Privacy is dead and happy christmas!

http://www.documentary-log.com/d2373-privacy-is-dead-%e2%80%93-get-over-it/




Robin

Happy Christmas all

Hi everyone (anyone who still reads the blog)

Thought by way of Christmas greeting send you a couple of pics of my snowman-efforts on Saturday..."Alfred" (so named as half way through making he looked like Alfred Hitchcock) and a 7 ft tall cat a group of us made...a bit like Koons' puppy I thought. We had to build a ramp to roll the head up it was so heavy!

Am hopefully going to tick off one of those 'you should do this once in your life' type things—build an igloo.

Hope you are all enjoying studies and life.

Happy Christmas!

Adrian

This Christmas' top single

Four and a half minutes of beautiful, riveting, X Factor-crunching silence:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/video/2010/dec/13/cage-against-the-machine

Happy Christmas!

For anyone that want to show/talk bout their work

http://www.showmethemonet.tv/




R

Day of Action

On Wednesday 10th November over 50,000 students and education workers marched through central London: the biggest protest for education since Margaret Thatcher tried to introduce tuition fees in 1985. On Wednesday 24th students are walking out and demonstrating in a day of civil disobedience.

Funding cuts and fees of up to £9000 will burden students with debts of up to £50,000. The message from the Con-Dem government is clear: education is for the privileged only. We must fight for the principle: education is a right, not a privilege. Fund our future.

Current students may also be affected by staff cuts, fewer resources and a decline in quality of teaching.

The government claims cuts are a necessity while banks propped up by public funds rake in profits and pay out billions in bonuses and Britain’s highest earners have been allowed to dodge up to £40 billion in tax payments through a government agreement with Swiss banks. The cuts are an attack on all but the most privileged members of society, and on the public services that we rely on. Unite to fight the cuts.

On

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=171608436200048

mdxagainstcuts@groups.facebook.com

Artist documentaries

Don't know if you guys heard of Art:21, documentaries on contemporary artists.
Check http://www.pbs.org/art21/ out.


Hope to see you guys soon!

XR

Welcome to our new course 2010/2011

The Team Sculpture School of Art is one of the biggest in Europe. It boasts an infinite campus and the combined facilities of Chelsea, Goldsmiths, St. Martins, Byam Shaw, Camberwell and Cambridge. There are no tutors but enough students to keep track of what we are doing, organize shows, pay each other visits, share tips and make drinking appointments. It would be the school's pleasure if you joined us for this life-long degree. Say yeah?

Opportunity

Hello and for those of you that are starting anew welcome back and good luck.

I have had some delightful contact with some, thank you. Please let me know when you are showing work, I would like to be able to come along.

Best

Pierpaolo

I came across this and thought that there may be amongst you some who might be interested.....

http://www.creative-choices.co.uk/opportunities/art-of-influencing-change

CSM Sackler Centre Show

Dina, Robin, Robert and Caroline are showing work in the CSM foundation show at the Sackler Centre in the V&A--opening on October 4th and running until early January.

Private view: Friday, October 8th at 6:30....come along! It might be interesting.

POLAROID One600 Classic Gift Set Instant Camera - review, compare prices, buy online

POLAROID One600 Classic Gift Set Instant Camera - review, compare prices, buy online

talk at the TATE

Marina Abramovic is doing a talk at the Tate Modern on October 16th...

"Since the beginning of her career in Belgrade during the early 1970s Marina Abramovic is considered a major figure in performance art. She discusses her recent four-decade survey MOMA exhibition Marina Abramovic: The Artist Is Present which included a piece that marked her record for endurance after seating in the gallery for the duration of the exhibition totalling over 700 hours while facing a chair for visitors to seat.

Coinciding with her first solo show at Lisson Gallery in London, Abramovic analyses her interest in the preservation and the restaging of performance which motivated her founding of the Marina Abramovic Institute for Preservation of Performance Art in New York. She is in conversation with Iwona Blaswick.

