Are You a Tree Hugger?

"The Three Graces" - Jeri Burzin

Sometimes it feels like we give as much space to environmental issues as art. That's okay, if we don't take care of our world there will be no art. Also, Creative Consumers tend to be "thinking" individuals, interested in such things. As asked by Kathleen Rogers, President of the Earth Day Network, I sent a letter into my Congressmen to urge them to work for "amendments to the Climate Security Act (S.2191) to ensure that the final version of this bill will truly mitigate the climate crisis. In its current form, the Climate Security Act falls far short of what is needed to gain control of our planet's future."

The following letter came back from Senator Mark Pryor

Dear Ms. Mitchell:

Thank you for contacting me regarding climate change legislation. I appreciate hearing from you and understanding your perspective on this issue.

For the past five years I have met with concerned citizens, business leaders, environmental groups and members of the agricultural community from Arkansas and across the nation. These constituents and organizations have made it clear that appropriate climate change legislation must strike the difficult balance of reducing harmful emissions without constraining economic growth. The abundance of legislative proposals in Congress illustrate how varied the course of actions people believe the United States should undertake to achieve this common good. These approaches include creating a "cap and trade" system to limit nationwide emissions, providing tax incentives for developing and deploying technologies that decrease greenhouse gas emissions, promoting alternative fuel and energy sources, and discouraging the use of fossil fuels.

Building upon the initiatives already created by Congress, I believe that we stand poised to take significant strides to moderate the effects of climate change. A successful strategy will require the development of new technology to reduce and capture emissions, provide for greater energy efficiencies, and avoid unnecessary energy expenditures. Additionally, I believe alternative fuels and renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power, will aide in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. These alternative technologies, fuels, and energy sources also have the potential to provide economic growth, and move the nation toward energy independence. I will work diligently to address this issue and will be sure to keep your thoughts in mind as the debate continues in the Senate.

Thank you again for sharing your views and concerns with me. Please do not hesitate to contact me or my office about this or any other matter of concern to you. As always, I welcome your input.
Sincerely,

Mark Pryor
United States Senate

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Tyler Florence Debuts First Restaurant in Hotel Vertigo to Open in San Francisco

Alfred Hitchcock’s 1958 exotic thriller Vertigo, starring James Stewart and Kim Novak is a visual masterpiece with plenty of twists and turns. At the time of the film's release, it was not a box-office hit, but has since been dubbed one of the greatest films ever made. The work is a mesmerizing romantic suspense/thriller about a macabre romance between John "Scottie" Ferguson, a disabled police officer played by Stewart and a mysterious woman played by Novak.

Honoring the rich heritage of the film, the cutting-edge San Francisco boutique hotel company Personality Hotels, is reinventing their Hotel York located in San Francisco's exclusive Nob Hill District. The 97-room hotel is currently undergoing a $5 million renovation spearheaded by award-winning, LA-based Thomas Schoos Design, Inc., renowned for the interior design of Huntley Hotel and O-Bar, Koi, Table 8 and Tao restaurants. Even more exciting, Personality Hotels has announced it has signed a deal to partner with one of America's hottest culinary stars – Tyler Florence – to open a restaurant in Hotel Vertigo. This will be Florence's first restaurant, and it is highly anticipated to shake up the San Francisco gastronomic scene. Florence's restaurant will be located in the hotel's former Empire Plush Room space, and is scheduled to open late this fall.

"Tyler is one of the world's most popular chefs, and we are very energized and honored to bring such a talented, creative and fun personality to the San Francisco culinary scene," says Personality Hotels' President and CEO Yvonne Lembi-Detert. "The City is truly gaining a shining star sure to ignite our taste buds and spice up our imagination!"

"I am thrilled to be working with Personality Hotels to bring my first signature restaurant to San Francisco," says Florence. "Having recently moved to the Bay Area from New York City, I wake up every day in awe of this true culinary utopia. I look forward to being a part of it, and bringing something very special to the City of San Francisco."

