# Draped Outdoor Furniture Michael Beitz's Picnic Table Tweaks a Traditional Design By Meghan Young | Published 2011-08-19 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/picnic-table References: [plusmood](http://plusmood.com/2011/08/picnic-table-michael-beitz/) & [michaelbeitz](http://www.michaelbeitz.com) Michael Beitz's Picnic Table shows that art installation can be as practical as they are surreal. It is exactly what it is named, yet with a quirky draping detail that takes the ordinary picnic table and brings it to a whole new whimsical level. Basically, the New York-based artist elongated the traditional picnic table so that one of its ends hangs over a metal rail in a rather cartoonish manner. Located at the [Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/antimicrobial-toilet-seats) in Omaha, Nebraska, this tweaked piece of [outdoor furniture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-new-raw-1) inspires passersby to sit down and enjoy their surroundings, a simple pleasure that can often be lost in the daily grind that is our lives. Simple yet creative, Michael Beitz's Picnic Table is quite original. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.7/10 - Popularity: 85% | Activity: 47% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Furniture](https://www.trendhunter.com/furniture) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Surrealist Furniture Design:** Opportunities in the creation of design-forward furniture that incorporates creative and unconventional shapes and elements. - **Whimsical Public Installations:** Opportunities for artists and designers to create outdoor installations that not only beautify public spaces but also provide an interactive function for people to enjoy. - **Functional Artistry:** Opportunities in the creation of art installations that also serve practical and functional purposes, blurring the line between art and function in everyday objects. ### Where This Applies - **Furniture:** Opportunities for furniture designers and manufacturers to create unconventional yet functional furniture pieces that serve as both art and useable home goods. - **Public Art:** Opportunities for artists to create signature outdoor installations to beautify public spaces or raise awareness about specific issues or causes. - **Outdoor Recreation:** Opportunities to create innovative outdoor recreational equipment that incorporates creative design elements that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Multifunctional Park Picnic Furniture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/foldable-picnic-furniture.md) - [Dynamic Sculptural Tables](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/interactive-transformation-table.md) - [Artwork-Inspired Dining Tables](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/d12-dining-table.md) - [Compact Outdoor Tables](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/portable-1.md) - [Geometrically Informed Outdoor Tables](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/outdoor-table1.md) - [Wine-Catered Vibrant Artful Tables](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wine-table.md) - [Dynamic Moving-Illusion Furniture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/moving-furniture.md) - [Unconventional Outdoor Furniture Collections](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/new-joy-furniture.md) - [Shaded Modern Outdoor Furniture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ufo-shelter.md)