In collaboration with Art Monthly

Tate Modern Starr Auditorium
£9 (£5 concessions), booking recommended"

The comeback

Hi everyone, how was your Summer? I saw Marc and Caroline the other day at Caroline's, which was great. The sad news is that I heard that maybe Emmeli and Julieta could be staying in their countries instead of coming back to London for next course. Is that right? No, let me tell you, that's not right.
Anyway, let's cheer up. There's this great Wolfgang Tillmans show at the Serpentine which closes on Sunday 19th. I've already seen it but I'll be going again. Maybe see you there.

Emmeli's Leaving

For everyone who doesn't know, Emmeli is leaving London for 'Kalle's Kaviar', 'Keso' and 'filmjölk' (which means Sweden!). I was therefor thinking that we should meet up a final time in 'my' gallery for drinks and hugs on Sunday at 9 o' clock!
I'm aware of that people are away these days but I really hope as many as possible can make it!
See you guys there (and don't forget to bring your Turkish rugs!).

XXXrobinXXX

Images from the RCA show

I really enjoyed this year's RCA sculpture show. One of the criteria when they select future students is to represent a broad spectrum of what's going on in sculpture and maybe that's the reason why the show felt really diverse in materials and concerns. There was a bit of institutional critique (the guy who broke one of the walls of the building). There was performance and video. There was bronze. There was foam and wax and silicone and crap and glossy kitsch paint. There was construction. Interactive pieces. Machine-making. Secret narratives. Non-narrative. Simplicity. Complexity.

RCA Sculpture Show

Hi everyone! The RCA Sculpture Show is closing on Sunday. To me, this is the one, the most important show of the Summer. I'm going tomorrow. For those who haven't fled London, here are the details:

SHOW TWO Battersea (Painting and Sculpture):
23 June – 4 July, 11am–8pm daily

Royal College of Art
15–25 Howie Street
London SW11 4AS

fine art csm degree show

today, some of us will be going around 15:00/16:00 to csm BA Fine Art degree show as it is the last day of the exhibition.

Public: 18-24 June, 12-8pm
(6pm on 24 June, closed on Sunday 20 June)
107-109 Charing Cross Road
London WC2H 0DU


Please if you want and can lets meet there...

thank you

ana

Some Interesting Reading?

http://green-anarchy.wikidot.com/technology-trauma-and-the-wild

Article a little over wrought nonetheless an interesting argument with lots of fact (?) and reference........

Also, The research that goes on within an academic institution reveals not only some interesting ideas, but also, to an extent, the 'values' of the institution itself...... So have a look at...

https://owa.arts.ac.uk/owa/WebReadyView.aspx?t=att&id=RgAAAADg/Uoja8KsTbZ7Al/XXkqFBwBSiSUJAML2TIjJXSg1JWACALjgvfFdAABSiSUJAML2TIjJXSg1JWACANjCs6FLAAAJ&attid0=EABL0Y1O46DWRYl9p2WDFMAP&attcnt=1

It will prompt you to log on to your college e mail. Once you do that it will take you on to the relevant document.

I can suggest the presentations on the morning of Tuesday 29th at High Holborn. It may look a little dry at first but I am certain that some of the ideas will provoke further thinking.


Have fun X
P

Bunker event

Hi all

Sorry couldnt make show...

Do you remember Hannah from the Clerkenwell road pop up earlier this year? ...she sent me this...

Hi Adrian

I would like to invite you and your students to a closing event and artist talks for our latest exhibition called Where Beats This Human Heart in a WWII air raid bunker in Dalston, this Wednesday 23rd June. The exhibition is open throughout the day from 2pm with the closing event from 6.30pm and the artists talks from 7pm.

The Bunker is situated on Abbot Street, behind the Print House and Cafe Otto (18 Ashwin Street).