A recent transplant to the San Francisco Bay Area, Florence's culinary expertise, complemented by his personable style and charisma, has lead to an extremely successful career for more than a decade. Named the "Sexiest Chef Alive" by People magazine, prominent chef, television celebrity and acclaimed author Florence is the star of three Food Network television programs including How to Boil Water, a cooking show for novices, Food 911, his hugely popular "recipe rescue" show and Tyler's Ultimate, showcasing crowd-pleasing classic comfort food. In addition, Florence is the author of three cookbooks - Tyler Florence's Real Kitchen, Eat This Book: Cooking with Global Fresh Flavors and Tyler's Ultimate.--Ruth Mitchell

Just in from Earth Day Network

Dear Earth Day Network activist:

I am writing to urge you to call your Senators and demand amendments to the Climate Security Act (S.2191) to ensure that the final version of this bill will truly mitigate the climate crisis. In its current form, the Climate Security Act falls far short of what is needed to gain control of our planet's future.

Please urge your Senators to support amendments that will require a moratorium on new coal fired power plants; require that no less than 30 percent of our energy come from renewable sources by 2030; require national building standards that will result in carbon-neutral buildings by 2030, and provide support for the poor and middle class as we build the new green economy. Without these provisions the bill is simply not going to address the global warming problem. The switchboard number for the US Capitol is 202 224-3121.

We owe our children and grandchildren a better future. The climate crisis cannot be solved unless we have tough and fair action now. Please urge your Senators to strengthen S.2191 and work to pass a revised version of this bill that will prevent the devastating impacts of global warming, before it is too late.

Kathleen Rogers
President

Artist Priscilla Humay Juried into LAI

Atlantique - Priscilla Humay

Buyoutsidethebox.com artist Priscilla Humay was recently juried into the Landscape Artists International. The LAI is a collective effort by member artists from around the globe to increase the appreciation of landscape-oriented art by people of all walks of life, and to promote the careers of the member artists. The organization debuted online on June 1, 2006 with 12 charter members representing seven countries. Membership is granted through a jurying process and is based on the professional artistic standards and quality of web presence of the applicant.

Priscilla's art is in private and corporate collections including: Cole Taylor Bank, International Travel, Harris Bank, Illinois Bell, College of Lake County, Household International and archives: Bauhaus Germany, Chicago Historical Society, University of Illinois. She exhibited in the Signature Showcase Invitational at Cornell Museum of Art, Delray Beach Florida, 2006.

An award winning artist and 5-year merit Signature Member of the Colored Pencil Society of America, Humay is published in "The Artist's Magazine" March 2005. She teaches at Peninsula Art School, Door County Wisconsin and The Art Center HP and Morton Arboretum in Illinois. Priscilla received her BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, MS from Illinois Institute of Technology, and Post-graduate Study at Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.

Humay has a number of incredible landscape images available on buyoutsidethebox.com. If her originals are not in your budget, then you can own one of these magnificent landscapes in a giclee format for as little as $150. To see more of Ms. Humay's work click here.--Ruth Mitchell

Global Warming Not a Myth

My husband was telling me recently about a man who was trying to convince him that there really was no such thing as global warming. Yes, I thought it was crazy too, but then I saw something on digg.com, and apparently there are a whole lot of folks out there who have their doubts too. I suspect most of them are Republicans.

Anyone that has seen Al Gore's Academy Award Winning Movie "An Inconvenient Truth," understands just how silly this global urban myth is. But just for grins visit this poll at Weather.com.

Basically global warming is Global warming is the increase in the average temperature of the Earth's near-surface air and oceans since the mid-twentieth century, and its projected continuation. It is a very complicated topic and I suggest you visit Wikipedia here, to determine for yourself which side of the fence you are in. Meanwhile, it now makes economic sense to be an environmentalist. So if you are a scoffer, at least join the ranks of the frugal and get GREEN.

