Banksy in the Swiss Embassy

If you go down to the car park of the Swiss Embassy you will find a space covered in the potent art work of Banksy - the renowned and talented graffitti artist.

The Guardian's Arts Correspondent, Mark Brown took a trip to check out.

Watch the video here

Hoopla Workshop, Auckland

Those clever people at Toggle, Esther Lamb and Shelley Simpson are holding a sewing/embroidery/stitch-art workshop at Artstation this week. Designed to bring these traditional skills into the realm of modern art, Hoopla sounds like lots of fun. Here's the low-down from the organisers:

10 am - 3pm
27 February - 5 March 2008
Artstation, 1 Ponsonby Road, Newton, Auckland

$5 pp individual / $4 pp for groups
Closing afternoon tea: 3-6pm, Wednesday 5 March 2008

"Hoopla! is a week long creative workshop and exhibition that takes the traditional craft of embroidery into the realm of contemporary art...

...Participants are invited to come and create art works using stitch, embroidery hoops and a selection of fabrics, felt shapes, buttons, sequins and thread ... can either join one of the stitch workshops or visit the parlour to stitch in their own time. Adults, teenagers, children and families are welcome to participate...

Feel free to come along at any time between 10am and 1.30. We will be there to help you with creating your own artwork in stitch."

More info here

The Creative Industries, Manchester, 27Feb08

The Creative Industries: Ten Years After

Walton Hall, Manchester, UK
Wednesday 27 Feb08, 9am - 6pm

Organisers:
Mark Banks, Department of Sociology/CRESC, The Open University
Justin O'Connor, Cultural and Media Industries Research Centre, University of Leeds

"The Creative Economy Programme sets out an ambitious strategy which once again places the creative industries at the heart of the UK’s economic future. The ‘UK model’ has been internationally exported, across Europe, and into territories as diverse as Australia, China and South Korea, shaping and being shaped by pre-existing policy frameworks, contributing to the rapid globalization of creative industry debate. Yet there are some hard questions to be asked and key issues to be addressed – this symposium attempts to address these issues and in doing so take forward an agenda for critical debate on the creative industries. A series of invited key speakers will address the following themes:

· the historical formation and context of 'creative' industries
· creative industry policy and the legacy of ‘New Labour’
· creative industries and local and regional development
· creative industries in comparative international contexts
· the changing politics of creativity and creative industry work
· the future policy agenda for creative industries

Speakers include: Justin O’Connor, David Hesmondhalgh (Leeds), Andy Pratt (LSE), Kate Oakley (City), Chris Bilton (Warwick), Mark Banks, Jason Toynbee (Open)"

More here
Source: Wiser Earth

One Million Peace Signs

One Million Peace Signs is a new website and blog aimed at encouraging readers worldwide to share pictures of people and places related to peace, focusing particularly on images of the traditional peace symbol.

The site authors explain:
"Snowed in on Jan. 1, 2008 in the Middle-of-Nowhere Wyoming, we decided that collecting One Million Signs of Peace for a website would be a fine New Year's Resolution. Crazy? Probably. Possible? We think so! Since then, people from all over the world have sent us their Peace Sign Photos, Peace observations, and "go for it" encouragement..."

As well as posting pictures (currently via Facebook and flickr), visitors are invited to add peace promoting events and personal peace heroes. There is also a page containing information and links about the history of the peace symbol. A thoroughly inspiring read...


Click links for more: website / flickr group / facebook group

My Heart Wanders - Pia Jane Bijkerk

Pia Jane Bijkerk is offering us the chance to enter creative images for her 'My Heart Wanders' book. It sounds like a beautiful idea. Read the delightful project conception story and simple entry instructions on the blog and get inspired by the delicious images!

From: Pia Jane Bijkerk - Calling All To The artist Studio…

"...And so as I travelled in search of my heart, I caught glimpses of it everywhere - little signs of it in the streets, in the landscapes, in my work, on set, in the many homes that I visited.

And then I saw it amongst you.

The direction of my little wandering heart became apparent and it is my pleasure to now pull the red velvet curtains back and make welcome my first collective blog art project…"

Read more here

Stop... Carry On...

glumbert - Time Freezes in Grand Central

NZAG Awards, Fri 1st Feb08

The New Zealand Art Guild Feb08 competition is underway and you are invited to the awards ceremony this Friday from 6:30pm at the Bruce Mason Art Centre in Takapuna, North Shore.

