Stories

Highlighting the magic behind people, places, science, and art.

Artist/designer Kelly Thorn in her home studio.

Tarot of Oxalia: An interview with Kelly Thorn

Kelly Thorn, a Philadelphia-based multi-disciplinary artist, thrives on varied interests, including graphic design, hand-poked tattoos, lettering, illustration, and painting. Her latest endeavor, t...

Martin Smith

For Martin Smith, You Are the Automaton

Inside the studio of Martin Smith, one of the world's best artist of figure-less kinetic automatons.

The Small Worlds of Michael Davydov

The Small Worlds of Michael Davydov

The miniature artist captures moments of whimsy by encasing houses in nature in small jars.

The Alien Lego Cubes of Zachary Steinman

The Alien Lego Cubes of Zachary Steinman

The Lego sculptures, these intricate cubic studies of shapes and patterns, are made on a nightly basis ... and are disassembled shortly after.

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Chris Ramsay Unwraps All 25 Mystery Decks

Chris Ramsay Unwraps All 25 Mystery Decks

Watch Chris Ramsay unbox 25 Mystery Decks!

Paula Scher Designs Playing Cards

Paula Scher Designs Playing Cards

Just Type is a modern reinterpretation of classic playing card design and a tribute to the different ways in which the spirit of type can be modified.

The Absurd Genius of Joseph's Machines

The Absurd Genius of Joseph's Machines

Instagram artist Joseph Herscher builds absurd Rube-Goldberg machines for life’s most mundane tasks.

Backgammon

How to Play Backgammon

What makes backgammon so compelling is its balance of chance by incorporating dice rolls, and strategy. It’s also very easy to learn and can scale in difficulty depending on who you’re playing; so,...

Tension Carved Into Wood, a Q&A with Gibus

Tension Carved Into Wood, a Q&A with Gibus

French sculptor Jean-Baptiste Boutin carves guttural truth from wood, freezing tense moments in a forever state.

The History of the Slinky

The History of the Slinky

Some of the greatest inventions in the world happened by accident. Silly String, Play-Doh, and ... the Slinky. Even stranger? The inventor himself.