So Kermit's been around for what, 40 years? Well so has the "push" to recycle. I recently read an article by Ligaya Figueras in Art Calendar Magazine titled, "Seeing Green". In this article she talks about environmental sustainability in every aspect of your life.
Recycling can be traced back to previous generations who had to recycle out of financial necessity. They wore hand-me-down clothes, ate leftovers, used leftover building materials, everything that could be recycled, was.
As the years have progressed and the newer generations took over, we became "More" oriented. We became focused on more and more and therefore everything needed to be faster. When things become faster, people became ever "more" oriented, things got tossed away, there was no time to fix things. We believed in the "Use it toss it, get a new one". We have no time to fix things, we have no time to finish, plastic is faster you don't have to wash it like glass you can THROW it away!
We've become what is known as "the throw away society". This attitude has been passed down to 2 generations now and we're in trouble. But thank goodness for that small faction of society in the 1970's that held fast to their beliefs and the beliefs of their ancestors that everything can be reused. Recycling didn't become extremely popular back then, but there were still people doing their part. They were seen as weirdos or strange and people wouldn't listen s
ince they were so oriented the opposite way. The strange people could see that we were heading for a disaster and tried to open the eyes of the society blinded by the MORE and FASTER attitude. They envisioned us being on a fast course to destroying the very things that sustained us. They saw our future lack of resources like clean water,and clean air. We were warned, did we listen?The answer is no. And now we're trying to clean up the mess we made with our throw away way of lives.
These days recycling is called "Going Green". The "Going Green" lifestyle is becoming "trendy" and "the in thing to do". So what happened to the weirdos? Less VOC's in paint, cloth bags instead of "paper or plastic?" hybrid cars, "Reduce! Reuse! Recycle!" they're still around and pushing more now than ever.
Artists aren't letting this "Going Green" pass them by. Artists are becoming known for being a "Green Artist". No,not like Kermit or the color of a green alien, but using safer products, products which use resources that can be grown quickly and fruitfully and don't damage the eco system like no VOC paint, 100% recycled paper and other art supplies. Artists who use "found objects" as an art form are becoming more popular and recognized.
Art supply companies are turning their focus also. The Golden paint company is employee owned and their motto is, "An entire company committed to doing the right thing in our little piece of the world." Gamblin Paints Board of Director member, Pete Cole explains Gamblin's path, "Gamblin was founded to make oil painting materials that are safer for painters, their paintings and the environment...We reuse packaging materials we receive, use wind-power for our factory and painstakingly avoid waste throughout the paint-making process."
Martin/F. Weber promotes their "Nontoxic Turpenoid Natural". In their ad they proport that this, "emits no harmful vapors, requires no special ventilation, rinses with plain water, will not deplete the ozone layer."
"Eco-friendly" papers is the what the ad says from Legion Paper. Their ad boasts "an alternative energy, chlorine-free, handmade, mill certified and tree free paper". While BEE Paper Company advertises for 100% post consumer recycled sketch pads, Tree-Free Hemp Paper-75% post consumer recycled/renewable paper (no virgin pulp).
This edition of Art Calendar Magazine is full of small ways to make a big difference in changing your studio to a more green environment, check it out.
BEE Paper Company
Legion Paper Nontoxic Turpenoid Natural
Golden Paint
Gamblin
ArtCalendar
Any suggestions, comments are welcome! Please leave your thoughts in the comments section of this blog.
9 comments:
Very thoughtful piece. I hope more and more people will think about ways to stop the cult of "more" and resist the throw-away cultural mentality.
Great article!! Very interesting and informative. I am so glad to learn that there are art supply companies who are concerned about the world we live in.
Great informative post. Thanks for sharing all of this info!! You've gotten me thinking more about this issue.
As a person who has been recycling since childhood, I commend you for this piece. Keep spreading the word!! Carol
Cool, Van, and well said. Stuff, stuff, stuff.
Vannie, I'm impressed. Great informative piece,
I've always done some recycling with hand me downs, and now that 2 of my kids are grown--hand me ups!! It just seemed like the practical thing to do. And recycling is economical too, especially for those of us with a cheap streek!!!
Mother Earth will love you!
Great post, Brett. I didn't know that these companies are eco-conscious.--Judy of JN Originals
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