I managed a sneak preview of some of the other entries and it promises to be a fabulously interesting show! Exhibition entrants will be announced on Thursday but I am - somewhat optimistically perhaps - off to write my acceptance speech for the top prize, tee hee! Hope to see you there if you can make it.

"Don't miss - Opening Night and Award Ceremony for the NZAG ART AWARDS 2008. North Shore City Mayor Andrew Williams will officially open the exhibition.

When: Friday 1st Feb 6:30 pm
Where: Bruce Mason Centre, Takapuna, Auckland

Everyone is invited to attend what is a NZ first - a challenge based art awards. Free entry - drinks and nibbles provided."

More info here

Restitch - Sewing Skills

Restitch is a small UK company run by Mary Jo Hill which recycles unwanted adult clothes into a delightful range of children's clothing. The company is committed to producing locally made goods and helping to reduce landfill by rescuing good quality cotton and corduroy clothing that would otherwise end up there.

In a Restitch press release last year, Mary expressed her concern that many young people of current generations are growing up without the skills required for even mending clothes let alone making their own or customising shop bought items. This lack of skills gives increased power to high street companies as one of only a few means of sourcing clothing.

"...most people are unable to carry out straightforward sewing tasks like repairing tears, mending holes and following simple patterns... ...today’s consumer-driven society encourages clothes to be bought and thrown away rather than made in the home and repaired.

Hill says that unless people relearn these skills they face a world where fashion is entirely dictated by large high street retailers and people are unable to regain their individuality.

In an effort to encourage greater numbers to take up sewing, Restitch is making a selection of patterns available free on its website.
“By making these easy-to-follow patterns available free and online we are hoping to show today’s generation how easy it is to make new clothes from old or unworn ones. Every person should be able to pick up a needle and thread and sew,” says Hill."

Visit the Restitch site here / Full Press Release here

Res Artis: Bright Ugochukwu Eke

Too often we seem to conveniently forget that we are simply one of many species on this planet, as reliant on its environmental structures and systems as all other living species. Our life cycle may be longer than some other creatures but it is also significantly irrelevant in comparison to other living elements central to life on Earth.

We like to think that our technological, industrial and financial 'advances' render us immune to the effects of environmental changes taking place around us. We seem particularly adept at ignoring the changes that occur as a result (whether direct or indirect) of our own actions and insatiable consumption.

So, it is refreshing to see artist, designers and other creatives (like many of those listed and linked on this page) producing work that reflects our careless approach to our planet's resources and the damage we are inflicting on the same fragile ecosystems that allow our own survival, as well as that of all other species, to continue.

Environmental artist Bright Ugochukwu Eke, is one such creative striving to expose the negative impacts of our short-sightedness. During his month long residency with the Djerassi Resident Artists Program in the US, Eke created a permanent sculpture for the project's outdoor collection, of carved, wooden fish hanging from an oak tree. Underneath these forty fish, which have been stained black, hang small bags of oil. The piece is a clear symbol of the harrowing effects of pollution on our rivers and land. It demonstrates in no uncertain terms how we recklessly incapacitate our environments ability to support the wildlife which relies on its natural cycles for survival.

From: Res ArtisDec07
"Born in 1976 in Mbaise, Imo State, Nigeria, Bright Ugochukwu Eke attended the University of Nsukka and received a BA in Fine Arts. Eke focuses on the total disregard for the environment not only by the authorities but also by individuals who litter their communities indiscriminately.

In the installation Acid Rain, he creates water (rain) droplets containing a blackish industrial chemical similar to acid rain. Shield consists of raincoats and umbrellas made of water sachets to protect from the toxic effects of acid rain. His personal experience of acid rain occurred whilst working in the rain in a polluted area. The result was skin irritation caused by the toxicity of the rain. In these two works the artist highlights how industrialization especially in developing countries and specifically in the oil producing areas of Nigeria has caused the decimation of the natural environment..."

Read more about Eke's Residency here and his Eco-Scope Blog here

Mark Wallinger wins Turner Prize

From: BBC News, 3 Dec07

"Mark Wallinger has been named the winner of the Turner Prize for his replica of the one-man anti-war protest in Parliament Square, State Britain.