Please find attached some images from the show and the press release.
And please post it on your sculpture blog.
I hope you can make it.

Best
Hannah

Once again, am not 100% that I'll go, but the bunker itself sounds worth a visit in itself

Adrian

exhibition tonight

i know its the 3rd post already!
tonight around 7 we are all meeting at the rag factory
guys from sculpture team showing things would love to see all the family around!


the rag factory
18 heneage street (off brick lane)

xx

Opportunity

http://www.onedotzero.com/submissions.php

onedotzero_internship
onedotzero has an established internship programme up to 8 weeks, open to students from various backgrounds. the role of our interns involves giving administrative support and carrying out running duties at our shoreditch studio, east london. interns can help with the day to day running of the studio, ad hoc duties and assist in research, design and organisational tasks as and when they come up. our expertise allows an opportunity for students to gain valuable experience in various disciplines including a unique insight into the creative industry, as well as potential connections and contacts for career paths and progression.

for more information about the internship programme please email your cv to elizabeth waite
info@onedotzero.com




Pierpaolo

SOMETHING AT THE RAG FACTORY exhibition

Hi Guys,
We are more than glad to invite you all to the "SOMETHING at the Rag Factory" exhibition.
The Private View/Party is going to take place SAT 19 of June, beggining at 7.30

http://www.facebook.com/photo_search.php?oid=123623691005814&view=user#!/event.php?eid=125057670867889&ref=mf

The exhibition is going to be open to the public both Saturday 19 and Sunday 20, from 10 to 10.

Check the list of people showing work, Im sure you all know a couple of them! Surprise surprise!


The Rag Factory
16 Heneage St.
(right off Brick Lane)

Guys, what you have been doing is amazing.
I have had no connection for the last week. It is very exciting to come back and see what you have done with the leaflet- nice one. xxx

EVERYBODY NEEDS TO COME TO COLLEGE ON MONDAY

(just a reminder--in case you're still in a sunshine/freedom induced daze)

These things need to happen before the exhibition opening on Wednesday:
EVERYTHING other than your final piece must be cleared out of the studio
The floor must be painted
All work must be in the state in which to wish to present it

The leaflets have been printed and delivered--they look great, except for a colouring issue with Jana's photo, but the printing company has promised to do what they can to amend the situation and send corrected copies in time.

hello hello

thanks for the input, julieta and ana!

this is what i've come up with:



the rest of the leaflet is formatted and ready to go...i must get this to the printer tonight, so let's make a decision!

XO

UPDATE: I just send this off to the printers--should be ready and delivered on Monday. After compiling everything and editing, it ended up being 8 pages (with more photos than text, this just looked better--it makes sense when you see it.)!

about leaflet

Julieta, The proposals look great!
I quite like the 3d block but more as the depiction of an object and not a map, The 2d maps work much better...!
uau uh!

Also we should try to direct the flow of the viewers in the building, somehow inform them where to go and where they are.

I remembered last year that I didn't know where to go, I felt I missed a lot of rooms because it was so hard to understand the building. I was completelly lost!

Maybe we could think about ways to do this? through a poster, or arrows, signs.... not in our room, but in the floor...I don't know


ana

proposal for leaflet illustration.

Hi guys,
It was hard for me to relate the MAP with the 3D, when combined it just didn´t look as a map neither a 3D thing, so I decided to separate the elements,

1. MAP, keeping it simple, hand-made, as we talked yesterday.









2- 3D, show the sculpture studio as a SOLID BLOCK, a PIECE by itself.



send more stuff so we got lots of things to choose from!!
xx

julim

LEAFLET

Hey guys. Thanks to all who came out for our discussion today.

We have decided to make a 12 page A5 booklet--3 artists per page, with a little guide to the exhibition in the front.

Also, we have named it "State of Sculpture" and decided on the cover, to draw our room as if it were a map (See the photo of quick sketches)--3 dimensional, with maybe a line running from door to door like a river--the idea is that it looks like it's own state. It'll be something simple. No words, just lines.


