Eco-Chick · The modern girl's guide to living green & fabulous.

The Botany of Desire, PBS October 28 at 8pm

Journalist Michael Pollan’s book The Botany of Desire: A Plant’s-Eye View of the World has been made into a documentary. The two-hour-long film is available on DVD and will be airing on PBS on October 28 at 8pm [check local listings]. Pollan’s tale reveals the deep interconnection between people and plants. Humans have been tantalized by the qualities of sweetness, beauty, intoxication, and control and manifested these desires in the plant world.

Apples, Tulip, and Pototoes from Di_The_Huntress photostream, Flickr
Cannabis from LancerenoK photostream, Flickr

Eco Artist Claire Morgan: Ecological Order and Disorder

Fantastic Mr Fox, 2008.
Torn black polythene bags, taxidermied fox, nylon, acrylic, rabbit meat
2.4m (h) x 2.4m (d) x 2m (w) Exhibited at the James Hockey Gallery, UCA, Farnham, UK
Photo courtesy of Claire Morgan

Visual artist Claire Morgan, who hails from Belfast and now lives in London, stages through her sculptural installations dramatic contests between natural forces. Adventure Ecology, which named Morgan resident artist in 2008, has recognized Morgan’s art for her provocative built environments, which are expressive of both ecological order and disorder.

The armatures of a mechanistic universe are highlighted by Morgan’s materials and construction patterns that address gravity, time, and animal instincts as well as the building blocks of matter, our everyday surroundings, and elemental survival. Indeed, her taxidermied animals, her meticulously pinned botanical and zoological specimens, and her use of blood stem from an almost Victorian language of science. Still there is nothing antiquated to her modern ecosystems that seem to defy the very physical and chemical laws they highlight. Her physical constructions point to unexpected outcomes and ineffable realms, such as those of beauty, spirit, death, and mystery.

Fluid, 2009. Fresh strawberries, nylon, acrylic. variable (h) x 1.5m (d) x 1.5m (w)
Exhibited in Building With Colour at Gallery North, Newcastle, UK,
and Consumer at Palais de Tokyo, Paris
Photo credit: Kris Heath

EC: The relationship between movement and stillness is so compelling in your installations. Not only do you integrate living and inanimate materials (each with their individual velocities of action), but the compositional patterns themselves have a rhythmic musical force. Could you please comment on the temporal aspect of your artwork and on your own methodical artistic process?

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Eco-Luxe Fun at the Go Green Expo

The Eco-Luxe Go Green Expo hit New York recently, showcasing environmentally responsible luxe goodies. The Rouge Tomate restaurant, known for its locally-grown menu and fresh decor, played host to eco-friendly companies, including Tesla Motors, Hydro Flask, Soda Stream, Divine Chocolate, 360 Vodka, and Jane Iredale.

A spirit of innovation was behind both the newcomers and established brands at the expo. Come along for a virtual tour!

Alberto Parada
Green designer Alberto Parada and his environmentally sustainable and socially responsible jewelry shone bright.

A model striking a pose for sustainable style as presented by the Ethical Fashion Show.

Proving cork doesn’t just belong inside a bottle, Nature’s Cork , the US distributor of Pelcor, displayed a cork dress.

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Oh Me Oh My! The Summer Exhibition at Art Omi

The Fields Sculpture Park 
at Omi International Arts Center
1405 County Rt. 22 
Ghent, New York 12075

 

There’s always a bit more time to go see art exhibits in the summer, but it can be so hard when it’s nice out to contemplate spending a day inside. Luckily, there’s a way to do both at places like ART OMI, the PepsiCO sculpture park and Storm King Arts Center, where you can enjoy the summer sun AND revel in modern art too. June 13 (1-5pm, free admission) marks the opening of the Summer 2009 outdoor sculpture installation at ART/OMI.  

The annual Fields Sculpture Park exhibition will feature works by a selection of international artists, including Orly Genger, Richard Nonas, Julian Opie, Margeaux Walter, and Heather and Ivan Morison.  

This year’s show is curated by Bill Maynes, Kathleen Triem, and Peter Franck who have garnered works by these and other talented artists so that we might revel in the experience of sculpture under the trees.  Genger and Nonas have specially created large-scale, site-specific installations.  Be sure to also visit ART/OMI’s  Charles B. Benenson Visitors Center & Gallery, a 4,200 square foot LEED building designed by FT Architecture+Interiors.  The structure is a showcase for green design systems and a venue for ART/OMI’s other art and environment cultural offerings.

An Emporium of Green: Sustainable NYC

One of the best things about Sustainable NYC is that it is a little bit of everything.

This eclectic shop in the equally eclectic East Village (139 Avenue A/ 9^th Street ) of Manhattan is self-described as an emporium of “local, organic, recycled, fair-trade, re-purposed, biodegradable products and gifts.”  Yeah!  And if that weren’t enough greening going on, they are also home to the Ciao for Now café and ongoing eco events and workshops!  

You might just find something you were looking for or there just might be something you weren’t look for that you find.