Actor and director Dennis Hopper presented the £25,000 award at a ceremony at the Tate Liverpool gallery.

"I am indebted to all those people who contributed to the making of State Britain," said Wallinger...

...He was favourite to win the prize for his £90,000 installation, which recreates everything from Brian Haw's protest in Parliament Square in 2001.

Every detail was copied from his tarpaulin shelter and tea-making area to the messages of support and hand-painted placards.

..."Brian Haw is a remarkable man who has waged a tireless campaign against the folly and hubris of our government's foreign policy," Wallinger said.

"For six-and-a-half years he has remained steadfast in Parliament Square, the last dissenting voice in Britain. Bring home the troops, give us back our rights, trust the people," he added.

The jury commended Wallinger, 48, for its "immediacy, visceral intensity and historic importance". They said: "The work combines a bold political statement with art's ability to articulate fundamental human truths."..."

Read the full story here

Spam to Print

Your small breasts spam, by Linzie Hunter.

These brilliant designs from Linzie Hunter turn all those horrible spam email messages many of us receive on a daily basis into works of art. We're all for turning rubbish into art so here's to Linzie and her wonderful spam prints!

Information Overload & Internet Rehab

Apologies for the diminished posting of late. Life has a habit of getting in the way of blogging sometimes!

A reduced service will continue until 2008 as we take a much needed break from internet information overload and concentrate on other creative outlets.

We will make occasional posts so keep checking back. It is hoped that normal (perhaps improved!) service will resume in January. Until then, please bear with us and enjoy the festive season!

free range Slide

free range Opening Night

...what a great night! We had a great crowd turn up to support and peruse the art work and several sales were made both before and during the evening.

Huge thanks go out to all those who made the memorable night possible:

John & Julz @ Te Karanga - the kindest, most helpful gallery managers we could wish for...
Kfm Radio & Te Karanga gallery for hosting and publicising the show...
Organic World for generously donating delicious organic nibbles...
Friends and family who supported us through the last minute panics and helped out on the day...
All the lovely people who came along and all those who sent good wishes...

Thank you all so much!

If you couldn't make it along, don't worry, the show runs until Saturday 10th November so there is still time to view.

free range Art Exhibition

Te Karanga Gallery presents free range - a collaborative exhibition of emerging art by Aki, Racheblue, Lyhui Te & Ginny Jones from Thurs 1st to Sat 10th November 2007.

From street art to traditional through fantasy to figurative and beyond, free range offers you a smorgasbord of artistic styles to tantalise your taste buds!

Te Karanga Gallery, 208 Karangahape Road, Newton, Auckland kfmradio.co.nz
Open: Mon 12pm - 6pm / Tues - Fri 10am - 6pm / Sat & Sun 12pm - 4pm

Te Karanga Gallery is part of Te Karanga Charitable Trust sharing space with KFM Radio and Tea Culture specialty tea shop

Opening Night: Thursday 1st November, 7:30pm
kindly sponsored by Organic World, 181 Point Chevalier Road

RSVP: racheblue@bluAngeldesigns.com
Website: freerangeartshow

Govett-Brewster Exhibitions Nov07

Govett-Brewster on Queen Street, New Plymouth is one of New Zealand's most chic and modern art galleries. The gallery building itself and the well designed layout is extremely impressive as are the variety of exhibits and the very contemporary content.

One of the current interesting exhibitions at Govett Brewster is Activating Korea: Tides of Collective Action which discusses issues of identity and cultural changes through various media. Here's the low down:

"Bae Young Whan, CDC, flyingCity, JNP Production, Kim Gisoo, Sang-Don Kim, Ko Hyun Joo, Minouk Lim, mixrice, Hein-kuhn Oh and Park Chan-kyong with exhibition design by Choi Jeong-hwa.

