EcoArt South Florida promotes a type of EcoArt practice that integrates three important processes: basis in environmental science, aesthetic methodologies and community engagement; and addresses environmental issues and problems like stormwater capture and recycling and energy creation. Recently, the 
organization has brought examples of this practice into special community events like art festivals and Earth Day observances. During 2012 EASF so far has participated in two such events–Artigras in Jupiter, Palm Beach County, and Sustainatopia/Coral Gables Earthfest in Miami. We call this kind of presentation EcoArt Works!
At both Jupiter and Miami, EASF has provided live and pictorial demonstrations of particular kinds of EcoArt for the involvement and edification of event atte
ndees. At the Miami event, for example, EcoArtists Jesse Etelson (Martin County, FL resident) and Lynne Hull (a pioneer in sculptural wildlife habitat creation visiting from Colorado) built a wildlife habitat sculpture with the help of visitors. And Xavier Cortada’s (Miami resident) Native Flags project provided free native canopy tree saplings and flags inscripted “I hereby reclaim this spot for Nature” first come, first served.
To help visitors understand that these interactive demonstrations are not the entirety of EcoArt Practice, EASF volunteers were available to discuss a poster showing examples of a range of other kinds of EcoArt, especially those that are integrated into the urban built environment.
Here is some background on these examples:
- Stacy Levy. Sculptural mural with serpentine downspouts bringing stormwater from roof of Pennsylvania elementary school into small pond and raingarden part of school’s outdoor classroom. http://www.stacylevy.com/installations/spring_side.php
Lynne Hull. Raptor roost sculptural habitat. Hull works with biologists and park and public land managers to provide temporary sculptural wildlife habitat in natural areas under restoration. The sculptures deteriorate at about the rate that new growth provides new habitat. http://eco-art.org/
Brad Goldberg. Unique design solution that both lights the entry way to the Symantec headquarters building in California and becomes a landmark in an urban setting. http://www.bradjgoldberg.com/illumination/symantec-corporation/solar-panels-marble-photovoltaic-artist-light-sculpture-symantec
Spanish art collective Basurama. Swings and climbing frames made from old tires, a rope slide and graffiti art turned a mile-long stretch of elevated train overpass into a temporary urban fun park. Abandoned two decades ago when the money ran out, construction work on the electric train line re-started recently, but not before Madrid-based group Basurama joined up with local artists, architecture students and artivists (artists-cum-activists) to design a colorful amenity space in a Lima, Peru low income neighborhood. http://basurama.org/en/sidebar/about#more-891
Jackie Brookner and Angelo Ciotti. Water-cleaning "biosculpture" planted with native mosses and water cleaning plants. The sculpture is installed in a flood prevention lake in Dreher Park, West Palm Beach. Water is piped to the top of each finger and trickles down through water-cleaning plants and mosses, while nozzles at the base provide a cloud of mist that aerates lake water while providing the illusion that the sculpture is floating on a cloud. Lighted at night. The sculpture is one aspect of a total EcoArt work by the artists, "Elders' Cove" in West Palm Beach's largest green space and passive park, also home to the Palm Beach Zoo and South Florida Science Museum. The total work includes this sculpture, extensive water cleaning plantings arount the edges of the lake, and a learning garden featuring native and helpful "immigrant" plants that have played practical roles in the lives of people living in this geographic region of Florida from prehistoric to contemporary times. Restoration via EASF and collaborating groups completed 2012. http://www.jackiebrookner.net/dreher_park.htm
Artist/Designer unknown. Top of underground cistern in courtyard at Ariel Rios Building, Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC. Lighted at night. Courtyard also paved with pervious pavers and planted with plants native to the Washington, DC region. Very popular location for weddings! The cistern is one element in a comprehensive demonstration of Low Impact Development. http://www.epa.gov/oaintrnt/stormwater/ars_plan.htm
Sarah Hall. pioneer in window wall-embedded photovoltaics. Two story stained glass window wall with photovoltaic elements next to staircase of Grass Valley Elementary School, Camas, Washington. http://sarahhallstudio.com/artgeneratesamps.com/portfolio/complete.html
Unique design for electric vehicle power station. Sculptural structure supports solar panels which also provide shade for cars while charging. All the batteries and important technical equipment is underground to avoid accidental bumps and damage due to driver inattention. Currently being distributed by EV4 Oregon LLC,
Dickson Despommier. Design for farming in highrises. Sustainable urban planning will have to encourage more highrising rather than sprawling in the future. To provide local sources of food, architects and planners are coming up with aesthetically interesting approaches to vertical farming, like this design. This approach to farming technology includes hydroponics, which uses 70 percent less water than normal agriculture. It also uses aeroponics, which uses 70 percent less water than hydroponics. http://www.verticalfarm.com/
