The Demise of Fish!

http://www.tnr.com/article/environment-energy/aquacalypse-now?page=0,0

Vermin artwork

I have transformed the commercially manufactured wire cage into an environmental monument, testifying to the versatility and duality of organic material and plastic, metal constructions. One is consuming the other; things get a little more interesting when Eleanor the rat is introduced to the outside world. She at first retreats quickly into the jungle, labyrinth-like cage that is slightly familiar to her; I was amazed, however, by how quickly she assimilated into this hot, scratchy world where grass blades rose in sharp spires around the small creature,and insects whirred above her head. Perhaps it was simply naivete, but Eleanor seemed very comfortable in this environment; she even climbed out of the cage and started cavorting through the grass. Animals have an uncanny ability to readily accept their world and consequently explore it. There is also a piquant picture of Eleanor sniffing a bag of recycled animal bedding; the absorbent material is made from recycled paper and magazines. Animal owners are going green!

Panda Genocide Advocates

Let Pandas Die out, Says Naturalist

Naturalist Chris Packham suggests the pandas have worked themselves into an "evolutionary cul-de-sac" without any recourse for survival. What a horrible person! Packham suggests we should pour the millions of dollars spent on resuscitating the panda population into other species that have a better chance of survival. He has the same nihilist opinion about wild endangered tigers as well, noting that they are worth more dead than alive. In regard to the panda, Packham states that:

"It's not a strong species. Unfortunately it's big and cute and it's a symbol of the WWF (Worldwide Fund for Nature) -- and we pour millions of pounds into panda conservation."

"I reckon we should pull the plug. Let them go, with a degree of dignity ..."

Fantastic. I'm for humanitarian euthanasia (concerning both humans and animals)but if 1,600 pandas are contentedly thriving within their environment, albeit a quickly disappearing one, the more power to the adorable creatures.

Spiders: Arachnids Hired to Create Art

Gossamer Silk, From Spiders Spun

Well, this is nifty! An art historian revitalizes an archaic practice to create a beautiful fabric that used the clever natural skills of spiders (millions of them).

Ephemeral Artwork in Progress

Well, I started the construction. After picking up various sticks from a nearby park, I arranged several of the pieces into a staggered line of some sort and stringed them together with hemp and ivy growing near my house using a series of knots and interweaving techniques to hold the constructed piece together. I also introduced the assemblage to my pet rat Eleanor (the healthy rat) and she investigated it briefly; I was surprised she wasn't captivated by the unusual smells and textures of the web-like structure. Still, I think it is a noble start.

Reinventing the Forest:: Irrigating Deserts

http://sciencenow.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/2009/914/2

A multitrillion dollar operation that seems ludicrously impractical, utterly unfathomable, and counter-intuitive to preservation of the environment? Is that what it's going to take to save our planet? Planting heat-resistance shrubbery in the Sahara Desert and parts of Australia will apparently impede the global warming process. So "if most of the Sahara and Australian outback were planted with fast-growing trees like eucalyptus, the forests could draw down about 8 billion tons of carbon a year--nearly as much as people emit from burning fossil fuels and forests today. As the forests matured, they could continue taking up this much carbon for decades." I think the desert animals that have become so adept at living in the inclement environments should be consulted as well, albeit this idea seems a little unfeasible.

Tony Blair the Rat creates beautiful, intangible artwork

Here is an interesting clip about a nutty British lady who uses her rats to create artwork. We have a lot in common. If there are any other people who use their domesticated animals to help create their artwork please let me know. I need inspiration.

Ephemeral Artwork Project in Progress

First, let me unabashedly confess my hypocrisy: the pictures with the branches lying on the picnic table have a large SUV in the background. That is my vehicle and I drove it approximately less than a mile to a nearby park. I easily could have ridden my bike but I was feeling hot and exhausted. Yes, I could have strapped the collection of large sticks unto my back and made the bicycle trek...but, I was too lazy so capitulated to the comforts of modern transportation.

On a more insightful note, I have begun the process of creating my ephemeral art project. Today I went on an expedition to gather materials for my "rat cage." Decomposable materials that are supposed to "contain" an animal is somewhat counterintuitive. This art succinctly concerns animal rights and the ethical concern for both our environment and the organisms that strive to survive in it.

"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated."
--Ghandi

Bird Songs

Sustaining Life?

There has been a lot of discussion about sustaining valuable resources, sacrificing comfort for mitigating ecological issues, pontificating at great length about the harmful effects of bottled water and wanton disposal of non-recyclable goods, and ad nauseum. But for all of our starry-eyed altruism, for what purpose? I have been troubled by the lack of organisms being brought into discussion; one of the main reasons I try to be environmentally conscious is for not only the longevity of the human species (although I doubt global warming is going to result in our ultimate demise, ahem nuclear annihilation seems to be the most likely outcome) but organic life as a whole! What about the pygmy rabbit population in Washington state? The polar bear who is struggling to survive because of the increasing gaps between the ice floes and the primates whose habitats are being destroyed? Where is the concern for the newts, the small frogs, and "hellbenders" in Kentucky streams that are so fragile and pertinent to the life-sustaining issues at hand? Pictured here is a montage, assemblage mixed media artwork I created that doesn't leave much room for obtuse interpretation, i.e. figurative representative subject matters signify the contentious environmental problems at hand. Stop being so selfish.

