Green Urban and Suburban Spaces

"Let us a little permit Nature to take her own way; she better understands her own affairs than we." ~Michel de Montaigne, translated

Golonu, Berin. "Greening the Revolution." Art Papers: Striking Ideas+Moving Images+Smart Text. November/December 2008, pp.38-44

This article is in reference to the green movement that is rapidly spreading, and catching on to those who are interested in the preservation and rehabilitation of the environment.  Although creating green atmospheres in urban and suburban spaces is occurring in other parts of the world, Berin makes an interesting observation that this green initiative is most relevant in the United States, as it "has one of the largest carbon footprints on the globe." Activists, farmers, environmentalists all play huge roles, while artists are leading the cause by producing a glimpse into the future of what our "green and bountiful" cities may look like.  WORK Architecture company has been working in collaboration to build a fully sustainable farm in an urban courtyard (including the chickens), for the purpose of hosting a fundraiser to gain support for their efforts.  This collaboration included over thirty artists, designers, engineers, farms, and green suppliers.

Some question the idea of art effectively producing practical solutions to the current concerns of our environment, and in the article it is argued that what was created was actually art or not. The way I see it, this huge collaboration created something that forced the community to raise questions, which will almost force everyone who sees it to be immersed in its process, even if it only involves becoming aware of the efforts of others to create a more green society.  In my work, I am creating photographs that illustrate futuristic abundance of "green" .. where nature is dominant and urban structures are set on the back burner.