New York Feng Shui and Eco Friendly ART
In 1996 I was deeply immersed in my Feng Shui Study Course here on Long Island New York. In addition to the intensives on Feng Shui we were introduced to a subject called Bio-Biologie. Long before Al Gore came out and spoke about “Going Green” we were learning about such things as ‘environmentally friendly” materials, paints and all natural rugs that don’t outgas (often times for YEARS to come), electromagnetic energy and the hazards of being exposed to it to incorporate methods for our clients to live a healthier, happier and more productive life through both Feng Shui AND bio-biologie.
It is a science and study developed in Germany and brought to the United States. I have been as careful as possible since then to buy as natural as I can….in 1996, however, it seemed no one had heard of it or what I was talking about.
I remember doing a Feng Shui Consultation for a client in Oyster Bay Long Island. She was having a total renovation done of both floors in her home and had called for a Feng Shui Consultation on the new use of rooms and areas. I’d mentioned this science to her and she looked into it; she said she believed every word of it and asked her contractor to find out about it as well. She ended up with the most environmentally friendly home as she could back then.
Recycling wasn’t at all popular back then with the exception of soda cans. In Feng Shui Art, we often think now of common, everyday products that are disposed of as junk and made into Artwork. There is currently a heated debate on Eastern Long Island over someone using other people’s “junk” to create HIS type of “artwork” on HIS property. His neighbors call it an eyesore…he calls it ART.
The trend is growing here. On a recent Feng Shui Consultation in Levittown Long Island I spotted a new homeowner building HIS new artwork. My client lived next door and when I asked her how she felt about it she said: “It’s his house and his yard, he can do whatever he likes.” What a wonderful attitude!
Sometimes we ALL look for “trash” to turn into treasures. I happen to love art in ALL forms and wouldn’t have an issue with this either. I’m sure it will grow and will be curious to see if it offends anyone later on.
All Natural, Eco Friendly Art-Work in Levittown NY:
http:www.LongIslandFengShui.com
**Carole Provenzale has been a Certified Feng Shui Consultant since 1997 and is the Founder of Feng Shui Long Island and New York providing on Site Consultations for New York City (Manhattan) and all of Long Island for Homes, Apartments, Businesses, Corporations, Renovations and New Construction.
http://www.TheFengShuiVoice.com
Carole, I would not have any problem with that it looks like fun.
Carol..VERY MODERN..If Levittown NY is anything like Levittown PA he may get sited..very new wave..Thanks
HelpfulHannah your friend in Philadelphia
Very cool artwork Carole. This green trend is showing up in more places all over the country. Saw it this past weekend when out looking at new vehicles.
I hope people will be a bit more tolerant of this type of art! There are some folks that a against such things as outdoors clothes lines! It looks like we still have a ways to go in the eco world.
Carole, I would not have any problem with it at all ... I love all forms of art too.
Today, I dusted a piece of art that has been leaning against the wall for years ... and finally put it in a black frame. It's a black and white oil painting of Paris, including the Eiffel Tower. It's probably not the most eco friendly piece of art I have, but it looks great on the wall, over the eco "Pensive Female" carved from a piece of wood. :)
Back in my days of visual merchandising, we often shopped at the hardware store for props. Dryer hoses, chain link fence gates, garden hoses, reflector lights, you name it. We would create "art" and display products with our new artistic pieces. Inevitably a sales person or customer would ask, "but what does it MEAN??" Hopefully he will get to continue to express himself!
I wonder if it's any different from someone painting their house a bright, fluorescent fuchsia in a neighborhood of dull, boring gray and white houses.
For my 2-hour walk today, I went down to the Harbor and took pictures of all the public art down there. I'll do a slide show of it this week sometime.
What's the old saying..."one man's trash is another man's treasure". I think that's a very ingenious use of those materials and really gives some visual interest to the yard.
Carole--I love how you refer to his neighbors thinking of this art as an eyesore...so common but there are neighborhoods with covenants to avoid that. If the neighbors don't like, they should move on...new neighbors move in and will appreciate the green art.
Art placed in a thoughtful way is very different from a pile of garbage on the side of the house. We may not all enjoy looking at all types of art but everyone has the right to display in their own home what they like (or should have unfortunately in some communities they even limit your ability to fly a flag, etc.).
