Urban Renewal: Nature vs. City

URBAN RENEWAL: NATURE VERSUS CITY

Urban areas are increasingly expanding and we are witnessing green grass replaced by tall concrete and metal buildings. Consider the landscape of cities and their sparseness of tress, grass, and flowers. Aside from occasional community parks, cities represent the antithesis of nature. San Francisco Mayor, Gavin Newsom, proclaims, “Urban populations consume 75 percent of the world’s natural resources and produce 75 percent of its waste, so it’s crucial that all citizens learn how to make our cities greener” (www.greenmuseum.com). How can artist help make our cities greener? 

Green Graffiti by Artist Edina Tokodi

Graffiti is virtually inescapable in cities, and is part of urban visual culture. One often finds spray painted names or images on building’s sides, street posts, newspaper stands, trucks, and buses.  Graffiti art is commonly seen as vandalistic, defacing the city streets rather than contributing something productive.  However, eco-minded street artist Edina Tokodi has taken a different approach, a more environmentally friendly approach to graffiti street art in the “barren patches of urban existence” (www.inhabitat.com). She argues that “our distance from nature is already cliché. City dwellers often have no relationship with animals or greenery. As a public artist I feel a sense of duty to draw attention to deficiencies in our everyday life” (www.inhabitat.com). Her work consists of moss installations that she adheres to walls where graffiti might be otherwise be seen. Using a more eco-friendly method, she creates images such as prancing animals, trees or other objects found in nature. The most fascinating part of her work is that the moss will continue to grow as long as the artwork adheres to the wall or surface that it is placed.

(Above Four images from www.inhabitat.com)

Edina Tokodi studied graphic art and design at Hungarian Academy of Fine Arts. She also took a course in urban design in Milan, Italy. Currently living in Brooklyn, NY, her work can be seen on the streets of Williamsburg in Brooklyn.

 

Questions for discussion:

-       The general public does typically not embrace graffiti art. It is associated with vandalism and illegal activities. Artist Edina Tokodi does not get permission by the city or building owners to put her green graffiti up, so would you consider her actions and art to be illegal? Explain.

-       Do you think the public would approve of Tokodi’s work? Why, or why not? What is difference between Tokodi”s work and other graffiti street artists?

-       Do you consider Edina Tokodi to be an artist? Why, or why not?

-       Would you rather see green graffiti rather than colorful aerosol spray painted graffiti? Why, or why not?

-       What do you think are the motivating reasons behind Edina’s work?

Vertical Gardens: The art of organic architecture

Imagine walking down the streets of a city and being surrounded by tall buildings covered with plants growing vertically up their sides? Not possible you say? Well it has actually been done!

Patrick Banc is responsible for creating eco-art or greener architecture. His work consists of a variety of plants that grow on the sides of modern concrete buildings. He carefully researches how plants adapt to extreme situations and studies which plants work best for his work.

Patrick  Blanc has been commissioned to work for museums in Paris, Istanbul, Madrid, and Seoul. In an interview he explains how he creates his "Vertical Gardens". He states,

      "The Vertical Garden is composed of three parts: a metal frame, a PVC layer and felt. The metal frame is hung on a wall or can be self-standing. It provides an air layer acting as a very efficient thermic and phonic isolation system. A 1 cm thick PVC sheet is then riveted on the metal frame. This layer brings rigidity to the whole structure and makes it waterproof. After that comes a felt layer made of polyamide that is stapled on the PVS. This felt is corrosion-resistant and its high capillarity allows a homogenous water distribution. The roots are now growing on this felt. Watering is provided from the top with tap water being supplemented with nutrients. The process of watering and fertilization is automated. The whole weight of the "Vertical Garden's, including plants and metal frame, is lower than 30 kg per square meter. Thus the Vertical Garden can be implemented on any wal without any size limitation of height". (http://www.pingmag.jp/2006/12/08/vertical-garden-the-art-of-organic-architecture/).

     Questions for Discussion:

-  How are Edina Todoki and Patrick Blanc similar? How are they different?

-  Which do you think is more of an artist? Why, or why not?

-  Which art work would you prefer to see in urban landscapes?

Discussion Activity

1. Break up the class into small groups of 3 or 4 students and have them brainstorm other ways to incorporate art (i.e fashion? cars?)

2. Have students design sketches of their ideas and designs to present to the class as if they were pitching their idea to a business. 

Studio Activity: MOSS ART!

1. Students will first come up with a design, either abstract, or organic. This design will serve as a template that will eventually be covered in moss. HINT: Thick lines or solid shapes may be easier to fill with moss. 

2. Each student should get a piece of masonite 11"x17". This will be the surface of their moss art. Students should draw their design on the masonite. 

3. To make moss you will need 1) one or two cups of moss per students. 2) two cups of buttermilk. 3) two cups of water. 4) 1/2 tsp of sugar. 5) Blender 6) Container with lid. 7) Paintbrush.

4) Blend ingredients together, and have students paint mixture onto surface.

5) Explain and have students mist their piece twice a week. Soon, they will see the moss grow covering their design and making it a living piece of art work!

6) Students should discuss the use of living grass as a medium in art. Have students reflect on the project and consider other ways of using nature as art, and write a written reflection on the project!

Conclusion:

1. In a class discussion, have students reflect, and explain what they have learned in this unit. Ask the students, which activity they found most interesting, which activity was least interesting, and why?

2. Have students think and explore other tools and mediums that are eco-friendly and can be used to make art. 

References:

Arkkitehtuuria, A. (2008, February).

Green Moss Graffiti.  Retrieved April 29, 2008 from http://aitoa.wordpress.com/2008/02/07/green-moss-graffiti/.

Alter, L. (2007, November). Green

Roofs: We Could Only Build It This Big. Retrieved April 29, 2008 from http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/11/green_roofs_we.php

Blanc, P. (n.a). Vertical Garden.

Retrieved April 29, 2008 from www.verticalgardenpartrikblanc.com

Doan, A. (2007, October). Green

Graffiti by Artist Edina Tokodi. Retrieved April 29, 2008 from http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/10/24/urban-moss-graffiti-by-edina-tokodi/ 

Heavy Petal. (n/a). Operation: Moss

Graffiti. Retrieved April 29, 2008 from http://www.heavypetal.ca/archives/2007/04/operation_moss_graffiti.html

Pingmag. (2006). Vertical Garden: The

Art of Organic Architecture. Retrieved April 29, 2008 from http://www.pingmag.jp/2006/12/08/vertical-garden-the-art-of-organic-architecture/