NPR: interview about contaminated water and its cause Dairy Farming

New Mexico's trails and tribulations with the water crisis: THE MANUAR WARS.

  Factory farms produces runoff that is poison in to locals water wells. There has been increased criticism towards big dairy corporations and the pollution that is part of the business.

This article highlights Herbie Rodriguez and his family and how they have been hit by the problem of factor farm pollution.

It also speaks on the topic of what to do and government mandates that are be imposed on dairy farmers to help to control with the problem of discharge there polutants

N.P.R interview

House of Cards, Influence for my last project

This particular artist does not have a connection to sustainability per say; it does however remind me of part of the inspiration for my project.  

I made a a "house of cards" by useing old cardboard boxes, (i.e. beer, and ice-cream ) 52+ playing card size pieces of cardboard  to make a house of card.

In created the recycled piece I was commenting on the instability of packing materials that are used once and then discarded. Although cardboard is recycle material it is more often than not thrown away. 

Like a house of card this practice is not sustainable. Soon it will crash and burn. The items chose for the project also related to this thought on cultural waste and abundance. Cheap beer and ice-cream. These are two items of food that we do not need but that we consume and throw away without really knowing or most of the time caring where it comes from. 

Do get me wrong I love ice-cream, beer is ok, I appreciate its complex quality. 

Coral Bleaching

Coral Bleaching

When corals lose their color, it is known as "coral bleaching". Coral bleaching became an issue when it was first observed on coral reefs in the South Pacific in the 1990's. Coral bleaching also occurs in saltwater reef aquariums. So what exactly is coral bleaching?

The skeletal structure of hard corals are normally white, but due to zooxanthellae algae, which are tiny plants called dinoflagellates (single-celled microscopic organisms which belong to the Protista kingdom) that reside within the soft tissues of corals, they have color. These microalgae are photosynthetic, and their relationship with some corals, as well as other marine life such as Tridanid clams, nudibranchs, some sponges and even jellyfishes, is an example of endosymbiosis (symbiosis - the intimate living together of two dissimilar organisms in a mutually beneficial relationship; endo - within).

 

Although long term bleaching can cause the partial or total death of coral colonies, if the situation is not too severe and stressful conditions are changed, it is possible for affected colonies to recover their symbiotic microalgae and start growing again.

Since stress seems to be the key to this problem occurring, let's evaluate what events are reported to be the cause of bleaching on coral reefs around the world.

                  The effects of el Nino and La Nina events.

What impact can these events have on marine ecosystems?

                  A change in ocean currents, which relates to changes in phytoplankton and zooplankton populations, as well the amount of other nutrients present in the water.

                  Increase/decrease in water temperatures.

                  Increase/decrease in water salinity.

                  Increase/decrease in air temperatures.

                  Build up of carbon dioxide and methane gases.

                  Exposure to increased ultraviolet radiation.

                  Exposure to high light levels.

                  Increased or high water turbulence.

                  Decrease in light levels.

                  Sedimentation, which relates to a decrease in light levels, as well as suffocation of sessile marine life.

Show at 21C Museum

 Images from the show at the 21C Museum. 

Mary Carothers work about immigration done for the day of the dead.

(1st and 4th Image)

Image of work inside the 21C, these works surrounds the issue of factor work in third world or improvised countries. These pieces spoke to the Asian computer manufacturing market. This reminded me of the video that Ying Kit showed us in class. These works deal with the issue of how we trow are electronic trash away and it ends up in someones back yard. These are miniature 3-D models 

(Images 2 and 3)

Leticia Bajuyo

Artist Leticia Bajuyo

Show at the Cressman Center Runs from 10/8-11/8

Ms. Bajuyo came and lectured for our class here are the photos from my visit to the Cressman Center.

Cressman Center Link:  http://louisville.edu/art/galleries/copy_of_nineveh-a-sculptural-installation-by-ezra.html

Artist Site: http://www.leticiabajuyo.com/iWeb/bajuyo/home.html

Crafty Art With A Purpose

http://www.disk-art.com/gallery.htm

 

The work is crafty, but its for a good cause and I have to be honest I didnt think of it and its a good way to turn these objects into art. These objects have a second life thanks to this creative thinker.

Artist Statement

My name is Diana Ritter. All my life I’ve loved music and art which I have truly enjoyed as my creative outlets. My career as an Engineer, however took me on a more technical path. My art created with floppy disks reflect the paradox between my two worlds of technology and art.

With the continuous advancement of computers and technology, floppy disks have become obsolete. In the wake of Green Awareness, I realized there is nothing that can be done with them – except load our landfills and destroy our environment. So, I gathered up all my old disks, rescued thousands more, and used them as the “canvas” for my artwork. Now, instead of adding to these disks have become art that can last a lifetime.destruction of our environment these disks have become art that can last a lifetime.  

Like artist Leaticia Banjo, Diana Ritter takes donations and as a consolation she gives you a piece of her artwork.