While you're at it, let me remind you that artists are by nature are often recyclers (art made from found objects--see Botb Blog), and green producers (objects made by hand do not involve harmful chemicals, run off and greenhouse gas). Become a Creative Consumer today.--Ruth Mitchell

Aah Spring!

It's one of those incredible Spring days you so rarely see in this part of the country. I've already walked the dogs, and now I'm out on the deck working away at my computer.

By the time the sun comes over the roof, it will be too warm and bright to stay outside, but right now it is cool and I am in heaven. The lake has been glassy all morning, but now a whisper of a breeze is beginning to ripple the waters.

My thoughts are occasionally interrupted by the noise of a hummingbird in flight as it races to the red globe of hand blown glass which hangs from a pole fastened to the deck railing. I bought the globe years ago. It was crafted by a local artist. I am reminded once again by how mass marketing and convenience affects our choices. I was at a party at a very fancy home the other evening. This home has an incredible view with a layout to effectively take advantage of the scenery, but out in the yard were a dozen of those red plastic humming bird feeders you find at Wal-mart.

While aesthetics shouldn't frame our concern for those amazing creatures who migrate thousands of miles each year, it just seemed like a terrible oversight.

Remember you do have choices, and the convenience of shopping online with buyoutsidethebox.com can make a difference in your life as you become a Creative Consumer. Okay, here's the irony. We don't have any handblown hummingbird feeders available on our site. Ouch! Sounds like a goal for the day to remedy that. This amazing photograph thought, was taken by our own Michael Swaffar.--Ruth Mitchell

Ten Innovative Green Companies

Read on you'll be amazed.--Ruth Mitchell

"In the Gap Between Art and Life"

The art world has suffered a tremendous loss. May 12, 2008, Pop artist Robert Rauschenberg died of heart failure at the age of 82. Rauschenberg’s use of odd and everyday articles gained him recognition beginning in the 1950s.

Rauschenberg's most famous quote was that he wanted to work "in the gap between art and life.” This was in reference to his use of found, everyday objects. His first paintings were a series of all-white and all-black surfaces underlaid with wrinkled newspaper. Later, he became famous for making art from everyday materials he found from walking around the block. One of his most famous works or "combines" was "Bed," created when he woke in the mood to paint, but had no money for a canvas. His solution was to take the quilt off his bed and use paint, toothpaste and fingernail polish for his creation. "If I couldn't find material to do an artwork walking around the block once, I wouldn't do it."

Rauschenberg's Combines provided inspiration for a generation of artists seeking alternatives to traditional artistic media.Rauschenberg's approach was sometimes called "Neo-Dada," a label he shared with the painter, close friend, and sometime lover Jasper Johns.

Rauschenberg met Jasper Johns in 1954. Jasper Johns said that no one has invented more than Rauschenberg since Picasso. Rauschenberg was also famous for once erasing a Willem de Kooning drawing and declaring his erasure to be art.

"I don't ever want to go," he told Harper's Bazaar in a 1997 interview, when asked about his own fatality. "I don't have a sense of great reality about the next world; my feet are too ugly to wear those golden slippers. But I'm working on my fear of it. And my fear is that something interesting will happen, and I'll miss it."

Impression of the Impressionists

Word is that Monet's “Railroad Bridge at Argenteuil,” a canvas from 1873, sold recently at an auction at Christie’s for $41.4 million — a record for the artist. With the dollar down in relation to the Euro, European art collectors are coming out of the wood work to take advantage of this current economic trend.

When I saw this pricey image online recently, I was faced with an oxymoron I had never considered. Monet and other impressionists were painting concurrently with the Industrial Revolution. I had always thought of this romantic vision of the world including such famous images as ballerinas, flowers, fields and pre-John Deere haystacks happened before steam engines and sewing machines.

The romantic quality of Impressionist painting includes visible brush strokes, open composition, emphasis on light with its transient qualities, the portrayal of ordinary subject matter, and often the inclusion of movement as a crucial element of human perception and experience including sometimes unusual visual angles. For more information on the Impressionist Era click here. --Ruth Mitchell