Melting ice just made ocean traveling a lot easier

http://www.kansascity.com/news/world/story/1439617.html

"A journey from South Korea to the Netherlands, for example, is about 11,000 nautical miles (12,658 miles). By going northward and using the Northeast Passage, approximately 3,000 nautical miles (3,452 miles) and 10 days can be shaved off."

Because of the "detrimental effects" of global warming, the arctic ice is increasingly disappearing consequently fueling the faster traversal of the Northeast Passage. Convenience is coming at a cost but damn does it make transporting goods a lot easier. A sardonic benefit of global warming? My comments: people are all innate individualists, selfish and always craving convenience for consuming their needed resources as fast as possible. Oh yeah, the polar bears can just get over it; the pandas can commiserate.

Bicycling is Saving My Life

This is my Diamondback "Vital 1" girl's cruising 7-speed bike, complete with cute art nouveau detailing on the frame and collapsible baskets. It's a relatively new model (2008) and has proved to be a reliable, sturdy bicycle for the past year. I rode it nearly every day on daily routes; from my Ol' Louisville apartment to school, to the downtown Cressman Center on cold, snowy mornings and to grocery stores. The baskets and rack alone could hold over $50 worth of groceries, approximately 20 purchased goods; strapped down with bungee cords, I carried everything from art portfolios and supplies to 8 cardboard boxes on the trusty bike. It has proved to be an invaluable purchase; admittedly, I am trying to sell this bicylce. It's been a good companion for the past year but I have decided to move on to faster, lighter, and more efficient commuting bicycles.
Why the need and obsession for buying bicycles with more prowess, prestige, and ratings? I have seen the phenomena appear amongst circles of bicycle connoisseurs. I'm an amateur by all means but cycling has become more than just a physical activity for me. First, some biographical notes: earlier this year I was prescribed anti-depressants. I was an avid cigarette smoker, often smoking 12 or more cigarettes a day; I had little or no interest in pursuing anything physical because my mind was saturated with self-pity. Pathetic, yes? My epilepsy seemed uncontrollable; over the past 7 months, I have had 4 grand mal seizures (atypical for an epileptic who has been diagnosed and medicated for over 6 years). I had a suspended license but still continued to drive a vehicle in dangerous situations that might have precipitated a seizure. Yet, slowly the faint inkling of interest in bicycles began to emerge and consequently became my main coping resource; my depression receded because I was being active and felt compelled to be healthy and remain fit. Confidence in my body image grew and I came to terms with my smoking addiction; after smoking for over two years, I have cut down from 4 packs of cigarettes a week to approximately one occassional cigarette (this is a relatively amazing accomplishment in itself; only 5% of smokers who seriously commit to quitting are successful). I have decided to sell my vehicle to focus more on commuting with my bicycle; for legal purposes, this is also a wise decision. I have no reason to be behind the steering wheel of a massive SUV with no license, a neurological disorder, and a paranoid imagination (oftentimes while I am driving, I imagine a seizure suddenly taking control of my body, the car veering off into oncoming traffic; a collision occurs, resulting in my demise and a bloody massacre of innocent victims involved with the horrendous car accident). For humanity's sake, I am going to stick with the bicycle.

Weird: Religious Leaders Called by Scientists to Motivate the Masses to be more Green

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/sep/07/global-warming-religion

Charles Darwin pointed out that cooperation is evident in smaller, social groups of species but not so apparent or solid in the plethora of human cultures distributed across the globe. Religion does establish commonality and solidarity and perhaps such institutions could be put to good use in the task of motivating people to be more ecologically conscious. What will it take for people to understand the repercussions of wanton waste and carbon output? Tell the Christians that a lost scripture of the Bible warns of an apocalyptic event instigated by wasteful water and energy consumption...

Environmental Art by Tremain: September 3rd

Three individual projects: the first involved a stick assemblage with a walnut shell and dandelion juxtaposed to each other. The second artistic creation fell into both the 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional realms; delicately tearing up the dry leaves, I arranged them in a pattern along a park bench in Parrish Court. Thin lines follow the diagonal wood strips of the bench. Interspersed amongst the dry leaves are small touches of color, including sodden pink flowers I found amongst the artificial landscaping. A thick chunk of decomposing wood was a "joint" between two lines of leaves. The ephemeral organic montage promptly disappeared within several minutes because of the destructive forces of a gentle breeze. Finally, the third environmental project was very minimalist: I simply placed an angular rock in the crutch of two large tree branches. Analyze it from a perverse perspective, but there could be some erogenous zone reference. Art can be critical and amusing at the same time. More comments about these creations later in class discussion.

Accumulation of Trash at the Domicile

Right outside the laundry room, my personal exit door into the outside world, is a large pile of incongruous and miscellaneous items; a useless stove sits beside a plastic dresser, odds and ends of a broken towel hanger, a shoddy framed painting of flowers, and discarded plastic containers filled with random and seemingly disposable debris. These materials are the product of wanton spending and the hesitancy to discard large, non-decomposing, and unconventional trash items that are functionless. Thus, instead of these items sitting in a landfill, they have accumulated into a standing repository of junk, a hodgepodge assemblage of clutter. There is a recycling bin filled to the brim with standard recyclable items (aluminum cans, beer bottles, paper products, and sundry food containers); why is it seemingly impossible to get rid of the other trash? What resources do we have?