That is the thing about art...beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I, for one, think it is awesome!
Carole,
I like his art...it seems to fit right in with the natural surroundings....
Jo
"Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder :) " I love this type of art & creativity - we recently went away for the weekend to Galena, IL an old town with lots of boutique type shops and one store made yard statues or yard art out of everything imagineable - even old golf club parts LOL the materials ( some men's trash as Lisa said ) were awesomely re-used into animal shapes or flower sculptures!
Great post Carole - thanks for sharing
Sincerely,
Grace
Marchel, I happen to love it and the creativity. I think they are fighting so hard out east to have this type of art removed because it didn't stop there........that artist kept going and going and it's all over! The neighbors are complaining that it's devaluing their homes (which I don't think for a minute). They contine to fight to have it taken down.
Hannah, I think Levitt built both Levittowns (if I'm not mistaken :). I happen to love this and want to go back and see what the homeowner continues to do with it.
Gary, I happen to love it, too! I wish more people could see it that way, it's ART.
Joan, I know, there were problems here with clothes lines outside! Isn't this supposed to be OUR homes and yards? Goodness, I've read the same thing here.
Sylvie, I could hardly get past the word "Paris." To me, Paris was filled with ART...from the clothes to the gardens to the food. I have been so many places and it is my all time favorite!
Cheryl, Why does it have to "mean" something is the thing I never understood. There are so many ways to see art. I was remembering The Gates when they put them up in Central Park and they were magnificent. So many people wanted to know what it MEANT....I wonder if they're missing beauty.
Russel, With the greys, browns and white homes around here, I would sure love to see some bright, beautiful colors :) I'd do it myself if I needed new vinyl siding :) I look forward to your blog, I'm SURE I'm going to enjoy it.
Erica, I thinkyou might want to read the terms of service for AR.
Lisa, I do, too. I think they are worried it may get out of control, that's what they're charging the artist out East with. I think they should leave him alone to enjoy his home and yard!
Teri, They are fighting for at least a year now that poor man out East...who is doing something he loves; this wouldn't bother me a bit but some people say it depreciates their home value (I believe that was the economy, not the art!).
Paddy, I just had a client undergoing renovations. They stored some of the wood on the side of the house along with some things that hadn't been taken to the curb yet. Her neighbors called the town and gave her $1,000 penalty---I couldn't believe it! It wasn't even trash day yet!
Crystal, So do I. I wonder if I should attempt something after my new landscaping :)
Jo, I think it does, too. You'd be amazed how many people here don't adopt the saying Live and Let Live!
Grace, I would have loved that....and probably bought something! I have lots of things outside (windmills, wind chimes, objects that move) and I believe some people don't like it...I love it and I'd love to find that artwork around here for sale!
Carole,
I'm with you on the idea of loving art in all forms! Thanks for your post.
Mike in Tucson
Carole - My husband is a NYC bridge worker. He has been bringing things (read garbage) home for quite some time. He is buliding a water collection system and some giant metal tree sculptures in front. I'm all for recycling but not sure I'm going to call my husband's efforts art. I may post pictures when his masterpiece is complete.
Carole- Funny how things have come full circle...hundreds of years ago people used whatever was available, then we got prosperous and became a very wasteful society....now I would say it's becoming more in vogue to recycle and not waste things. In a town called Watts, by LA a guy collected junk and built his idea of ART. for years many said it was an eyesore, now it has been featured in several magazines, TV, etc. and is affectionately known as folk art.
Hi Carole, Thanks for the interesting post. I couldn't agree more that one man's trash is another man's treasure. I saw a man today in a pickup truck filling the back of it with items he had found in a dumpster.
Mike, I wish they had more of a "live and let live" attitude here!
Maureen, I would love to see them when they're done! I would probably call it art, I find this talent so creative!
Kathy, You are SO right! I don't know that artist but I know here in NY there is a place where artists go to put up Eco Friendly art they have created. I love it and find their creativity amazing. We gave become a wasteful society!
Sandy, I would love to see what he's going to create out of that 'trash.' I happen to love these forms of self expression too.