Saturday, July 25, 2009

Evolving from Empty



“Recycling your water bottles is all fine and good, but your trash is nothing compared with industries’ mountain of garbage.” ~Joel Makower

When I first viewed this image, the color, alignment, and emptiness of the metal rusty barrels lured me to pause, discover, and reflect on the artist’s message in varying associative contexts. I contemplated water bottle production, distribution, and its isolated impact. My thoughts gravitated toward small recycled water bottles as small efforts with minimal global effect, even though derived from positive intent. I viewed these large empty industrial containers as organized symbols of the ignorance and detached greed they cumulatively represent. Individual efforts toward environmental sustainability, in all their authenticity, seem meaningless unless an industrial transformation is embraced. We must evolve from empty corporate propaganda, false efforts, and inaction; we must propel toward responsible, preemptive, and collaborative change at broader levels. I chose to fill these corroded barrels with diverse people, water, and landscapes, as well as recycle the letters/message, as a reminder of the immediate need to move beyond "empty" toward true sustainability and appreciation.

Original image: Chris Jordan, Mother Jones, May/June 2009, p. 60

-Midge

Waiting for Prince Charming



Changing your environment to a natural environment can create a fairy tale. The story in the original seems dismal and hopeless. The interior is dull, dirty and depressing, setting the scene for a tragic dialogue. By placing the figures outside in a natural, clean and beautiful environment, one wants to tell a different, more enchanting story. The sorrowful bride can dream of a happy ending. Simply being in nature can inspire a different type of story, engage your imagination, and create an escape from the ordinary.

Original image: James Stanfield, A Day in the Life of America, Smithsonian, June 2006, Pg. 20-21

Sunny

Absence Of Nature- Presence Of Greed




The image I chose is of a construction site. It is stark and lacks anything natural. As I look at this image I imagine what might have been there years ago or what could have been there in place of man made materials. The transformation of my image consists of making aware the consequences of construction on the environment. I collaged images of trees cut down, destroyed and torn up plant life. In the back ground the towers shine, dollar signs flicker in the window. Through the dollar signs I placed silhouette images of tree branches to represent the memory of what might once have existed there. A billboard looms in the background. The statement is disconcerting but if forest and land is continually viewed as opportunity for building and earning money, what will our children’s children have left to call a natural environment?

Original image: New York Magazine, July 2009, pg 27. Image: aptsandlofts.com

Jordan Lund

Wild Ideas




The original image was an advertisement for a new reality show about Jockeys. The heading at the top of the page states, "Win or Die Trying." The advertisement startled me because it advocates competition to the point of death. It also advocates keeping horses from their wild natural habitat and way of life. I am not against horse riding, but I do think there is a limit to how much we use animals for our own enjoyment - including hunting, for food, and for money. For these reasons I decided to transform this image into one that was in support of nature untouched, providing a voice of advocacy for keeping the wild wild and not controlling it for our personal, often greedy, wishes.

Original image: Entertainment Weekly. January 30/February 6, 2009 - #1032/1033. Page 15.

Kelsey

Rescue the Reef




When I first saw this image in a magazine I was drawn to the picture because of all the colorful fish and reefs. I then read the description that was with the image. I read about how pollution, overfishing and climate change are destroying the coral reefs. I was very surprised when I read that 70% of the world’s reefs may disappear within 50 years. I decided that I wanted to change this image from what it looks likes now to what it will look like if we keep ignoring the problem. I covered up all the reefs and fish with blue paper and added black to emphasize the emptiness of the water. I also added a red arrow pointing toward the word disappear. Marine life and humans will suffer if we don’t protect our reefs. I love the ocean and I don’t want to see this happen.

Original image: Nature Conservancy Photo, Rescue the Reef, AARP, 2009, pg. 57

Liz Swienton

Real Food Comes from Nature not a Can: Buy Fresh, Buy Local !




I transformed this Chef Boyardee Beef ravioli ad adverting that a bowl has an entire serving of vegetables in it. This might be true but this product also has a lot additives and preservatives such as corn starch, MSG, and high fructose corn syrup that I wrote below the original message. Therefore I crossed out the can of ravioli and added many brightly colored fruits, vegetables, and nuts all around. The ad also suggests folding the dotted lines together for a more kid-friendly message which says “no veggies.” The line “obviously delicious, secretly nutritious” gives further emphasis to the concept of hiding veggies from kids. Why hide the veggies? I think eating veggies is a habit that needs to be learned at a very young age. Kids can be exited about eating fruits and veggies by participating in the grocery shopping process. I added a picture of a mother and her children in nature to point out that true food comes from nature not a can and motivate families to spend time in the natural environment. I encourage parents to buy fresh and buy local.