This major exhibition explores the complex and contradictory meanings of collectivism within Korean contemporary art in a society where traditional values and today’s multifaceted changes coexist. The works in this exhibition represent a shift from the political representations of Korea’s military dictatorship, the Cold War, and national division. Heralded by 1980s Minjung art, many artists today aim to raise awareness and bring about change around issues such as urban development, immigration and national identity. Featuring a range of media, the exhibition challenges the fast-paced cultural, economic and political changes in the contemporary Korean society. Activating Korea is co-curated by Mercedes Vicente and Beck Jee-sook in conjunction with Insa Art Space of the Arts Council Korea "

Activating Korea runs until 25 November 2007

Next month also sees a screening of environmental documentary films as part of the nationwide Aotearoa Environmental Film Festival. Screening takes place on Thursday 1 November at 2pm and 6pm. Entry $12 ($6 concession). Click here for more details.

Visit the Govett Brewster website here

cause / affect

From: Liquid Treat, Newsletter 20Oct07

"Designers are always trying to find projects that help the greater good, but often when they take on a cause, they find themselves working in isolation and cramming in the pro bono work alongside their other clients. Cause/affect is a new design competition held by AIGA San Francisco that provides both a community and exposure for socially responsible work. Submissions will be accepted until Nov. 9, 2007. Selected entries will be showcased online and at an event to be held at AIGA SF's office Dec. 4. In addition, work will be entered in a People's Choice Award competition, where online voting will determine an additional winner, also to be announced at the awards ceremony."

Check it out here and enter here

Misiak Recycled Tea Sets

From: Kate, Inhabitat, 22Sep07

"England is the land of tea, and as once would expect, there are tons of old, unwanted tea sets in London sitting in charity shops and landfill. Fortunately British product designer Christine Misiak has arrived on the scene to turn old tea sets into new, hip, contemporary products that are as gorgeous as they are eco-friendly. Exhibiting at 100% Futures during at the London Design Festival, Misiak makes tea time greener with this thoughtful form of adaptive reuse..."

More here

Deptford Design Market Challenge

Looking for some inspiration on recycling? Wondering how to turn once discarded and unused objects into something new, useful or simply decorative?
The Deptford Design Market challenged 27 designers to do just that using objects picked up at the market and the results are impressive and inspiring. The resulting designs can be seen at the Royal Festival Hall for another couple days until 25th September (free admission), but if you don't have a chance to get there check them out here.

"The designers, who include Conran and Partners, Stuart Haygarth, Martí Guixé, and Based Upon, have each been asked to pick a second-hand object – a paint box, a guitar, a basket of toy soldiers – bought from Deptford Market. Their task is to challenge preconceptions of usefulness and beauty, using their talents to re-work the item, creating something unique, desirable and functional. To view all the items visit the Gallery.

By re-interpreting the discarded, the aim of the Market Challenge is to inspire and encourage designers to think about re-using what is available before creating an entirely new product from scratch. The possibilities for regeneration are endless: compressing or manipulating the object; reengineering it; using it as an image for a website."

The Original Art Sale 07

Phew - I finally finished the last two of my 6 pieces and delivered all my work safely to the Telstra Clear Stadium in Manukau. The exhibition/sale runs for only 3 days next weekend from next Friday 31 August until Sunday 2 September, so put the date in your diary now!

With a new larger venue the sale promises to be bigger and better this year. It is a little further to travel for Auckland city folk but will hopefully encourage new buyers and art lovers. I can't wait to check out the other work that will be exhibited - it's going to be fun!

Hope to see you there! Here's the lowdown:

Gala Charity Preview Evening:
Thursday 30 August 2007, 7pm - 9pm
Proceeds to The South Auckland Health Foundation
Tickets $45, available from the TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre or email The Original Art Sale for more information

Sale Dates:
Friday 31 August 2007 * 10am - 5pm
Friday 31 August 2007 * 6pm - 9pm - ($15 includes a glass of wine)
Saturday 1 September 2007 * 10am - 6pm
Sunday 2 September 2007 * 11am - 4pm

Entry Price:
Adults - $10 / Students/Seniors - $8 / Children - free
Friday Evening - $15 (includes a glass of wine)
Tickets include free parking

Sale Details:
"The Original Art Sale is one of the largest sales of art ever held in New Zealand and is now back for a third year in a new home. Several thousand pieces of art, sourced from across the New Zealand art community will be available at the massive 3 day event.

'The Sale' appeals to everyone from first time buyers to existing collectors wanting to spot fresh new talent. With prices ranging from $100 - $5000 our aim is to make original art accessible to all who wish to own it. The art supermarket concept is purposely designed to present a wide range of styles and mediums to satisfy every possible taste..."

