Check out this letter to the editor that the Superintendent of Ithaca Public Schools in Michigan Nathan Bootz sent to the local paper. The letter is addressed to governor Rick Snyder and in it Bootz simply asks for the same provisions for his students that state supplies for its prisoners!Bravo, Mr. Bootz. Dear Governor Snyder,In these tough economic times, schools are hurting. And yes, everyone in Michigan is hurting right now financially, but why aren’t we protecting schools? Schools are the one place on Earth that people look to to “fix” what is wrong with society by educating our youth...
Earth on View at the Library of Congress
The Dhofar Difference. Arabian Sea coast in the Dhofar region, 2000For nearly 40 years we've been taken pictures of our planet from space in the name of science. "Key natural processes and human land use such as vegetation growth, deforestation, agriculture, coastal and river erosion, wildfire potential, snow accumulation, reservoir replenishment, and urbanization" are all monitored through satellite imagery.Icelandic Tiger. Stretch of Iceland's northern coast, 1999Now let's forget the science part of the equation. These images "were selected...based on their aesthetic appeal. Cloud formations, mountain ranges, islands, deltas, and glaciers seen from space take on patterns resembling abstract art with...
How Green is Your Library?
No matter what steps your library is taking to become greener it will be hard to beat The Grove Library Project in Western Australia. The entire project, designed by architects Cox Howlett + Bailey Woodland, utilized environmentally sustainable design from soup to nuts. Features include:climate-sensitive building design (e.g. thermal maze, in ground heat exchange, double glazing and use of natural lighting);energy and water-efficient fixtures and fittings (e.g. dimmable lighting control and waterless urinals);rainwater harvesting;onsite treatment and reuse of wastewater;renewable energy (solar panels and wind turbine); and stormwater treatment."The aim is not only to generate water and energy savings, but also...
The Biblio Universe of Adam Bateman
In Adam Bateman's world books are the structural foundation. Whether he is building walls, spheres or stacks the book is his cornerstone. Adam Bateman, The Fourth Thousand Years, books, 2011In the Artist Statement from one of his past shows, Bateman says:"The primary structure of my sculptures is the text of the books, the secondary structure is the form made of books. In that way, the books actually work as signifiers (like words) and so the structured arrangement I make with them is analogous to writing."Drawing heavily from the Minimalists Bateman believes in "art as language" and luckily for us books are...
Book Art on Parade in Iowa City
Chicago had its Cows on Parade, Seattle had its Pigs on Parade now Iowa City will soon unveil Book Art on Parade.To celebrate it being named by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) as the third City of Literature in the world, and the only one in the United States, in 2008, Johnson County, Iowa created Book Marks.Book Marks is a public art project that will feature over 60 book-themed statues, each 5-feet by 3 1/2-feet, that will be displayed throughout the county from June through October. As with similar "parades" each sculpture has a sponsor and after...