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Weird Eco Art find of the day: Alaska made Frozen Gore ice sculpture breathing cold air
I'll begin by saying I love Alaska and Alaskan's. They still continue to live in the frontier mindset, and are some of the toughest self reliant people I have ever met. When I first started working their as a naturalist I assumed something that any young naive do-gooder might consider, that people who live so closely with the land would also feel inclined to protect it. I wish I could tell you exactly what this piece is designed to communicate aside from getting attention.
The carving features an audio dub of Mr. Gore's Dec. 2009 Copenhagen speech suggesting the entire Polar Ice cap will likely disappear in the next 5 to 7 years, and urging us to upgrade our light bulbs.
As the audio is played, hot air will be emitted from the mouth of the statue, signifying the dangers to the environment of all types of man-made emissions. The source of the hot air will be the Ford F-350 flatbed truck on which the sculpture sits, with a 2” hose from the tailpipe of the vehicle, through a hole bored in the back of the head of the carving, and pumped out through the mouth of the statue. Local businessmen Craig Compeau and Rudy Gavora commissioned the frozen artwork, by world class sculptor Steve Dean.
“We invited Mr. Gore to Fairbanks last January (one of the coldest in decades) to debate his planet-melting theories."
Is anyone else scratching their head on this one? I'm stumped. I guess the thinking is that because it is still freezing in Fairbanks the rest of the world isn't changing? Or are they wishing that Gore had urged people to take more action than just changing their lightbulbs?
I'll give them points for the following though (even if it is a rip off of the contest to guess when the ice on the Tanana River breaks up).
In conjunction with the release of the new statue, Compeau has incorporated a “Local Warming” contest that will raise money to provide warm winter clothing for homeless Fairbanks residents. The contest asks participants to estimate how many hours the Ford F-350 would have to run (at idle) to equal the carbon output of a round-trip visit from Tennessee to Copenhagen aboard a Lear jet. The winner will receive a warm Ski-doo winter jacket, long underwear, thermal socks, and an Al Gore Bobblehead doll.
Meanwhile, Vanguard's Adam Yamaguchi travels to Alaska to witness some of the dramatic effects of climate change:
Have you spotted an eco art object you think should be highlighted? Email me at llamb@current.com
Related content:
Alaska's Mount Redoubt erupts
SuperNews go Parasailin' with Sarah Palin (video)
Take the ONE GREEN THING New Year’s challenge with us!
I'll begin by saying I love Alaska and Alaskan's. They still continue to... more-
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Environmental art and performance: A somatic natural history
One of my favorite jokes is to offer to do an interpretive dance for people. But Karl Cronin has surpassed the joke and entered the realm of beauty with his project, The Somatic Natural History Archive.
Karl explains the vision for the project,
I will use my body to collect and perform the embodied histories of 10,000 US plants and animals. The goal is to highlight the incredible biodiversity of the USA, while providing the general public with practical steps they can take to reduce their impact on natural systems.
With your support, I will conduct field research with 40 threatened species and perform their unique attributes in a series of public performances. Each performance will be accompanied by a presentation from a local environmental scientist, who will discuss wildlife protection and rehabilitation initiatives in the area.
You can learn more about the project and how to get involved at his site on kickstarter.
Related Content:
French Dance Craze: Techtonik (video)
Deaf Raves (video)
Miami eco-art (video)
Photos from across America (video)
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Pay the price
In honor of Blog Action Day, Current Green is featuring news and opinion pieces on Current's Green channel, and featuring art and poetry on our blog. All Day long. The following was commentary and poetry was submitted by Wolf e boy.
So, apparently it’s ‘blog action day’ all over the world on 15th October, an effort inspired by climate change campaigners to raise awareness of the ‘alleged’ impending doom befalling our supposedly stricken planet. I have to say, straight off the bat, I’ve long considered humans to be the worst disease this planet has to combat, so I’m tempted to view this whole climate change battle as more of a, ‘shit, what’s gonna happen to us’ debate really, while having the opinion that anything which wipes out the human race would, on the whole, be better for all other living creatures residing here.
The situation the human race now finds itself in is entirely man made, and while we’d all like to be able to point the finger, screaming with some kind of righteous indignation at the corporate super powers of industry, like British Petroleum, Tesco’s, Mac Donalds, Aviation industries, or even Starbucks, we conveniently neglect to mention that they’re all operated by human beings in the very ‘dog eat dog’ world of business.
So let’s consider that perhaps the millions of farm reared cattle can actually fart us out of existence, or that the billions of cars, trains, planes, motor bikes, and power stations will poison our air, land, and seas, so that the jet streams can then deliver these deadly toxins around the planet, or the Gulf stream ceases to flow, bringing on another ice age, maybe the opposite and global warming baking half of us to death in waves of ‘nucleur summers’. This planet has already had the global warming and ice age scenarios, before even we came along, and there’s a reasonable chance they’ll happen again, with or without our assistance.
