Reduce, reuse, recycle: the three rules of green living. Thrift, second-hand, and vintage shopping all follow all three. Firstly you’re reducing the need for new products to be manufactured. Secondly you’re reusing things that have been through lord knows what. And lastly, by putting things that you don’t want or need any more back into […]
Shai Zakai: Self portrait 4X2 m. photograph on canvas purchased by the Ministry of Environment. Since nature can’t speak for itself, Israeli environment artist Shai Zakai has appointed herself as the human moderator. For more than a decade she’s been working as an ecological artist, to communicate and record humankind’s impact on our fragile world. […]
There, the people mastered Lougashi's techniques of weaving baskets from paper -- a process which requires special know-how, such as how to glue the paper, to achieve a desired aesthetic.
When shopping for gifts for people that we care about, we usually want the gifts to convey a variety of things – affection, devotion, a desire to make the other person happy, and also a demonstration that we care about the other person’s wellbeing. Giving a gift that is more environmentally friendly is one way […]
Okay boys, let’s go over our Valentine’s Day list. Organic homemade candy – check. Potted flower plant – check. Local handmade jewelry – ? Don’t tell us you’re still scrambling? The overly commercialized holiday of love is just around the corner! Don’t worry, though. We’ve got a jewelry tip that’s just right for your green, […]
Green Design – From Theory to Practice (see preview post here), a major international architectural seminar took place this week here in Jerusalem, bringing together leading experts from the worlds of architecture, design, and integrated studies. Despite the recent war in the south, all but one of the international practitioners came, and by doing so, […]
Thanks to Tel Aviv based blog, Oh So Arty, we recently learned of a new decorating trend hitting the sometimes dirty and dreary streets of Tel Aviv. Urban knitting. If the term “urban knitting” makes you think of old ladies sitting in the middle of Rothschild Boulevard with needles and yarn in tow, think again. […]
Some say that Eco-Design and other green initiatives are just a trend and it’ll go away like many other buzzwords. According to Trendwatching.com this is not the case. It looks like Simplexity is going to rule 2009. We’ll see more designed products that carry a simple design, maintaining ease of use while not giving up […]
Mifal Hapayis (the Israel National Lottery) is opening new windows of opportunity for environmentally aware artists and designers. This year, the Arts and Culture Council turned to the public for suggestions on areas worthy of support and the people spoke up! Letting in a breath of fresh air in more ways than one, the new […]
Marlene Ferrer and Johanan Herson are “trying to be artists in the middle of Tel Aviv,” without relinquishing their environmental consciousness. Creating eco-art in an urban setting, Ferrer joined with Herson to found Gebo Gallery Studios as a working, teaching gallery that explores artistic choices in the context of social and ecological awareness. The installation […]
Two of the most basic terms in the ecological and sustainable design and architecture fields are Cradle to Grave and Cradle to Cradle. They relate to the product life cycle from the raw materials (Cradle) to disposal (Grave). If you are in design school or architecture college or are thinking about an MBA in a […]
These yellow metal recycling cages can be seen along major arteries like Ben Yehuda and Dizengoff streets here in Tel Aviv. Some are strategically placed in front of supermarkets which make them user friendly and in turn gives more of an incentive to recycle. When I first saw these cages the logistics of putting the […]
Ceramic dishes have been found to have a smaller carbon footprint than paper, plastic or metal. And it tastes better drinking from ceramic than anything else, wouldn't you agree? That is, if you don't break it. Shops like Kedma offer more practical pottery solutions that can warm your entire hand.
‘Tis the season to be jolly, if you are a Christian. But a number of holidays for people of all faiths intersect around this time. It’s more noticeable if you live in the Middle East. Over here in Jaffa a couple of weeks ago, Muslims everywhere were celebrating Eid al-Adha; and Jewish people start lighting […]
Fair Trade and preserving local craftsmanship and culture, is an important aspect of the green movement –– at least for those environmentalists who value humankind and the health of its societies. Following that notion, we think it’s appropriate to feature the women from Lakia: as their agrarian society shifts to a western one, Bedouin are getting […]