Original image: Disney Family Fun magazine, August 2009, p. 23

Laurene

Free Bird




It was liberating to change the image to my own liking and satisfaction. I chose a still life with nature-inspired man-made objects, including: a yellow orb, a flowered chandelier, a studded red bracelet and a painted black bird.

I wanted to place these objects back into a natural environment with greenness, growth, plants, fruits, insects and other animals. I did this by finding images that fit my goal.

The bird became so happy in his new environment that he started singing. I feel like I set him free. Changing the image helped me feel powerful and constructive—and activist and artist.

Original image: Ditte Isager, Domino Magazine, March 2008, p. 107

Sarah B.

baby steps



My original image was an advertisement for signing up for free e-statements from my bank. I have always received my statements in the mail. I never really thought about changing over to conserve on paper use. Having a shredder I am constantly shredding junk mailers. Not only did I find the woman with the grass shirt appealing, I also liked the text at the top left of the card which read, “You don’t have to go to the extreme to make a difference.” I appreciate the notion of living to the cliché that one person can make a difference even if they make changes in baby steps. With this concept, I altered the image to illustrate that we are running out of time so I decided to use imagery of re-usable bags and water bottles. I also used the text “Let there be more Green Earth” to convey our responsibilities to Mother Nature.

Original image: Clinton Savings Bank, postcard advertisement, July 2009

Alison

A New City


When I first found this image in the National Geographic Magazine from July 2009, I was astonished at the environment of the city and cemetery in Bosnia. After the war in Bosnia, the city looks depressed and dark. There is little green space and residents are lacking fresh oxygen from the trees, and the city has no rivers or streams. I have transformed the cemetery into a beautiful, peaceful place with green spaces, flowers, and water. The city residents can now enjoy a changed place where the terrible memories of war are slowly disappearing. I want to tell my audience how important green spaces are in revitalizing a war torn city.

Original image: National Geographic Magazine, July 2009, Volume 216, No. 1 from "Serbs Face the Future", Photographer, Christopher Anderson, pg. 117.

Simone Kivett

get back to nature



The original name of this image was, “What the living do” by Marie Howe. I choose this image as one I wanted to change because this woman needed to be taken out of the 50’s and into present day culture. The subject looks as though her life passion is walking down Park street shopping for material items with her prize winning dog. Since modern day culture has become beyond obsessed with obtaining material items I decided to send out a different message. GET BACK TO NATURE! In the created image I placed the woman outside in nature. I took her out of her restricted clothing and let her hair down. She is now a free woman that does not need to spend money on material items to be truly happy. She is sending a message to look around and enjoy your surrondings.

Original Image: The Oprah Magazine, Marie Howe, "What The Living Do", 2006. Pg 45

Sarah

Media Remiss



Seeing a photo of Sarah Palin quickly reminded me of just how little our media actually holds our political leaders feet to the fire. Sadly, at this point, I expect most elected leaders to be devoid of ideas or solutions to our nation’s problems. This might not be a reality however if the media did its job of watch dogging rather then providing coverage that legitimizes these so called leaders. People is tacitly saying (or perhaps not so tacitly saying) that the figures create legislation that impacts every American are basically entertainers. The piece does not bring the reader new information; moreover it does not question Palin’s motives or decisions. I transformed this message by replacing the original text with text that brings to light just how poorly the U.S. media does it job.

Original image: Jim Watson/AFP/Getty, "Life is About Choices", People, July 20, 2009, pg. 60

Pete

Be My Mommy




This advertisement is for perfume. The image is of a happy family with a baby. I am sure perfume is their priority. Because babies are a hot topic in hollywood right now. The remix images are from a magazine layout of all that baby bliss. The remix focus is on the dysfunction around some of these unions. The halo around the child's head represents the innocence of the child. Featured are Bridget, Tom and Giselle, Michael Jackson, Angelia Jolie toting the tots, Britney Spears, Madonna and so on. You get the picture?

Original image: "First class seat", Macy's advertisement, Oprah Magazine, 2006, p. 57

Sheila

Natural Materials, Healthy Environment





I wanted to celebrate the wonders of nature and outdoors; walking, planting, enjoying the landscape of trees and gardens. I wanted to take out the watch from the previous picture and replace it with someone exercising and being in touch with nature. Also, you notice the woman who is walking has a smile on her face; the other one does not. I replaced her clothing with clothing made out of nature. It is important in saving our environment to use natural materials. Clothing, of natural materials, and walking outside creates a healthy individual and is better for the environment.

Original image: Oprah Magazine, May 2006, p. back cover

Karen Thompson