One of the biggest problems we as a race have had to confront has been as a direct result of our so called ‘progress’. Going from a nomadic existence, where you lived off an area without decimating it, moving on to greener pastures, and allowing that area to recover, to a heavily populated city/town society based around industry and mass production to satiate all the needs of that ever increasing population.
Somewhere down the line it might occur to enough governments to send out the message not to have so many bloody children, and that some places on this planet were never supposed to have been populated in the first place. You can bet your boots that the nomadic African tribes, pre European interference, wouldn’t be hanging around during drought times, or floods. Much like the American plains Indians knew when to move on, and where best to go, before they were all but wiped out by the plague of Europeans ‘settling’ with their own style of population, shortly followed by industry. And think about the kind of people most likely to succeed in industry, opportunist, cut throat, self serving, and mainly avaricious
I don’t consider myself to be the problem, but I can’t escape the fact that, as a human being, I’m at least a part of it, so ought to try in my own way to limit what damage I do during my time here. And if that alone was the message for others, to just ‘do what you can’, then those that follow that way of thinking could at least sleep with a slightly easier conscience, whether it made a difference or not.
As it happens I have a ‘rant’ I’d written about this subject a few years back, so here it is below:-
Pay the price (written 02-11-2K)
Global warming’s cast its vote
So ditch the car and get a boat
Heed the warnings, read the signs
Of Mother earths new worry lines
Petty quarrels, status quo
You just won’t let your comforts go
Mudslides, floods, trees on the line
See it now, things aint just fine
Cars and chimneys billow smoke
And make this ailing planet choke
Then think about when we’re not here
As earth recovers year by year
From the human made disease
Which poisons air, and land, and seas
We’re the ones earth doesn’t need
Our self indulgent endless greed
We’ve turned into a selfish race
The natives now all but replaced
Once knew nomads how to live
And how much Mother earth could give
Take for need and not for greed
Reap then sow another seed
We’ve had our time but if we’ve failed
Get ready next to learn to SAIL
Related content:
Miami Eco Art: (Video)
Exiled for Poems (video)
Erotic Poetry Group on CurrentIn honor of Blog Action Day, Current Green is featuring news and opinion pieces on... more-
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Current Green is featuring Climate Change Bloggers on Blog Action Day
I admit, it feels a little weird to say, "We're featuring posts on climate change on Thursday!" since after all...we feature content on climate change every day...but we are inspired by the theme, and are looking forward to participating in Blog Action Day!
There are 2 ways to participate:
1. Opinion/News Blog posts on our www.current.com/green
Goto current.com/green, go to the top right corner and hit "add something"
Add your blog post (a link to your original post will automatically be generated)
Don't forget to add a photo
Title your piece: "your title: Blog Action Day" for example, if the title of my piece is "wiser earth" I would title it, "Wiser Earth: Blog Action Day"
2. Poetry and Art will be featured on the Current Green blog
We are dedicating the Current Green blog to artistic expressions inspired by climate change
Email your post (WITH LINKS if there are any) to llamb@current.com with"blog action" in the subject headline
Looking forward to an extra inspired day with all of you~
Need a reminder about Blog Action Day?
Blog Action Day is an annual event that unites the world's bloggers in posting about the same issue on the same day on their own blogs with the aim of sparking discussion around an issue of global importance. Blog Action Day 2009 will be the largest-ever social change event on the web. One day. One issue. Thousands of voices.
Climate change affects us all and it threatens more than the environment. It threatens to cause famine, flooding, war, and millions of refugees.
Given the urgency of the issue of climate change and the upcoming international climate negotiations in Copenhagen this December, we think the blogosphere has the unique opportunity to mobilize millions of people around expressing support for finding a sustainable solution to the climate crisis.I admit, it feels a little weird to say, "We're featuring posts on climate... more-
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Delia The Artist takes on Making Paper
Last month Delia The Artist posted a challenge: she showed us her garbage, and asked us to tell her what to make of it. She received a myriad of suggestions for what to make of that garbage, and came back to us with her wacky ideas on how to make trash into treasure. Now she's at it again, and this month she teaches us how to make paper!
"Hello Current friends and Eco-maniacs! The month of September always reminds me of paper, so I thought I’d do a series on just that. Let’s start out by making some- you can recycle common items and give them new life as artsy handmade paper!
Step One: GATHER!
Paper can be made from a lot of things found around your house. Some examples of materials you can recycle into paper include junk mail, paper towels, old newspapers and magazines, damaged books, old school notes, light cardboard and flowers.
Step Two: PULP! People make pulp in a few different ways. Start by shredding your materials and letting them sit in water for a while. To ensure even pulp, a lot of folks prefer to run the paper and water through the blender. This will give you a nice consistency to work with.
