Top 25 Cities for Artists as Ranked by Art Bistro

Washington, DC comes in at #9 and the only surprise is that Newark, New Jersey is #2????

See all the rankings below.

Click here.

Photos From The Dragonfly Installation Project

Video of Metal Supports Installed Today

The Flags Have Been Placed Where The Metal Bars Will Go

The Safety Fencing Is Up for the Project Site Now!

The countdown has begun.

Study on Glass Offers Carbon Footprint Picture

By Rory Harrington, 15-Sep-2010

A leading glass packaging trade body said its complete life cycle analysis (LCA) of the material represents a pioneering step forward for the packing sector as it called on other industries to follow its lead.

The study provides for the first time a full cradle-to-cradle examination of the carbon footprint of glass in North America, said the US-based Glass Packaging Institute (GPI).

The body said its peer-reviewed research, conducted by independent consulting firm PE Americas, demonstrates that the increasing use of recycled glass (called cullet) in the manufacturing process is having an effect in reducing the carbon footprint of the material.

A ‘cradle-to-cradle’ LCA includes the entire cradle-to-grave life cycle of a product while factoring in the recycling of the used product back to its original purpose. This is first time any packaging sector has used this method – which it claims provides the most accurate picture - to evaluate the carbon footprint of its material, said the body.

Study methodology and findings:

The research collected data from 105 furnaces, representing 75 per cent of North American glass container output for 2007. The cradle-to-cradle approach addressed all inputs and outputs for the production and end-of-life management for 1 kg of glass. Elements taken into account included the extraction and processing of raw materials, transportation, the production and combustion of fuels and energy for the formation and melting of glass and impacts of post-consumer cullet treatment. Different end life uses, such as recycling back into new packaging or non-packing applications, as well as landfill and incineration amounts, were also gauged.

The key findings looked at two main areas for 1 kg of glass; primary energy demand (PED) – the total fossil energy consumption - and global warming potential (GWP).

The study found that in North America the PED was 16.6 MJ/kg glass and the GWP was 1.25 kg CO2/kg glass.

The increasing use of cullet glass has resulted in a decrease of both PED and GWP, said the glass packing association.

"The LCA confirms the industry is on the right track with the goal to use 50 per cent recycled glass in the manufacture of new glass bottles and jars by the end of 2013," said Joseph Cattaneo, GPI president. "In creating more recycling awareness and working to improve recycled glass collection, the industry is helping boost the cullet content in manufacturing. The study shows increased cullet helps reducing energy emissions, conserve raw materials, extend the life of glass manufacturing furnaces, and save energy."

Another primary finding is that the transportation of glass has a relatively small impact of between 5 and 10 per cent of the total energy used. Transport emissions are offset by the energy savings gained from using cullet in the manufacturing process, said the study.

“The CO2 savings from glass recycling are as large, or larger, than the transportation emissions,” declared the report.

“We knew that for an LCA to be useful and to serve as an appropriate benchmark, it had to be cradle-to-cradle,” said Cattaneo. “For consumers and retailers to be able to compare the environmental impact of one packaging material to another, all industries should consider conducting complete life cycle analyses. Only then will we have clarity."

For more details on the study “Complete Life Cycle Assessment of North American Container Glass” contact the GPI at http://www.gpi.org/

Thoughts on What is a "Renowned" Artist?

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I have seen a growing trend recently in regard to the use of the word "renowned" to describe artists. My understanding of the word "renowned" is that it refers to being famous, widely celebrated and recognized and virtually a household name. Picasso, Matisse, and Chihuly are certainly renowned artists.

I came across a photographers website recently (not local) who referred to himself as renowned but in looking at his resume, he had been in zero juried shows, was not in any museum or other collections, had not won any awards on any level, had zero grants or publications and had done nothing to merit such a title. While I think as artists we all have to self promote our work, using such an extreme term which cannot be backed up with any support does not further a career.  It could also cause the real art experts not to view you in a serious manner. If you look at the resumes of true renowned artists, they let their resume speak for them.  If you have to advertise yourself as being famous, chances are, you are not.

Testing Adhesives for the Installation

I had saved a number of broken dragonfly pieces to do some testing of the adhesive.  I had read some good reviews on a fastsetting 3M marine adhesive/sealant 5200 and decided to try adhering a few pieces to a sheet of the aluminum that was used for the templates to support the dragonflies on the metal t-bars.

The adhesive was so thick it would not come out of the tube/cartridge in the caulk gun (and two other people tried it as well) so I had to cut open the cartridge to use it.  The adhesive is more like a paste and I applied it thickly to all the pieces of glass but one.  Within about 15 hours, the glass was not movable. Even though it was a fast setting adhesive, it did not become warm to the touch.  After 36 hours, I attempted to pound the glass pieces with a hammer on the top and sides (about a dozen times) and none of the glass broke into sections and it only chipped slightly when I hit it on top. So the adhesive provided a good cushion for the glass.  The smaller piece of glass that I applied the adhesive to (photo above) more lightly did not adhere well but I used a very light coat.

The bond was very secure but I do wish the adhesive came in a clear color.  It is also very messy and gets on everything so if we decide to go with this adhesive, it will need to be applied directly to the metal plate supports since they are a bit smaller than the glass. The adhesive also allows for expansion when the glass heats up in the sun.

Art Bistro: Top 22 Museums in the USA

Art Bistro is an informative newsletter and I always learn something from it. Their article on the top 22 museums in America includes our own National Gallery of Art and the Phillips Collection.  I am disappointed not to see the Denver Museum of Art on this list.  I visited this museum years ago and think it is one of the best kept secrets of top museums.  Their collections of very early Native American works (and textiles), pre Columbian pottery and furniture were amazing and a friend and I almost cried when a guard told us it was time to leave since the museum was closing.

Read about the top 22 list at the link below.
top 22 museums