A: Is for Art making a Difference!

With Al Gores message of making a difference todays highlighted artists all push the buttons in their craft as well as working with recyclable materials.

First-up is a Dutch designer Daniel Schipper who has created the foldable greenhouse for city gardens and rooftop terrariums. Made from recycled plastics, the greenhouse roof folds up flat for easy storage and transience. The base is also made from recycled plastic composite and its lack of framework or support materials makes it a minimalist no-fuss appliance. Just unfold, snap, and water. Schipper’s foldable greenhouse have been causing a stir in the Netherlands and he searches for a production partnership to bring it to the global market. It’s just one of many innovative creations from his Amsterdam studio which focuses on concept, research and design having completed. Many of Schipper’s projects emphasize sustainability, functionality and fold-ability. Looking for an investment that makes sense write Daniel. Go to www.danielschipper.nl

Architecture is a creation of opinion as opposed to the creation of making. Helping to developing that concept and encourage talented artist to create environments is the curriculum at SCI-Arc. A sense of critical durability that enables students to make real contributions that resonate over a long period of time in artistically, poetically, intellectually meaningful ways. Founded in 1972, Santa Monica, California is where SCI-Arc employs a radical alternative to the conventional system of architectural education. There commitment to being a mechanism for invention, exploration and criticism, has gained not only the school but the students international recognition. Take Greg Lynn, his freestanding indoor/outdoor wall system looks to redefine the common brick as a modular building system. He crosses century old building material, with lightweight recycled plastic, modern computer technology, and was named one of Time Magazine’s 100 most innovative people of the 21st century. To learn more about the minds that come out of SCI-Arc log onto www.sciarc.edu.

Highlighted at the 2008 International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF), this amazing lighting and parchment glowed. This century old process of creating handmade washi papers also sustainable and made with biodegradable materials. These voluminous, geometric lanterns are from the company Precious Papers. Precious Pieces ’artisan parchment-premium collection’ is based on a craft tradition that dates back to 610 AD. Not only is washi a green product, but totally adaptable and eco-friendly for room partitioning, wall décor, architectural treatments, and of course lighting. In this modern era of eco-inspired design solutions and high-tech problem solving, it is refreshing to see an ancient practice stand up to state-of-the art green materials and concepts. I love the melding of ancient futures and bringing light as illumination.

Each of artist have found a way to make a difference using their art. We can all make a difference using what we do best all it takes is wanting to and that is a easy F.A.C.T.