Step Three: MOLD! Paper making kits can be found at any craft store- however, I’ve seen people improvise with picture frames, window screens and fabric too! I do own a paper handmold and it is assembled by putting the plastic grid first, tightly wooven screen on top, the looser screen on top of that followed finally by the wooden frame called a “deckle.“
Again, there are differing techniques to getting your pulp into the mold. You can put a bunch of pulp mixture in a tub and lower your mold into it; when you pull it back up, pulp will have flowed into the center. I used another method here that I find to be easier- I put the assembled mold into some water in my kitchen sink. Then I simply poured my blended pulp mixture into it. I move it around slightly so the pulp covers all the corners, then pull it out. Make sure you let a lot of the water drain before the next step- you can use a sponge to press the water out.
Step Four: DRY! I transfer the paper to a hard surface where I can remove the grid and deckle. I like to give my paper another pat down with the sponge; try to get as much water out of the sheet as possible before you sit it to dry. Drying approaches differ as well - stores sell something called “couching cloth” which is very helpful in removing moisture. I don’t have any though, so I simply used a towel. I’ve seen people iron their paper to ensure straightness and blow it with a hair dryer to cut drying time - but I let it dry au natural by putting another towel plus a heavy cutting board on top to prevent curling. Be patient, the drying process may take awhile!
There are all kinds of things you can use your handmade paper for, and we’re going to look at some of those projects in the following weeks! Enjoy! If you make some paper, post your pics!"
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Eco Artists John Fekner considers the origins of ecological art
Today's guest post is by Current Green community member John Fekner. In the 70s, John Fekner was ‘anonymously known’ for over three hundred environmental/conceptual works consisting of dates, words, and symbols spray painted throughout the five boroughs of New York. The “Warning Signs” project focused on pointing out hazardous conditions that dominated New York City and its environs in the 1970s. In the spring of 1977, Fekner created word-signs using hand cut cardboard stencils and spray paint. He began a relentless crusade concerned with social and environmental issues. Starting in the industrial streets of Queens and the East River bridges, and later on to the South Bronx in 1980, his messages were seen in areas that were desperately in need of construction, demolition or reconstruction. By labeling structures and emphasizing problems, the objective was to call attention to the accumulated squalor by urging city officials, agencies and local communities to be more responsible and take action.As an artist working with social and environmental themes for over thirty years, I’m encouraged and optimistic about the energy and concern of the current generation in developing sustainable projects and striving to achieve a better environment for all.
My first environmental works, stenciled messages that were ‘sited’ outdoor in situ were not only about communicating to the general public, but philosophically were an attempt to reduce the value of an art object to that of a shared visual experience within communities. How does one arrive at such an ideology? As an undergraduate art student, I saw an increase in awareness about environmental issues. Robert Rauschenberg’s Earth Day poster and Stewart Brand's Whole Earth Catalog were both published in 1970. The catalog was not only exemplary of DIY publishing, but it also ushered in a modus operandi embodied in all art forms of that decade, including independent record labels, alternative art centers, pirate radio transmissions, etc. I was part of that first generation, and continue to incorporate those ideals and tactics in new online collaborations.
If you were doing multimedia art in the 70s, it usually meant that you had to make two trips to the car to get all the equipment. It was quite a balancing act to lug around a Sony Portapac camera, tethered to another person who carried the bulking recorder and other temperamental equipment i.e., sun guns, microphone booms, etc. Media centers were scarce, and artists working in NYC sometimes had to go to Long Island or upstate to rent equipment and use editing facilities catering to artists and non-profits organizations. In 1976, I was lucking enough to us the Inter-Media Art Center on Long Island. How we managed to complete projects as formats were rapidly changing is anyone’s guess. Today, I am amazed at the work that is done on portable devices right in the palm of one’s hand.
Since those early days, I continue to explore ecological themes using video and sound with both traditional artists and online collaborators. For me, I see new material is new thinking as a way of visualizing at any age or regardless of your specific artistic discipline.
Learn more about John's work at his website: Eco Art Projects-Warning Signs 4U2C and Trail Markers video
Related links:
Photos Across America: The Northern Rocky Mountains (video)
Environmental Sculpture Art (video)
Wacky underwater artToday's guest post is by Current Green community member John Fekner. In the 70s,... more-
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Ready, set, MAKE YOUR PUBLIC PARK NOW! (aka Park(ing) day)
Originally created by Rebar, San Francisco art and design collective, PARK(ing) Day is an annual, one-day, global event where artists, activists, and citizens independently but simultaneously temporarily transform metered parking spots into “PARK(ing)” spaces: temporary public parks.
Anyone can participate in PARK(ing) Day, though it is strictly a non-commercial project, intended to promote creativity, civic engagement, critical thinking, unscripted social interactions, generosity and play.
Anyone have any fabulous photos to share with us?Originally created by Rebar, San Francisco art and design collective, PARK(ing) Day is... more-
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Guest Post by Delia The Artist: Eco Art: Repurposed Food Containers
A few weeks ago Delia The Artist posted a challenge: she showed us her garbage, and asked us to tell her what to make of it. She received a miriad of suggestions for what to make out of her garabage, and inspired some other amazing innovations.
