Tides of War

9,000 Fallen Soldiers Etched into the Sand at Normandy Beach  In commemoration of Peace Day, British artists Jamie Wardley and Andy Moss etched 9,000 silhouettes representing fallen people into the sand of Normandy Beach. The artists were assisted by more than 500 volunteers in completing this stark, poignant reminder of the civilian, German, and Allied lives lost during the D-Day beach landings on June 6, 1944. The installation lasted only a few hours before being washed away by the tide. Absurd Portraits from the National Beard & Mustache Championships by Greg Anderson If you missed the incredible display of outrageous whiskers that was the 4th Annual National Beard and Mustache Championship last month, never fear. Las Vegas-based photographer Greg Anderson has you covered with these fur-filled portraits. Ark Nova: World's First Inflatable Concert Hall Will Tour Recovering Areas in Japan Designed through a unique collaboration between sculptor Anish Kapoor, architect Arata Isozaki, and the Lucerne Festival, Ark Nova is the first large-scale inflatable concert hall ever constructed. This month the extremely mobile structure will begin making stops in areas of Japan that are still rebuilding after the massive earthquake/tsunami of March 2011. Cedar recovered from tsunami debris has been repurposed to create seating for 500. Ark Nova will be host to events, concerts, and workshops. Video Demonstrates a Chicken's Ability to Stabilize Its Head Science! Ok, advertising actually, but it's still pretty awesome. This video from Mercedes-Benz shows off the incredible ability of chickens (and lots of other birds) to keep their heads in exactly the same spot despite the movement of their bodies. Fashion in Leaves by Tang Chiew Ling This takes seasonal fashion to a whole different level. The ongoing project of Malaysian artist and illustrator Tang Chiew Ling, Fashion in Leaves explores various forms of leaves and flowers as if they were fashion sketches. Banksy to Descend on NYC for an "Outdoor Residency" in October Late yesterday Banksy's website updated to announce "an artists residency on the streets of New York." It appears the England-based graffiti artist will be stalking the streets of New York City for the month of October, nearly 14 months after his last outdoor pieces appeared prior to the 2012 Olympics in London. The "residency" is accompanied by a hilarious audio tour that people can experience by calling a phone number or visiting his website.  From the Colossal Shop Carved from solid mahogany and beautiful pine, you can stack these gorgeous wooden blocks to create your own "letterscape" or display them in the included wooden box. All twenty-six letters have been reimagined and cut into clever fonts and interesting designs by Brooklyn-based designer Pat Kim. These are perfect for any font enthusiast. Each block is approximately 2" cubed.