Artist’s salt designs will eventually “˜Return to the Sea’

A shaker of Morton’s salt sits on the kitchen table of many families across the country. It adds flavor to dinner and even inspires some girls to wear a yellow raincoat to be the iconic Morton Salt girl for Halloween. But artist Motoi Yamamoto has an entirely unconventional use for the seasoning: He creates masterpieces with it.

Q&A: Todd Solondz talks inspiration for new movie 'Dark Horse'

Screenwriter and director Todd Solondz has made himself known for his dark but humorous style through a series of movies, including “Happiness” and “Welcome to the Dollhouse.” In his films, Solondz explores the pain of being an outcast and the capacity of human cruelty, as well as delving into more unnerving matters of rape, pedophilia and preteen pregnancy. The director’s new film, “Dark Horse,” which premiered at the Nuart Theatre in West Los Angeles on Friday, goes in a different direction, focusing instead on the darker side of adult adolescence. Solondz spoke with Daily Bruin’s Meg Davis about the film and how he approached the process of filmmaking for this particular movie.