Hello eco art fans! Thank you for being ever so patient for this follow up to my “Trash into Treasure” video. In the comments you guys left me, a lot of people mentioned the food containers, so I knew I wanted to use those. Another concept that got brought up a lot was making use of multiple pieces of garbage in one project, so I did that as well. Personally I was also going for functional; thus was born my new garbage made flower vase! Here’s what I did:
Step One: WASH! I washed everything thoroughly to prevent mold. As you see I picked the ice cream container and cut the juice container down for another project.
Step Two: PAINT! I used simple white to paint over the box. You may need a few layers to cover the words completely; don’t be afraid to have some fun- I used that gross old sponge to give it texture! Another option is collaging the piece, shown on the juice box.
Step Three: DESIGN! A few different techniques helped me make a simple design from different pieces of garbage- the yellow strip is plastic from a bag, crinkled up for texture and painted a light yellow. The orange strip is newspaper treated with watercolors. The red things are paper beads; more about how to make them in a future blog entry! Twine and a bottle cap were used to adhere them.
Step Four: USE! I used a bit Mod Podge to adhere the embellishments to the container. I thought it would be great to hold flowers! Since this held ice cream, the inside can hold water - but if you are worried about leaks, just add a bit of plastic to the bottom or seal with a water proof sealant.
Step Five: SHOW! It's looking keen with some other decor on my dining room table. I’m still considering putting something inside the bottle cap. Thanks for helping me make a cool project out of my kitchen garbage! I stayed pretty safe with the design, but obviously you could go crazy with something like this. Old magazines and comics are a great source of collaging material, and food containers are easily converted to hold anything you’d like! Next week starts a series on paper, including how to make your own!
Related Content:
Eco Art at Art Basel, Miami (VIDEO)
Meet the Rickshaw Philosopher: Burning Man combines art cars and philosophy (VIDEO)
Meet Right Here Right Nau: a socially resposible sustainable company based in Portland, OR (VIDEO)
Take a tour of Cody's sustainable, eco-designed solar efficient house modelled after a cave dwelling (VIDEO)
A few weeks ago Delia The Artist posted a challenge: she showed us her garbage, and... more-
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Guest Post: DeliaTheArtist takes on eco art
I am happy to announce that we are in the process of inviting guest bloggers to post on Current Green. (If you have an idea for a one time post or a regular weekly post, by all means, send me your pitch). Meanwhile, without further adieu, I introduce you to our very first guest blogger: DeliaThe Artist, who will guest blog each Thursday on the topic of Eco Art.
"I've been an artist my entire life and when I started considering my impact on the environment, my mind immediately went to art. How does my passion affect our planet- can I make my art eco-friendly? What types of materials are available to the green minded artist? What kinds of projects and methods can be used to combine creativity with environmentally sound practices?
Every week I'll be guest blogging the answers to those questions and more on the Current Green Blog! I thought the best way to start would be gathering materials from an unlikely source- garbage. Like most things, eco-art starts with awareness- Americans produce around 1600lbs of garbage per year- but what's IN all that trash? What's in mine?
From Trash to Treasure
After going through my garbage I broke them into similar groups of common materials- Junk Mail, Cardboard Food Containers and Plastic. Now I hand over the choice to the Current Community- which of those materials do YOU think I should use to make an eco-art project from? Help me turn trash into treasure by responding with your pick. Voting runs from Thursday 8-6-09 to Tuesday 8-11-09. Next Thursday I’ll be back with your choice, reconstructed into fun and functional art!
Thanks everyone, I hope we can make this and future blog entries community inclusive and inspiring!"I am happy to announce that we are in the process of inviting guest bloggers to post... more-
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Current Green Featured Community Member: SeaJade
Last week JanforGore recommended SeaJade to be the next featured community member.
SeaJade may be best known for her original works of art and photography of sacred sites. You can tell from her work, her comments, and her posts that she is a sensitive soul with a sharp eye, and a desire to share her love for the world. Without further adieu: SeaJade:
This was the last location I filmed at a few years ago (oh but I haven't changed much, really :). Due to our current global crisis I stopped traveling abroad so frequently and pulled in to document the magic, beauty and sacredness of my own space in my garden (have published a lovely book on my garden came out on earth day this year) and local venues... I will resume my documentation of "Sacred Places" in the world at large when more appropriate.
Current Green: What environmental topics are close to your heart?
SeaJade: Everything connected with clean air, water, land, forests, food, energy, and freedom to choose a "natural" life. Our world is a living, breathing, whole entity unto itself, and the way it works (without the "ego-hand" of humans) is fantastic - we are part of a whole miraculous system and every part of it needs to be respected for its unique contributions that make up this reality we share - I care about it all, and I care about human health in the same way - we cannot be healthy, thrive, or feel abundant (I'm not necessarily talking money here) if our environment is not healthy. We live in the age of "The Insanity of Humanity" where too many value material things over love and wisdom, where too many have been taught to value what a person owns (or is in debt for), instead of what they do. What "they" do affects the rest of us (plants, animals and minerals included here). Exploitation, abuse, greed, "damaged ego" thinking and acting out need to be replaced with understanding that being a steward and thinking with the heart can go a long way to cleaning up our environment and how we feel about ourselves as individuals.
