, exercise, and meditation is becoming a phenomenon. There's even a documentary. [more inside]
posted by fiercecupcake on Jun 16, 2009 - 24 comments

[belated but brilliant] Friday Flash Fun — The Majesty of Colors
posted by cthuljew on Dec 27, 2008 - 21 comments

Performance artists Corpus do Sheep. They also do Le Grand Peep Show. (links safe for peeps, safe for sheep and safe for work. Via Nutritional Plastic)
posted by isopraxis on Dec 22, 2008 - 6 comments

"We create sewn art and artifacts based on the drawings of our two children using only thrifted and recycled materials. We also make custom pieces with a child's drawing provided or requested by you." Via plsj tumblelog.
posted by nthdegx on Jul 8, 2008 - 8 comments

Come, take a ride and look at some of the Islamic Art of the past. Or, you could call it Art of the Islamic World if you're so inclined. If not, then how about taking into account some of the major milestones of Islam throughout the centuries, from past till present (more examples here), including the art of Calligraphy and Architecture. Not to mention the Arab world's contribution to music, both old and new. [Previously mentioned, here, here, here, and here, with a wonderful comment from nickyskye as usual]
posted by hadjiboy on May 29, 2008 - 28 comments

The Warholizer Your picture. Warholed.
posted by konolia on Apr 14, 2008 - 18 comments

Speaking of speeches, David Eggers delivers one at TED on grassroots community tutoring for kids who need help with their English homework: "There's something about the kids finishing their homework in a given day, working one on one, getting all this attention. They finish their homework, they go home -- they're finished. They don't stall. They don't do their homework in front of the TV. They're allowed to go home 5:30, enjoy their family, enjoy other hobbies, get outside, play and that makes a happy family. A bunch of happy families in a neighborhood is a happy community. A bunch of happy communities tied together is a happy city and a happy world, right? So, the key to it all is homework." Love him or hate him (mefi consensus) it's a great example of nervous energy microphilanthropy, social entrepreneurship and, if I may make the connection, machines of loving grace. [previously]
posted by kliuless on Mar 23, 2008 - 26 comments

"Good afternoon, I attached this camera to the bench so you could take pictures. Seriously. So have fun. I'll be back later this evening to pick it up. Love, Jay / The Plug". Stranger Photos Have Happened.
posted by nthdegx on Mar 21, 2008 - 57 comments

Half-human album covers. Also known as "sleevefaces."
posted by KevinSkomsvold on Dec 26, 2007 - 33 comments

"A paper around her neck said she was Ida, but Ida said nothing at all." So tells the story of the saddest, unluckiest girl that ever lived. [more inside]
posted by ZachsMind on Sep 6, 2007 - 17 comments

AmazingFilter: foolish fun inventions, lovey dovey, trompe l'oeil and anamorphosis art by Eduador Relero, Bev Doolittle(?), on buildings, kirigami, photographs [disturbing] and irony.
posted by nickyskye on May 19, 2007 - 12 comments

Etch-a-Sketch art by etchy, Flickr set; by Michael McNevin; by Wanderline. D.I.Y. Brainwave Etch-a-Sketch. How it works.
posted by nickyskye on Apr 18, 2007 - 16 comments

Sunday sillibiz: Snackimals, really fancy fashions for dogs, RubikCubism, hairstyle names from 1970s Ebony ad, burquas for men, fetish dollies [nsfw], Art Car Museum, the hideaway cosy, baby tiger cub sleeps and plays. [via]
posted by nickyskye on Feb 11, 2007 - 14 comments

Some new gadgets, things and inventions: solar bikini that charges your ipod, paper soft wall, waterproof laptop, million dollar fishing lure, Obvio hybrid micro-car, needle-free injection, hi-tech dummies that can speak, breathe, bleed, react to drugs & die, dragon bag. Interactive sight, sound and physical objects from the student artists of the NYU Interactive telecommunications biannual showcase [video], including Animalia Chordata and Botanicalls, building telecommunications between people and their plants.
posted by nickyskye on Jan 7, 2007 - 22 comments

Visual acoustics is a concept for interactive expression.
posted by nickyskye on Dec 28, 2006 - 7 comments

Hundreds of hand-drawn turkeys. Teaching assistant for a Psych class is on copier duty: multiple-page midterm for a class of over 700. Appends "Draw a turkey" to the last page of the test. Here are the results. Gobble. [via mefi projects]
posted by brownpau on Nov 22, 2006 - 61 comments

Boredom begone! There exist a preponderance of games which (mostly) require nothing but pen and paper, ranging from the relatively mild Fictionary and Word Association, to the more artistic Exquisite Corpse and Eat Poop You Cat (seen previously as an online game), and finally the downright nutty Dvorak and 1000 blank white cards. My favorite, by far: the elusive other foot.
posted by duffell on Nov 5, 2006 - 26 comments

Tryangle cannot be defined, but it's way fun. Use it to easily create angular art pieces, then share your creation with the teeming masses on the Tryangle Flickr pool.
posted by Cecily on Dec 1, 2005 - 13 comments

A fascinating collection of flashlets and animated gifs. All black and white, most involving the same or very similar drawings of a man. Mostly SFW; there is sound though.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy on Aug 13, 2005 - 12 comments

Murphy's Original Stupid Creatures are more than just sock monkeys. Browse stupid creature history, or make your own.
posted by drezdn on Aug 3, 2005 - 10 comments

Secret Wall Tattoos "I like to think it's like panties, there's something better behind the mystery, the uncovering that's even more mesmerizing." -josh homme my fav
posted by gren on May 11, 2005 - 25 comments

SleepyGeek has a fun tool that creates montages from Google image search results.
posted by willnot on Apr 10, 2005 - 6 comments

myData=myMondrian is an interactive art interface in which the personal data provided by viewers is translated into a Piet Mondrian-like composition. Here's an example image.

Related: Rhizome.org: myData=myMondrian
posted by sjvilla79 on Apr 8, 2005 - 30 comments

Have some extra free time? Why not try your hand at some paper craft?
posted by Robot Johnny on Apr 13, 2004 - 7 comments

PC's, Playstations, Volkswagens... what else have you been seeing get "balled" up lately?
posted by brownpau on Mar 10, 2004 - 3 comments

Cameron Tiede's art will bring out the silly kid in you (flash alert!). Play musical favorites with the belching bugs, spend some time with the critter creator, learn cool things about Egypt and mummies (don't miss "death"), and stop by his wacky portfolio before you leave. You may have seen some of his illustrated creations on Nickelodeon. Fun stuff!
posted by madamjujujive on May 1, 2003 - 5 comments

"Twexus does contain 15800 images today". Twexus is an enigmatic, engaging little database-driven photoart site that rewards you with new site features as your page views increase. I can't seem to tear free from the hypnotic effect of the "symmetry" page that concerns itself with my opinion on each proffered image. sorry, gotta go... must... return... to... twexus...
posted by taz on Nov 21, 2002 - 15 comments

Broken Saints is a beautifully done flash animation. A little anime in feel with some strange sonic diversions every once in a while. The pacing is a little slow for my highly Americanized tastes, but it's gorgeous all the same.
posted by willnot on Jun 12, 2002 - 11 comments