Rose Suppes Anthony

Preface:

Hello, my name is Rose Suppes Anthony, and this portfolio is called the Transformation of Eco-Sustainable Art.

Introduction:

The main focus of this portfolio is to present and showcase eco-sustainable public art transformation in urban environments. The main purpose of environmental art is to raise awareness of the plummeting state the earth is in. Emerging at the end of the sixties, environmental art addresses ethics and conservational activism. Each work of art enhances our knowledge of how we’re affecting our planet and what our future looks like.

Theme:

There are two main themes that I will be exploring in this portfolio. The first theme showcases how eco-sustainable public transforms an urban environment. Being able to broadcast environmental art is a way to grasp communities’ attention to environmental matters. The second theme I will be exploring is how this artwork can enhance an individual’s knowledge on certain matters such as climate change and air quality.

Analysis:

The second image displays an eco-sustainable piece of art that is only visible at night. On the wall of the Wilma Theater at Broad and Spruce Streets in Philadelphia, the Chemical Heritage Foundation created Particle Falls. This light installation reflects real-time air quality. This works by attaching a nephelometer to a light post across the street. It takes samples of the air and passes data about the levels of particulate matter to a projector across the street. Those walking past the theater in Philadelphia get to see the air become visible. Artist of Particle Falls, Andrea Polli, wanted viewers to see the impact of particulate pollution that we do not control and do control. While Polli has accomplished this, the viewers in Philadelphia are first memorized by the pretty blue lights, then educated on the air quality and what they’re breathing in.

The third image I have selected appears to be a ‘green cloud’. This piece of art emerged in 2008 in Helsinki, Finland given the name Nuage Vert (meaning ‘green cloud’). The artists, Helen Evans and Heiko Hansen collaborated with Helsinki energy to produce a public art installation. They did this by projecting a green light onto the vapor cloud produced by the city’s power plant. The idea behind this first began when the campaign  ‘Unplug!’ surfaced. This campaign encouraged those in the district of Ruoholahti to reduce energy and unplug their electrical devices. Residents and businesses in this area were asked to step outside from 7-8 pm to enjoy the Nuage Vert. This laser projection grew bigger as residents consumed less electricity. Overall, the work of the ‘Green Cloud’ brings awareness to the community of Helsinki on the effects of their energy use.

Application:

Society today does not agree on everything. Unfortunately, climate change is one of the leading debates society does not agree on. Climate change is described as a change in average conditions. Additionally, society does not always agree on environmental matters. When choosing my art form, I wanted to educate others. When I choosing each form, I picked three that would draw the audience’s attention. In-person, these works of art truly captivate those walking by and make them stop and think ‘what does this mean?’ Whether the public art brought awareness to climate change or air quality, it stops and makes you think about how your actions are hurting the environment.