I'm big on solutions - we have the technology to vastly improve our world's problems and all people and life on this planet can be more than o.k. if they choose (inner attitude counts as well)... It has to start with the individual first - our governments and corporations won't "save" us - they will and are doing the opposite - it will take billions of people to wake up from the manipulations that got us here in the first place and act in a positive and responsible manner to heal this situation. The way we build our buildings, design our cities, towns and infrastructure is a good place to begin on the larger public scale, agriculture - wisdom from the past combined with permaculture practices can produce miracles. Monsanto, Bayer and other military/industrialized businesses - if they have their way - are and will bring such misery, despair and darkness to this world - its terrible to think about. If I were a parent I would be consumed with worry about my children's health and future. It doesn't have to be this way - but it does take well informed people to drive local and world markets so they spend their money wisely (one can get well informed by turning off their mainstream television and spending their time elsewhere). In today's world with the knowledge we have war is a scam - its a tragedy beyond measure - what are we going to do with all that depleted uranium, cluster bombs and other buried explosives still killing and maiming from wars long past? Have many people connected and measured how much of a carbon footprint war leaves with these ultra polluting weapons of mass destruction! We don't need coal, its not clean - these corporations are creating another Mars - it won't take long if they are left to their own devices.... don't get me started on the insanity of uranium mining, bio-fuels are a travesty, we need to be thinking and acting upon truly sustainable energy sources - wind and solar are the best we have and its all we need.... We have the money to do this as well... If there is enough money to decimate and destroy other countries and bail out banks and wall street, we have enough money to repair and heal, its a choice, and its a clear choice....
Current Green: What are your go-to environmental websites and blogs?
SeaJade: Here is a combination of educational websites, videos and the best blog site I know of is JanforGore's for variety and in depth research and connecting the dots. Some of the links I recommend below are not specifically about the environment - however, our business practices directly affect the environment and are thus included.
I recommend "The Century of The Self" for people who have not yet understood how manipulated we are by mainstream media - its well worth the four hours of viewing time. I call it a "bridge documentary" - its foundations are socially acceptable - the BBC made it after all - and yet it has information that will broaden the viewers mind and probably piss them off for being so manipulated.... Hopefully this will take the viewer to positive action and use that energy for re-creating a better world.
Century of the Self
If you are still not sure after that how the wool is pulled over our eyes (hard to think thats possible, but...) I have also posted this one hour presentation on Current, but when I searched it the only title I found is this post by mrcc55 (and also a link to the youtube presentation)
Polls show that between one-third and one-half of Americans still believe that there is "no solid" evidence of global warming, or that if warming is happening it can be attributed to natural variability. Others believe that scientists are still debating the point. Join scientist and renowned historian Naomi Oreskes as she describes her investigation into the reasons for such widespread mistrust and misunderstanding of scientific consensus and probes the history of organized campaigns designed to create public doubt and confusion about science. American Denial of Global Warming and here is the full youtube link.
From its extraction through sale, use and disposal, all the stuff in our lives affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view. The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It'll teach you something, it'll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever.
Other favorites include:
The wickedness of factory farming can be seen here: The Meatrix
Why are we still using fossil fuels?
There is a revolution going on in the farm fields and on the dinner tables of America, a revolution that is transforming the very nature of the food we eat. THE FUTURE OF FOOD offers an in-depth investigation into the disturbing truth behind the unlabeled, patented, genetically engineered foods that have quietly filled U.S. grocery store shelves for the past decade. Please also go to Janforgores channel here on current, she has much more information.
"THE FUTURE OF FOOD offers an in-depth investigation into the disturbing truth behind the unlabeled, patented, genetically engineered foods that have quietly filled U.S. grocery store shelves for the past decade.
From the prairies of Saskatchewan, Canada to the fields of Oaxaca, Mexico, this film gives a voice to farmers whose lives and livelihoods have been negatively impacted by this new technology. The health implications, government policies and push towards globalization are all part of the reason why many people are alarmed by the introduction of genetically altered crops into our food supply.
Shot on location in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, THE FUTURE OF FOOD VIDEO examines the complex web of market and political forces that are changing what we eat as huge multinational corporations seek to control the world's food system. The film also explores alternatives to large-scale industrial agriculture, placing organic and sustainable agriculture as real solutions to the farm crisis today."
Other sites of interest include Saynotogmo and The organic & non-gmo report.
