Thursday, May 28, 2009

Monday, May 18, 2009

Art and the Environment: Furoshiki

Saturday May 23 at 1pm

Furoshiki: Art, Tradition and History of Folding Cloth and Wrapping Gifts or Treasures.

Wrapping an object is like dressing it in a costume. It is a language that speaks without words at the center. Like skin. Even in Japanese prints you see men and women carrying their food and clothing and belongings in cloth-wrapped parcels. The Japanese for many centuries have used squares of cloth called furoshiki which have a life of their own dating back to the Nara period when the (big) cloths were used to tie up and identify the possessions of the nobles attending the baths--thus (furo--bath and shiki --mat) Not just a scarf, napkin or wall-hanging you can wrap just about anything of any size or shape in a these cloths. Furoshiki (thinking) inspired me to write a series of poems that evolved into a collaborative piece with composer (D Berlin) and dance company (H Boda) performed six times this year and which before an Arts Institute in Valley Forge, PA.

Only when wrapped around something does the square take on a three-dimensional form. You take the inspiration from the item itself--watermelon, bottle, stone, book. computer--even a baby or kimono-ed lady can be folded in a square. How to present a present? How to wrap your belongings? How to wrap yourself? How to wrap an idea? Recently there has been a flurry of interest worldwide in this practical and aesthetic alternative to the ubiquitous non-recyclable plastic bag.

Furoshiki have traditionally been associated with certain occasions and have never gone out of style. You can design your own square of cloth and easily carry with you to use over and over again or present as part of a gift. You can create your own crests or ways of identifying the cloths--a furoshiki can be a comment on what's inside or on the person who receives what you are giving.

We will review the background and history of furoshiki thinking (listen to a bit of Roffman's collaboration) and examine some traditional and modern furoshiki. Bring a treasure to wrap, a bottle, and/or a box if you can (reasonable sizes) and square(s) of cloth (light and silky in texture) if you can. We will have some samples you can practice with if necessary and we will learn to fold and tie square pieces of cloth and create environmentally friendly containers for carrying different objects.

Registration is required. For more information call the Reference Desk. 412-531-1912.

The presentation will be given by Rosaly Roffman, poet and Professor Emeritus (Indiana University of PA). Rosaly has lived in Hawaii and Japan and remembers seeing even heavy machinery wrapped in furoshiki. In Japan she taught at Aoyama Gakuin and Gakushuin Universities and traveled to Hokkaido with Peggy Guggenheim and John Cage. She founded a myth and folklore studies center at Indiana University of PA and helped develop an Asian Studies Program that included Japanese and Chinese Literature in Translation and a Japanese film course. Her sixteenth collaborative piece "Furoshiki" represents her fascination with the subtle connections between content and container in Japanese culture

Saturday, May 16, 2009

The Effects of Global Warming on Pennsylvania's Fish and Wildlife.

May 21, 7-8:45pm in Room A

Climate scientists have called global warming the greatest threat to our planet that we have ever faced. Already, every natural system is being affected, from the loss of sea ice in the Arctic, to the breakup of shelf ice in Antarctica, to the northward migration of plants and animals as the planet continues to heat up. Although scientists are sounding the alarm, most of our fellow citizens remain unconcerned, and are unaware of the urgency. Scientists say we have only a few years left to begin reducing our carbon emissions, so it is crucial that we begin acting now. Fortunately, each one of us can take some action that will reduce our carbon foot print.

Ed Perry is an aquatic biologist who retired in 2002 after a 30-year career with the US Fish and Wildlife Service where he supervised the section responsible for stream and wetland protection in Pennsylvania. He now works with the National Wildlife Federation, educating hunters, anglers and conservationists about the impacts of climate change and what actions they can take to reduce this threat to our way of life.

Presenter:
Ed Perry of the National Wildlife Federation Global Warming Campaign

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Globalization Series conclusion

Part 3 – Date: May 16, 2009, 1:00-3:00pm
The Environmental Impact of Globalization
Speaker: Lauren Horne, Regional Program Manager, Labor Climate Project for the Blue Green Alliance .
Questions to be addressed:
What are the links between globalization and environmental issues, especially climate change?
What are green jobs and why are they increasingly important in today’s world?
How can we shape globalization to benefit rather than harm the environment?

For more information on the Blue Green Alliance click here

Here is an interesting link on how to find a green job.