More info here

ArTea Party Jun07 Photos

Better late then never!

Photography by IRW Scott & Tom Woods (edited by Racheblue)

Search For Global Green Homes

From: Inhabitat, 16Aug07

"Attention Green Designers And Green Homeowners!

If you live in or have designed a clean green eco-machine, we want to hear from you!

At the upcoming West Coast Green Show in San Francisco (Sept 20th-22nd), Inhabitat’s Jill Fehrenbacher and Emily Pilloton will be giving an interactive presentation on Green Home Design, and we are looking to showcase global examples of the best of the best of sustainable residential design. We know we have a lot creative, smart and accomplished readers out there who own or have designed green homes, and we want to hear from you! Inhabitat is looking for stunning examples of green homes demonstrating energy efficiency, sustainable and reclaimed materials, innovative daylighting or solar systems, and of course, beautiful design.

If we choose your home to showcase, you will be featured on Inhabitat (reaching our audience of 15,000+ readers per day), as well as in our upcoming presentation at West Coast Green (Jill and Emily will be speaking on Friday, September 21st, at 2:00 pm)."

More info and submission instructions here

The Canary Project

The Canary Project (Sayler and Morris) have produced a series of awesome photographs depicting the effects of climate change and global warming on our planet. Some of these moving photos have been displayed in 12 foot advertisements on the side of buses in Denver as well as in an exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Denver.

The idea is to help bring home the fact that climate change is not just a problem for future generations but is happening now. Hopefully it will inspire us all to take some responsibility for positive change. Further exhibitions, billboards and a book are planned. More info here.

Source: Abigail, Inhabitat, 14Aug07

Blog Reader Survey

Please take my Blog Reader Project survey. Thanks!

Second Time Around Exhibition

Second Time Around / Lost and Found

"An exhibition of art made from found and recycled objects. The aim of this show is to promote re-cycling and a more creative approach to waste recycling. The exhibition has been generously funded by the North Shore City Council's Waste Wise division"

Tue 14 Aug to Sat 1 Sept 2007
Mairangi Arts Centre
20 Hastings Road, Mairangi Bay, North Shore, Auckland NZ

Painting by Racheblue - Photography by Tom Woods Copyright 2007

Medium:
Acrylic paint, plastic bottles, plastic bottle caps, beer bottle caps & mixed media on salvaged wood block (from an in-organic collection)

‘Greenwash’ is a commentary on polluting companies who have altered their image and advertising to focus on so-called ‘green’ credentials whilst continuing to take advantage of our planet’s resources

The plastic and metal components represent factories of polluting industries covered in the greenwash of hyperbole or superficial efforts to appear sustainable

This piece further reflects some of the advertising used by such companies - certain oil and car manufacturers - which is designed to appear bright, colourful and playful - a pretty child like fantasy with little substance

Designed and made by Racheblue - Photography by Tom Woods Copyright 2007

Medium:
Pre-loved garments (recycled denim skirt and viscose skirt lining), salvaged curtain fabric swatches, various threads and ribbon

This bag is NOT:
Generic / Disposable / Made by a machine / Made in a sweatshop by an unnamed worker / Supporting an unfair trade system / Made of plastic / Adding to your carbon footprint

This bag is:
Unique / Designed to be used again and again / Designed and carefully hand-stitched / Lovingly crafted by Racheblue for bluAngeldesigns / Made locally from local resources / From a sustainable source / A step in the right direction

Yahoo Green Icon Design Comp

Morph Returns For Green Film Comp

More Recycled NZ Fashion

In an unprecedented sneak preview, The Dominion Post revealed one of the designs to be entered in the WOW - World of WearableArt - Awards to be held in Wellington this September.


The design, by New Zealand fabric artist Susan Holmes, is an outfit beautiful constructed from various recycled items such as an old lampshade, pre-loved fabrics, fencing wire and flax baskets.

Ms Holmes' creation was commissioned by WOW sponsor Montana to celebrate its Brut Cuvess sparkling wine and was inspired by a visit to Marlborough's Brancott Winery. The artist said
"I took my cues from the rolling hills at the winery, the weather, the vines, soil and grapes. The colours I have used represent the hues of nature".