Provoking, witty, stylish and sweepingly informative, THE CORPORATION explores the nature and spectacular rise of the dominant institution of our time. Part film and part movement, The Corporation is transforming audiences and dazzling critics with its insightful and compelling analysis. Taking its status as a legal "person" to the logical conclusion, the film puts the corporation on the psychiatrist's couch to ask "What kind of person is it?" The Corporation includes interviews with 40 corporate insiders and critics including Noam Chomsky, Naomi Klein, Milton Friedman, Howard Zinn, Vandana Shiva and Michael Moore - plus true confessions, case studies and strategies for change.
Janforgore has the best collection of research on GMO's/ Monsanto/Coal-Mountain Top Removal/Uranium I have seen - I recommend going to her channel here and check out the articles and videos - an amazing body of work, as well as her blog water is life.
Andy Lipkis who created Tree People in Los Angeles is one of my heros.
This link takes you to a ten minute presentation by Andy Lipkis, see how Southern California could stop participating in the draining of the Colorado River - its worth the watch.
The Natural Resource Defence Council does awesome work, as does earth policy and organic consumers.
Dan Jacobsom heads up Environmental California another amazing person making a big difference to the quality of life we share, The Environmental News Network, For health freedom updates.
Permaculture is an Interdisciplinary Earth Science which encompasses all kinds of Appropriate Technologies and Sustainable Design Methodologies, such as; Renewable Energy, Water Conservation, Organic Food Production, Ecological Building Techniques, Micro-Economics and much much more!
In a world of Rapid Ecological Change & seemingly insurmountable Social & Environmental Problems, Permaculture offers Practical Solutions using Design Principles drawn from the Observation of Natural Systems.
From Individual Homes to Entire Bio-Regions, Permaculture has the potential to Repair Damaged Landscapes, Build Capacity in Communities and replace Apathy with Self Empowerm
Check out this project called "Building A Sustainable World: Life in the Balance". (I made it up and got it going with awesome partner Tim Clark) It was calling for entries to demonstrate that we can build in harmony with nature, not destroy it, and even heal our environment as we went along, and it was an answer to Al Gore's film "Inconvenient Truth" which described our problems so well, but not the solutions.
There are many more sites I resource from, and many of the videos I recommend can be found on Current, (I ran out of time to place links with individual people)but for now....
Current Green: What's the most recent green thing you learned about that "wowed" you?
SeaJade: Perhaps because my whole life has been focused on "green" I am not wowed as much but rather deeply appreciative of those who spend their time to contributing to the betterment of the whole - I find "green" inventions to be more the norm in my world view and is my place or space of comfort in this world. What I get "wowed" about is the negative stuff - I sit and go "wow" with momentary despair when I read about the continuation of uranium mining, coal mining, Monsanto's latest dirty tricks, pharmaceutical companies' dirty tricks, mainstream media's constant rude barrage of "psycho babble", the taking away of our rights for health freedom, how multi national corporations create (and get away with) war, destroy lives of local peoples, pollute other people's lands and water sources, and exploit human energy for their own gain..... I would go "wow" with much enthusiasm and joy if the world collectively went on strike for a month or so and stopped the evil multi national companies in their tracks... the strike would be no one would turn up for work and no one would buy their products..... that would mean that we would all have to help each other on a local level to survive the period of time we strike for - what a concept!
CurrentGreen: Who do you recommend should be featured next week?
SeaJade: This is the most difficult question to respond to, there are so many great people here. I will recommend Stopnoise to pass the baton to: Stopnoise has been contributing to current before I started here, I really appreciate his focus on "noise" pollution (can we get rid of leaf blowers please!), he supports many others and many times I know what is going on here on Current because Stopnoise has taken the time to pass on the stories. He also contributes positive solutions and is able to see our environmental problem as a holistic one and has also joined the dots, and he takes the time to add credit where credit is due....
Current Green: If you had to choose a place to do environmental graffiti, where would it be?
SeaJade: Having to choose between Monsanto, Chevron, Shell, or Exxon Headquarters, the White House, or the walls and halls of Congress is another difficult question the walls and halls of Congress - what would work best would be a mysterious paint that cannot be removed by ordinary methods - every time its cleaned up it re-appears, the only cure would be if the whole of Congress and the Senate started to act with common sense, heart and intelligence and stopped being bought by the Corporation. A note here, I would make the graffiti beautiful. I am asking for our world's beauty to be left in tact, so therefore, I should give the same considerations...
SeaJade on environmental art....
I'm an opportunist when it comes to using media and the arts to inspire others to think about our environment, heritage, and place light upon our disappearing wisdom - it really depends upon where I have been at during various stages of maturity and what is around me to act upon. I think for me, it all flows as one thing - I have no separation from my work or what I do for fun, and therefore, my work is my entertainment. When I was much younger I prayed (I'm not religious) that the great spirit of all that is (whatever that is) would guide me to a life's work that would be in "integrity" for me and please great spirit something not "normal".... I was eventually handed on a metaphoric silver platter the gift of photography and the appropriate opportunities to go along with that. I chose the subject of "Sacred Places" with still photography to be the vehicle in which I would create my life experience through - as a foundation for my life, and whatever came with that - the good the challenging the scary - so be it.... This act seems to have brought all sorts of interesting and fulfilling projects to my life - money - for better or worse - doesn't come into the picture - I move with my heart and excitement - and yes, there have been times when I have nearly starved by sticking with this concept (but I was o.k in the end and shouldn't have worried) - and I have no regrets.... (I have a nut missing, I am not motivated by money at all, but motivated by life experiences and opportunities).
