An effort has been brewing for decades ever since the first earth day was declared sometime around the first moon walk was accomplished. A generation of boomers sensed the earth was at risk but there were no words to describe it then. Today we have plenty of opinions and a goodly number of instruments to help map out the solution.
Eco burden of tech and its manufacturing derivatives (like electrospinning polymer fiber and filaments, food packaging, injection molding, powder product manufacture, batteries, etc) contributes daily to increase in end of life manufactured poisons in disguise that do not weather well as disposables in landfill. Tech links all these systems together and will be needed nevertheless to help. Circular economies may delay the burden. Heavy industries are part of the equation.
The eco sustainable network of problems cant be solved at the mind set these systems were created.
Enter the imagination of my fellow artists who have been enthusiastically testing paperclays world wide. Beautiful tangible sculpture forms never seen before has been created using wet-dry and methods impossible to build using the traditional methodology for more than 30 years.
The simple principles are are the key to tame new compounds and products made of this hugely complex DNA containing matrix of water, plants and minerals (clays).
It's time to resume the investigation for eco-friendly "paperclay" related systems where DNA containing cellulose pulp fiber (reclaim or virgin) contributes to high performance features that cut costs, fuel and emissions.
I'll be presenting briefly at MS&T 24 Oct 6 as the community of materials scientists sustainable symposium brings together some of the best in the world who likewise are looking at fresh perspectives. I'll represent the artists who also have been exploring new views.
