{"id":725550,"date":"2026-08-03T06:16:36","date_gmt":"2026-08-03T06:16:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/725550\/"},"modified":"2026-08-03T06:16:36","modified_gmt":"2026-08-03T06:16:36","slug":"a-vending-machine-that-dispenses-tiny-art-and-a-mary-oliver-documentary-are-among-your-best-artsy-things-to-do-this-week","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/725550\/","title":{"rendered":"A vending machine that dispenses tiny art and a Mary Oliver documentary are among your best artsy things to do this week"},"content":{"rendered":"

Teeny tiny art in Queen Village<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve visited At My House a couple of times, scouring the aisles for quirky vintage pieces, loving the eclectic vibe of the store even when I didn\u2019t buy anything. So I was not surprised at all to see them hosting what is possibly the most whimsical art show<\/a> I\u2019ve ever been to, displaying art the size of a postage stamp.<\/p>\n

The Queen Village clothing and homewares store is run by Kelly Braun who, in collaboration with artist Fabiola Lara, started the mini art show last year. That invited artists to create 3\u201d x 3\u201d art, so this year, it had to be even more silly, cutting it in half to 1.5\u201d x 1.5.\u201d <\/p>\n

\"PrintsPrints by artist Fabiola Lara for sale during the opening\/public reception of the exhibition \u201cThe Mini Mini Art Show\u201d at the store \u201cAt My House\u201d on 4th Street in Philadelphia on Friday, July 24, 2026. Every artwork in the exhibition measures 1.5\u201d by 1.5\u201d or smaller (size of a postage stamp).Elizabeth Robertson \/ Staff Photographer<\/p>\n

The opening reception for the show was absolutely buzzing, with people grabbing cocktails and making a line around the store to view the wall of tiny pieces. There were tiny clothing, houses, rooms, closets, and classic art pieces \u2014 those were made by Lara, who is no stranger to mini art.<\/p>\n

You may have come across her mini art vending machines, of which there are 13 around the city. <\/p>\n

\"LeannLeann Curly (middle) and Karen Sarappo (right) were thrilled with artist Fabiola Lara\u2019s (left) mini art print that they purchased from the mini art print vending machine during the opening\/public reception of the exhibition \u201cThe Mini Mini Art Show\u201d at the store \u201cAt My House\u201d on 4th Street in Philadelphia on Friday, July 24, 2026. Every artwork in the exhibition measures 1.5\u201d by 1.5\u201d or smaller (size of a postage stamp). All of the ladies are from Philadelphia.Elizabeth Robertson \/ Staff Photographer<\/p>\n

After visiting several major museums with grandiose pieces, I never thought I would see people get the most excited over art that they can fits in the palm of their hands. But there was an infectious energy and a sense of joy at At My House. <\/p>\n

In a world where large-scale exhibits are so heavily celebrated, getting giddy over comically tiny art felt like a therapeutic break from artistic snobbery. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe Mini Mini Art Show\u201d is on display through Aug. 2 at At My House, 760 S. Fourth St., Philadelphia. atmyhou.se<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Morgan Ritter<\/p>\n

\"PhillyPhilly band Hurry’s new album is ‘Zoned Out.’ They play Main Street Music in Manyunk on Aug. 1 and Philly Typewriter on Aug. 22. Luke Ivanovich<\/p>\n

Harmony-happy Hurry is back with \u2018Zoned Out\u2019<\/p>\n

Matthew Scottoline is Zoned Out. That\u2019s the title of the transporting new album by Hurry, the jangly Philadelphia band that has been his creative outlet since 2012, when Scottoline \u2014 previously the bassist in Philly emo band Everyone Everywhere, stepped out as leader of his own power-pop project.<\/p>\n

Now six albums in, Scottoline continues to refine the harmony-happy Hurry approach, where longing and yearning and experiencing a bittersweet melancholy is elevated to an art form.<\/p>\n

In his notes to the album \u2014 which began as home recordings on cassette and was completed at The Metal Shop in East Kensington<\/a> \u2014 explains that the dreamy, hypnotic song that gives the collection its name came about because \u201cI tend to disassociate. I zone out and sort of crawl into my own head.\u201d <\/p>\n

In this case, that dissociating is a result of facing life changes \u2014 the end of one relationship, the beginning of another, and the decision to become a parent \u2014 \u201cand how [expletive] scary that is,\u201d as Scottoline puts it in his notes.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

But while that tension exists as an undercurrent, Scottoline\u2019s knack for breezy, cascading melodies mean that Zoned Out is always riding a pleasurable, reassuring wave. The album \u2014 which features a cameo from Gerard Love of Scottish power-pop heroes Teenage Fanclub \u2014 conveys a sense that any conflicts or \u201cComplications\u201d that may arise will ultimately resolve themselves, just as the melodies do on this seriously catchy set of 10 songs. <\/p>\n

Hurry will perform at free in-store performance at Main Street Music, 4444 Main Street in Manayunk<\/a> with Planette Automatic<\/a>, mainstreetmusicusa.com<\/a>. After heading to England and Scotland for short tour, the band will be back in town at Philly Typewriter, 1735 Passyunk Ave, with Chime School and Te Vista on Aug. 22. r5productions.com.<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Dan DeLuca<\/p>\n

\"AA photograph of Mary Oliver from Sasha Waters’ documentary, “Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World”Courtesy of Kino Lorber<\/p>\n