Source: Article - The Dominion Post, 19Jul07 via Stuff

MacDonald-Paed's Recycled Vinyl Winner

At the Hokonui Fashion Design Awards 2007 held last Saturday at the Gore Town and Country Club, the overall winner was Timaru art student, Christeena MacDonald-Paed whose winning dress is consturucted from tiny sections of vinyl records and CDs.

Christeena, who designed the evening dress as part of an art assignment, was persuaded to enter the competition by a fashion tutor and is so glad she did! Huge congratulations to Christeena for producing such a fine piece of work with sustainable credentials! Lets hope it inspires more young NZ designers to push the boundaries in an ethical and sustainable direction.

From: Sophie Speer, The Southland Times, 30Jul07
Glitz and glamour in Gore


The Award of Excellence went to Aoraki Polytechnic art student Christeena MacDonald-Paed. Her evening dress landed her $10,000 in cash and prizes and the designer was "stunned" to have taken away the top award.

"I keep waiting ... to wake up and (for) them to announce the real winner," Mrs MacDonald-Paed said...

She was inspired by glowmesh wallets of the 1980s and said her main focus was on recycling. The glittering dress resulted from cut-up vinyl records, CDs and watch pieces. "It's about making the precious out of the common," Mrs MacDonald-Paed said."

Full article here

More Recycled Design

Turning plastic bottle bottoms into functional art pieces for your home Michelle Brand creates beauty from unwanted trash. Lightshades and window drapes become fashionable jems with these designs.

Michelle says, "The root of my interests lies in sustainable waste management. At present it has manifested itself into a designer maker practice.

I have designed an aesthetic and decorative fabric from which most people in the western world would perceive to be waste/rubbish.

The fabric is composed of plastic drinks bottle bases, which have been cut, sanded and then tagged together.

I love seeing design opportunities where most people only see problems"

Check out the range here

Life On The Edge Exhibition, UK

From: Practical Action

Reducing vulnerability in Kenya
"Life on the Edge is a stunning new photographic exhibition exploring the vulnerability of rural communities in Kenya. Life on the Edge exposes the failures of international aid and examines how targeted support can transform the lives of some of the poorest people in the country."

This free exhibition can be viewed at the venues below:

26 May — 2 September 2007
The Eden Project, Bodelva, Cornwall, PL24 2SG

1 — 28 February 2008
Said Business School, Oxford OX1 1HP

Junky Styling Sale, London E1, 28 Jul

Ways To Recycle CDs

Now that most of us have embraced the technological wonders that allow storage of our music & movie collections on PCs and portable players, there are an awful lot of CDs and DVDs gathering dust on our shelves and piling up global landfills. So, what to do with these little discs of magical waste? Here are a few ideas:

An easy way to turn a room into a divine rainbow filled oasis is to hang CDs on your wall. You can get creative and form sculptural objects like GW Hart's (see below) or simply attach with blu-tac or make a mobile by sticking CDs back to back (shiny sides up of course!) and hanging from string or ribbon either individually or in groups. Be sure to hang them in an area that gets good sunlight and the resulting rainbow bathed light is almost guaranteed to brighten your day!

RecyclingCDs in the UK will take your unwanted discs and turn them into fabulous clocks which you can buy to close the recycling loop. Have a look at the vast range of designs available here.

Jim Watters has created an awesome lamp from a fluorescent bulb some plywood and around 60 CDs. It looks great and there are full instructions on how to make your own here. Use sustainable (FSC sourced) or recycled 'scrap' wood for the base to ensure extra eco credibility.

GW Hart is a mathematically minded artist who makes fantastically cool sculptures from an assortment of house-hold objects including several great designs from CDs.

More interesting, bizarre and useful tips can be found here, here, here and here...

ReInventing Fashion: Emmeline 4 Re & Snood

Check out Emmeline 4 Re for gorgeous recycled fashion designs and an equally gorgeous website to boot! Talented designer Emmeline uses fabric off cuts, donated habedashery, vintage fabrics and unwanted charity items to make her fabulously stylish collection. Unique tie-neck blouses, box pleat skirts, original jackets and cute cami tops are the result. Some of Emmeline's delectable designs are also available through The Natural Store here.

