Algorithm-Assisted Thread Art

Ani Abakumova employs an algorithm to develop a pattern for portraits that she then strings together by hand. The algorithm, developed by Abakumova’s husband Andrey, configures the layers, colors and specific depiction. When Abakumova assembles it all, she follows the math’s lead and trusts that it has accounted for shadowing, shape and depth. For each portrait—she’s replicated the “Mona Lisa,” “Girl with a Pearl Earring” …

The Nicholas: Call Me Back

Relaxed but purposeful, “Call Me Back” by The Nicholas (aka Amsterdam/LA-based Rutger van Woudenberg) is dreamy but tactile. “Your heart’s like a star / I saw you from afar / Maybe it’s time for you / to call me back,” he rings out on the track, which is from Woudenberg’s Lighthead EP. It’s altogether sonically pleasing and reminiscent of bygone eras, though influenced by psych-stars …

Apple’s [AR]T Walk Showcases the Potential of a New Medium

Featuring work from eight artists, the augmented reality project places pieces in their stores and beyond

Augmented reality (AR), the less enveloping sibling of virtual reality, infuses the real world with imaginative additions. Often viewed through wearable lenses or through the screen of a smartphone, AR pits fantastical scenes alongside actual passersby and preexisting structures. This technological art form has become the medium of choice for Apple‘s newest experiential initiative, [AR]T Walk (curated by the New Museum‘s Lisa Phillips and Massimiliano …