Before Mary Oliver\u2019s poems became the stuff of Instagram inspiration posts, she was the patron saint of college girls discovering love and nature for the first time. I was 16 when I read \u201cWild Geese,\u201d almost crying at the lines: \u201cYou do not have to be good.\/You do not have to walk on your knees\/ for a hundred miles through the desert repenting.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the years since, I have met so many women in love with her words: a former coworker had a tattoo of her lines, a friend will often quote from Oliver\u2019s \u201cThe Summer Day\u201d from memory just to describe her joy of being in a beach on a day so hot that the water shimmers as it evaporates in the horizon.<\/p>\n

Oliver, who lived with her partner, Molly Malone Cook, in Provincetown for several years, is also a queer icon whose words never fail to soothe a soul in need of a reminder of the love and tenderness in this world. <\/p>\n

Now, a documentary on her life and career \u2014 featuring readings of her poems by the likes of Helena Bonham Carter and Oprah Winfrey \u2014 celebrates the poet who died in 2019. Peppered with poetry, remembrances, interviews, photos, and notebook pages, Sasha Waters\u2019 Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World is a treat to those who love Mary Oliver and those who are waiting to start.<\/p>\n

\u201cMary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World\u201d plays July 31-Aug. 6, at the Bryn Mawr<\/a> Film Institute, 824 W. Lancaster Avenue, Bryn Mawr. brynmawrfilm.org<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Bedatri D. Choudhury<\/p>\n

\"JewelerJeweler Steven Lagos’ flag is among the 120 custom made flags from national and international designers celebrating America’s 250th birthday in Rockefeller Center.Lagos<\/p>\n

Steven Lagos\u2019 Philly pride at Rockefeller Center<\/p>\n

Philly master jeweler Steven Lagos\u2019 flag blows along the perimeter of Rockefeller Center with graphic images of a cracked bell, 13 stars, and red and white striped detail. At first glance, it does not look much different from other art shouting out Philly\u2019s history.<\/p>\n

However, after looking carefully, I noticed Lagos\u2019 golden caviar bead ribbon dancing in the center of the red, white, blue canvass and thought this is special in a Lagos loves Philly kind of way.<\/p>\n

Those caviar beads are Lagos\u2019 trademark, a part of the design dictionary of Philadelphia, where Lagos has lived and worked for more than 50 years. It\u2019s amazing to see him continuing to integrate Philly in all of his work. <\/p>\n

Lagos\u2019 flag is among the 130 featured in the \u201cUnited Flags of Fashion,<\/a>\u201d a joint project between the Council of Fashion Designers of America, Vogue, Rockefeller Center, and America 250 to honor of the country\u2019s milestone birthday. CFDA describes the project as a \u201csweeping tribute to American creativity, identity, and design.\u201d<\/p>\n

Other household name fashion brands with flags flying high are Tommy Hilfiger, Vera Wang, Calvin Klein, Gap, and Kenneth Cole. Bucks County<\/a> born Thom Browne \u2014 whose steely gray flag features a crest \u2014 and Main Line<\/a> bred Tory Burch \u2014 whose red, white, and blue flag also showcases a Liberty Bell, but her image hovers over the words virtue, liberty, and independence. These Pennsylvania makers are full mast. <\/p>\n

While those designers proudly say they are from the Philly-area. Lagos \u2014 whose red and white stripes are represent of the Philadelphia Museum of Arts columns \u2014 stayed in Philly. His flagship business is on Philly\u2019s tawniest street and, as evidenced in his Rockefeller Center banner, Lagos reps Philly in everything he does. <\/p>\n

The flags will fly at Rockefeller Center through Sept. 4<\/p>\n

\u2014 Elizabeth Wellington <\/p>\n

\"MichelleMichelle Buteau as Mavis in the Netflix comedy “Survival of the Thickest.” MUST CREDIT: Netflix photo by Vanessa Clifton<\/p>\n

God bless you please, Michelle Buteau<\/p>\n

It\u2019s hard to say goodbye to one of my favorite shows, but the third and final season of Survival of the Thickest felt like a fitting ending for Michelle Buteau\u2019s witty comedy. She plays Mavis, an aspiring fashion designer who wants to make clothes that fit all body types \u2014 thick girls, genderqueer folks, and anyone else who thrives outside of the fashion world\u2019s narrow beauty standards. <\/p>\n

In this season, (part-time) Delaware County<\/a> resident Wanda Sykes<\/a> joins the cast as Mavis\u2019 fertility doctor and she\u2019s a cool-headed, hilarious scene partner who deflates her patient\u2019s babbling anxiety with well-timed precision. <\/p>\n

The show remains funny, warm, and sassy, but the emotions reach new depths as Mavis experiences a miscarriage and struggles in her recovery. Nothing keeps her down for long though, and it\u2019s such a comfort to see Mavis get back up. It\u2019s an uplifting and heartwarming story that could help any viewer overcome summertime (or other time) sadness. <\/p>\n

\u201cSurvival of the Thickest\u201d streams on Netflix.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Rosa Cartagena<\/p>\n

\"Rosa<\/a><\/p>\n

I write about arts, entertainment, and culture in Philly, covering everything from movies, TV, theater, and museums to local artists and fascinating art mysteries. <\/p>\n

\"Dan<\/a><\/p>\n

I’m The Inquirer’s Pop Music Critic. I cover Philly music makers of all genres, spotlighting local acts on the rise, telling stories from throughout the city’s rich music history, and reviewing big-name touring acts when they come to town. <\/p>\n

\"Elizabeth<\/a><\/p>\n

I cover the local arts scene and how it speaks to issues of race, gender, fashion, culture, and wellness. I critique pop culture, especially fashion, television, movies, and books.\n <\/p>\n