In an interview with Kucha magazine Emmeline says:
"The whole ethos behind the label is highly ethical so the challenge for me was to capture the feelings without compromising the ethics! Recycling is a serious issue, so we are very passionate about colour, cut and trim of our clothes to make sure the finished product is not seen as recycled garment but as a highly desirable fashion piece with the added bonus that buyers have a clear conscience!"

Another new designer on the UK Eco block with a divine website is Snood (Sustainable New One off Designs). Based in Huddersfield, UK, Ruth Walker is the woman behind the label and she has created a beautiful and practical range of clothes from recycled knitted garments. Snood is another great example of modern design promoting the sustainable approach. As the website says: Re-use * Re-Shape * Re-Style. A selection of designs are available through The Natural Store here.
"At Snood we believe in reducing waste by re-using existing resources – makes sense doesn’t it? We like to rescue neglected and rejected garments and bring them back to life with a sprinkle of imagination and our treasure trove of scrumptious bits, giving you a high quality one-off style without the designer price. All Snood garments are British sourced, designed and made. They are produced ethically and with consideration for the environment so with our unique garments your conscience will look as super-dooper as you do!"

For more eco fashion from the UK and abroad check the sidebar listings at Ecomonkey

The Clean Hub

From: The Clean Hub Open Architecture Network

"In refugee camps and areas effected by natural disaster, a common policy exists that most structures or improvements must be temporary, even though they may be used for decades. As a result, infrastructure systems are designed to last only a few months, resulting in substandard living conditions. Today, this condition adversely effects over 170 million people worldwide.

The Clean Hub is a portable, self sustaining source for clean water, electricity and sanitation. Designed within an intermodal shipping container, the Clean Hub can be fabricated, shipped and deployed anywhere in the world in a matter of days. In keeping with all policies, it can be deemed portable, but since it is self sustaining, it can function in one place for as long as necessary with minimal maintenance. The Clean Hub uses a photovoltaic array with battery storage, a 4,400 gallon water reservoir, a rainwater catchment system, ceramic and reverse osmosis filtration, and composting toilets."

ReUse Project on Flickr

The ReUse Project is an exhibition of global work that intends to display in Jerusalem later this year. It is organised by the Inspire Collective and will exhibit art work that is made from 'waste' products. In this way it is more than recycling and more about re-using found or everyday items. Inspire, whose work can be viewed here and on flickr, says:

"It's pretty simple really, The ReUse Project and its upcoming exibition here in Jerusalem is about finding multiple uses for things and throwing nothing away that doesn't have to be. ReUsing is kind of like Recycling, only we aren't getting rid of things, we are finding new uses for them. The show is tentatively set for Sept. and will be showing for 6 days! The exhibition will feature completely ReUse concepts including the exhibit space itself, which is one large room inside an abandoned building complex which we will fix up and reuse the space as a gallery space to show how reuse is where its at!"

The deadline is 31st July so get creating and post completed work to the address given here

Find out more at the ReUse Project online and the INSPIRE Collective here

ArTea Party One Success!

The debut ArTea Party went swimmingly! Thank you so much to all those who were able to join us despite the atrocious weather blowing round Ponsonby on the day! Your support, generous raffle ticket purchases, art interest and sales were very much appreciated!

In the 2.5 hours ArTea Party ran, we sold several pieces of art work, almost 100 raffle tickets, heaps of Fairtrade cakes, muffins & cookies as well as Fairtrade tea & coffee through our kind hosts The Crib bar.

Together we raised $194.80 for Oxfam which will go towards their work to alleviate global poverty. Here are some examples of how the donation may be used:

$80 could enable Oxfam to provide safe drinking water for 50 people / $150 could enable Oxfam to help four women in Indonesia start their own business / $500 could enable Oxfam to provide technical and business training for coffee farmers in Timor-Leste / $1000 could enable Oxfam to construct living quarters for 2 teachers at a rural school in the Solomon Islands

Thanks once again to all our generous sponsors and supporters

If you have any comments or feedback please email me here

ArTea Party Invite

design by Gemma Roberts * illustration by Racheblue * distribution by ArTea Party * print by Image Centre * printed on 100% recycled works laser paper by Spicers Paper

For a low res copy of the flyer to email to friends please click here or email Racheblue here

Wind To Light

From: Dexigner, 15Jun07 (thanks to Eco-Chick)

"Onedotzero, internationally acclaimed hub for innovative moving image, are pleased to present "Wind to Light" by Jason Bruges Studio, a onedotzero and RIBA London commission in conjunction with Southbank Centre Lightlab for Architecture Week 2007.