Sometimes its not necessarily my "art" that is used, but my background that my career in photography has given me that has enabled me to forge ahead with lofty plans and ideals such as the "Building A Sustainable World: Life in the Balance" project - in fact, I think that is the most important work I have done - it took me two years of intense focus (and no help from mainstream media) to pull all those people together and complete. I couldn't have done and wouldn't have done this project if Tim Clark (a visionary and founder of the RIBA-USA) had not agreed to become involved. Or my name and presence as a "media" person from Hollywood (I'm not really, although I am a media person and I live in L.A.) had been used effectively to get attention on saving an Elm tree in Denver for example. I have the privilege of working with two extraordinary musicians/producers/composers - both legends in their own fields - Patrick Leonard and Shenkar (formerly known as L. Shenkar) provide me with inspiring or evocative music and I just flow with that and use the images I have on hand collected over years and years of work.... These pieces which you can see on my network here as SeaJade are to assist people to calm down in the midst of our storms and focus on something beautiful or moving (but trust me, as an artist, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so don't expect everybody to be moved :-) Some works are based on the concept that what we think about we create (such as the Meditation: A Walk Through The Sierras)..... The pieces are also bathed in mythological metaphor ("Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley" and the "In Search of Camelot" piece). I just do what I feel might assist or inspire or move at any given time. I donate works to many charities for their fundraisers, and offer my time up where I feel appropriate - this August I am giving a workshop on photography at Tree People for Tree People to help them raise funds and awareness of their organization. I also make these videos of stills and music for my own healing process - I can't take all the bad news and not feel badly myself - I take as much as I can and hopefully process it positively, contribute where I can (that is helping people understand that Mainstream Media has not served them and help people understand we can make better choices), and then I take time out to re-focus and create something that is the opposite of negative news. I've been involved with films that demonstrate all is not well with the world, I produced an awesome concert a few years ago to help raise money and consciousness about our environment, I have used the opportunities I have had as lecturer/speaker (along with images) to hopefully inspire my audiences to think differently, I nudge here and there, I try to live my own life as well as possible and be a positive example (I'm not perfect, I'm human, but do a pretty good job) - and from my own experiences and choices I KNOW we can create a beautiful, equitable, harmonious world if we choose "collectively" to do so.
Machu Picchu and The Sacred Valley: Part OneLast week JanforGore recommended SeaJade to be the next featured community member.... more-
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Is the new economy inspiring you to make your own Christmas gifts? | Current Green Blog
Delia the Artist has started to post make it yourself holiday ideas.
DeliaTheArtist inspired me to get in the groove of thinking about what cool things I could make for holidays this year. Truth be told, I love making holiday gifts. My family has suffered through years of stained glass frames, knitted hats and scarves, and all kinds of random hobbies I took up in order to develop a skill that would be worthy of gift giving. Somehow the holidays have always seemed like a great time to make a loving commentary on your values. Back in the day when I sent holiday cards, I took old photos and stuck santa hats and snowflakes stickers on them and re-purposed them into holiday cards. I wrapped my presents in newspaper.
And then…I stopped. Partially because I could afford gifts, and partially because I didn’t have the time to make gifts. (The year I made my boyfriend a table and my mother a quilt was epic.) I still can’t get myself to step foot in a mall. When I purchase things that are based on a global economy that isn’t alligned with my values, I never end up leaving the situation (exchange of money for product made form sweat labor) feeling good. And selfishly, I get a ridiculous amount of joy watching someone open a gift I made for them. But what do you do when your loved one really wants something…electronic~ and after all, the holiday is about giving what people want and need, not necessarily what you think they want or need.
Last year, I went to the local farmers market craft fair and felt ridiculously happy purchasing some amazing hand made crafts. I felt good paying the artists money, and my loved ones felt good getting something they actually…liked.
This year~ I’m back on the band wagon of making things. I’m learning how to make cordials tomorrow, in high hopes of making that a gift for friends. What about you? What are your thoughts on how to handle the process of holiday gift giving?Delia the Artist has started to post make it yourself holiday ideas. DeliaTheArtist... more-
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Coalwar Honors the Heroes of Coal River
To The Heroes in Coal River
We at Coalwar.com salute you. Your brave example of Leadership in Civil Disobedience has earned each of you the honor of Coal War Hero! You set an example for each of us in the struggle to bring a moratorium on coal mining, use, and production. Please accept this Sunday Morning Salute, our tribute to your service and bravery.