This experimental site-specific installation illustrates alternative, sustainable ways of harnessing energy that will explore the power of the wind in the city, visualising it as an ephemeral cloud of light. The installation has been custom built, using scaled down wind turbines to generate power, which illuminate hundreds of mounted LEDS, creating firefly-like fields of light, with wind visually interpreted as electronic patterns across the installation.

Jason Bruges says: "Wind to Light' is an experimental piece, an investigation into the viability of wind power. I hope it will prove thought-provoking as well as being an art piece that can be enjoyed by people of all ages".

Event: Jason Bruges presentation + guest speakers from DIY Kyoto and xCO2
21 June: 19:00hrs: RIBA London, 66 Portland Place, London, W1B 1AD
To book tickets email: Kate.Waymouth@anderselite.com

Sustainable Olympics

Despite the highly questionable logo, which is still not growing on me, the London 2012 team are at least aiming for a big sustainable push at the London 2012 Olympics. The 5 main areas of focus are Bio-Diversity / Healthy Living / Inclusion / Waste / Climate Change

The London 2012 website has heaps of information on plans and progress and it sounds as though a great event is possible. Just please sort out the logo!
Click here for the report - Towards a sustainable Games / London 2012 website

London 2012 Olympic Logo Catastrophe

Have you seen the $400,000 London Olympics 2012 logo yet? It's, erm, interesting! For a while I couldn't figure out what the lurid pink abstract shapes were and assumed they might be different sections of the city split up for reasons I couldn't fathom. Eventually BF pointed out they were numbers - oh right! 2, 0, 1 and 2 - yeah right!!

I'm attempting (somewhat dismally) to ignore the gross mis-use of the large sum of money but the design fails so abysmally partly because it looks as though the over paid designers spent 3 days (weeks?) in an expensive boardroom, filling their bellies with top-end catering, napping in the all expenses paid adjoining boutique hotel and coming up with nothing until the last 10 minutes when they agreed:

"...hmmm, lets come up with a logo that is hip and down with the kids - what do young people like these days? Yes, of course, bright in-your-face colours and a nice 'messed up' graffiti style..." et voila! The 'design' was 'done', someone faxed it to Sir Ken and they all waltzed off for a recuperating holiday in Rio....

Comments from other 'fans' @ Change The London Logo Petition:

“The goal of the Olympics is to bring people from all nations together, not to damage their retinas before the games actually start” - Marshall Moore, Seoul

“London is stylish, the logo should be too” - Eliza DeMonte, Pekin

“That has got to be the worst logo ever produced for any event. There is no way to justify the amount of money spent on that abomination. They should have given the money to charity, any charity. I’m sure they could have put it to better use. If that’s the best they can do then there is something wrong. Even five recycled car tyres painted in the olympic ring colours would have been better, and a damn sight cheaper. Get rid of it!!!” - Stuart Bassett, Leicester

These words also feature regularly in the petition which currently has 48615 signatures - “psychological test?” “hideous” “ugly” “pre-school” “waste of £400,000”. Visit Change The Logo for more info and to offer your own design.

Here it is:

ArTea Party Update

Event date changed to Saturday 23rd June @ The Crib, Ponsonby Road, AKL

More info to follow......

Lite2go - No Packaging Required

Source: Evelyn, Inhabitat, 23May07

Here's another brilliant idea brought to you via those hardworking peeps at Inhabitat. Knoend's lite2go is an almost self sufficient sustainably designed lamp that comes wrapped in it's own skin - how novel is that!! This completely non-toxic lamp, which naturally comes with it's own CFL bulb, is packaged in it's recyclable polypropylene shade.

It can either be used as a table lamp or hung from your ceiling and as all of it's componants from to hemp twine are either biodegradable or recyclable, at the end of it's original use lifespan all the parts can be recycled - awesome! Knoend are also looking into using biobased plastics for future production. This is eco design at it's best!

Inhabitat article here / Knoend website here / Lite2go here