In your Honor, I dedicate this artwork to commemorate the Battle for Coal River, and the heroes past, present and future who stand their ground.To The Heroes in Coal River We at Coalwar.com salute you. Your brave example of... more-
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Recycled "Beetlemania" Crawling Into The Art World
If you're a greenie, you probably already have a "thing" for recycling and can get preeeee-tty creative with empty cans and plastic bottles.
In spite of your imaginative repurposing skills, something tells me that you never considered doing what artist Jan Fabre has done for YEARS with beetles.
Talk about being a feast for the eyes....If you're a greenie, you probably already have a "thing" for recycling... more-
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"Tribes of the Archaic Evolution"
Eco Art from "The Coal War" Carbon reduction through art 2008-
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"The Fall of Fossil Fuels"
Eco art from "The Coal War" 2008 Carbon Reduction through art
My current exhibit represents a three-year struggle to bring biomass energy to the forefront of Kentucky Industry, Agriculture and Politics. As we struggle with energy issues, we are constantly reminded of the cultural and economic conflict posed by modern energy consumption, production methods and impending carbon footprint mitigation requirements. As an artist, I seek to introduce the concept of an organic paradigm shift into the modern consciousness through postmodern digital images. “The Coal War” frames energy from a modern context as viewed through the lens of a modern day bioenergy developer.
My work explores modern energy conflict. I construct organisms and place them into interactive circumstances against fictional landscapes. They project energy. They change shape and dimension.
The influence that one organism places over another when it releases energy affects the balance between organism and ether, between the real and the understood. Colors shift. Enigmatic curtains emerge from layers of overlapping space as the viewer travels backward through this landscape of nonobjective universes. Conflict erupts between organisms. Galaxies of organisms generate corruptive influence as they expand into the ether, as they struggle for dominance, independence and equilibrium. The assertion energy releases gas which changes the nature of the ethos. Without a method to reduce the gas effectively, the organisms of one galaxy are so influenced by the ethos of another that they may weaken and eventually die as a species to be replaced by another.
Energy wars are driven by the policies of the influential, which affect the unexpecting so generously by giving birth to chaos in the ether and annihilating unsuspecting galaxies.
These are snapshots of that struggle.Eco art from "The Coal War" 2008 Carbon Reduction through art My current... more -
Eco Art - Snappy Dugouts
Coolest Dugout ever? Maybe. I just call it a better mouse trap. A clever invention of mine that comes under the category of "functional art." Designed with the Herb friendly person in mind.
But these are made of something different . . . trash!
My entry to the Eco Art Challenge, sponsored by Delia The Artist.Coolest Dugout ever? Maybe. I just call it a better mouse trap. A clever invention of... more-
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- 2 years ago
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Reclaimed and Upcycled: Lessons from the Dinner Table
Overwhelmed with the enormous task of recycling, I decided to created from materials that were in my kitchen instead of going my local art supply store. Because of the way I create with the materials they are not easily depicted, so I started making videos. When I would tell people that I was using trash as my medium, it was hard for them to understand and visualize. Only through my videos (however poorly produced and unedited) was I able to inspire others to reexamine materials that would otherwise go to the landfills or recycling plants.Overwhelmed with the enormous task of recycling, I decided to created from materials... more-
- EcoArtist
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Beginning And End
This is an illustration I created for The Eco-Art Challenge. This was created in colored pencil. This drawing is a representation of my thoughts on what is being done to this planet currently. There are some people on one side who care about this planet and do what they need to do to keep the Earth healthy. On the other side, there are people who don't care and are endagering the planet.
Please take care of the planet because the next careless thing we do could lead to the demise of the Earth.This is an illustration I created for The Eco-Art Challenge. This was created in... more-
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ART CHALLENGE! Theme: Eco-Art! Get Free Stuff!
Welcome to the first edition of The Art Gallery's MONTHLY CHALLENGES! To kick things off, I thought what would be better for the artists on Current.com than the creative endeavor of Eco-Art- get yer garbage out give it new life as an art piece!
Any style is good for this challenge, but please include details about how it relates to the theme. The winner will be announced at the end of the month and one awesome artist will get FREE SWAG from me! How can you put yourself in the running?
1. Join The Art Gallery group (http://current.com/groups/the-art-gallery/)
2. Go to the "add something" button.
3. Upload a picture of your ORIGINAL eco-art.
4. Submit it!
I will be the judge for this round (though I'm asking someone special to guest judge as well!) which means I'm (obviously) ineligible to get anything- but I'd love to have other community members volunteer as guest judges in the future as well as collabo with other groups- holler at me with your ideas!
I hope to see lots of awesome stuff! Get those creative juices flowing and bring me your eco-art!
(Disclaimer! I, Delia, am solely responsible for these challenges! Current TV, Current.com and it's affiliates are NOT sponsors. Thanks!)Welcome to the first edition of The Art Gallery's MONTHLY CHALLENGES! To kick... more-
- DeliaTheArtist
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- 2 years ago
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