Two things:

If you object to any of this, speak up soon--it is being sent to the printers Wednesday morning.

If you want to do the drawing for the cover, POST IT ON HERE no later than 4PM tomorrow (Tuesday).

Speak now or forever hold your piece.


That's all!

XO

productive picnic

I propose that anybody who wishes to help design this exhibition leaflet come for a meeting in the park tomorrow (Monday, May 31st.). I've gathered all of the necessary information, except from Jessie and Charlie--we just need to get this thing to the printer by Wednesday!

DUE TO UGLY WEATHER-- we are NOW meeting at CAFE 1001 ON BRICK LANE (kind of across from Rough Trade)

I'll make cupcakes, bring my computer with everything on it and we'll get this thing done!

SOMETHING AT THE RAG FACTORY - invitation to exhibit.

Clay Mohrman, CSM foundation student in Product Design pathway, has been organizing for the last months an Exhibition (after the foundation one).
He reserved one of the rooms in amazing place, called The Rag Factory, http://www.ragfactory.org.uk/, which is just off Brick Lane.
I am helping him with the organization of the show, which is going to take place Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 of June. (Friday 18 whole day of hanging).
The space is really interesting, hidden behind what looks like a warehouse entry, it´s really big and kind of non gallery really, since the walls are convered in tiles and electricity cables are going around, the lighting is going to be set for the show, it´s a space that is generally used for theatre shows and performances.

The invitation to exhibit is open to anyone who has the desire of doing it. The space is limited, of course, but there is not curation or selection of work, it´s just about the willing to show.
Some confirmed participants come from Chelsea 1st year BA, The Ruskin 1st year BA, and all around our foundation course.
I informally talked to some of you, but I would love to invite everyone in the sculpture team to join and come and show what we like doing.

As we have no sponsors (yet), we are all paying 35 pounds for the 3 days of renting the space,
We are planing on having some live bands playing at evenings, and of course a nice party, which in any case youll be invited!


Il you feel like it, please write an e-mail to clay.mohrman@gmail.com

The whole thing is about enthusiasm and energy of doing and showing and seeing new thing, so any idea or comment please please say, write or post!

xx

Juli

John Bock.

The Curve

10 June 2010 - 12 September 2010

The internationally-acclaimed, Berlin-based artist John Bock is renowned for his surreal installations combining performance, sculpture and film. Drawing on an idiosyncratic range of interests, Bock creates an absurd amalgamation of references from the disciplines of economics, fashion, film, politics, philosophy and music, among others.

In Bock’s installation a modified mobile home lands like an alien space ship in the middle of The Curve, where it docks with parasitic structures suspended from the ceiling. These make-shift architectural structures house various enterprises: a pub, a noodle restaurant and shops. Resembling a utopian, plug-in city constructed of found materials and handmade elements, the installation alludes to the original plan for the Barbican’s Frobisher Crescent which was to include a shopping arcade one level above The Curve. Live performances by Bock and other actors periodically animate the installation and can be viewed on screens in the gallery.

The Aesthetics of Girlishness A History of Shōjo Manga (Girls' Comics) in Japan

A talk by Deborah Shamoon, University of Notre Dame

Royal College of Art, Kensington Gore SW7 2EU
Humanities Seminar Room
Wednesday 2 June 2010 4 PM


Shōjo manga, or romance comics for teenage girls, is an extremely popular and prominent genre of comics in Japan. This genre is characterized by a very dense visual style, including flowery backgrounds and big-eyed, androgynous boys and girls. Why is this genre so appealing to girls? Where did it come from? And why do so many of the stories feature androgynous characters or even homosexual romance?

This talk will give an overview of the history of shōjo manga, from its origins in 1920s and 30s girls' magazines, to the "revolution" of women writers in the 1970s. The main focus will be on the development of shōjo manga’s distinctive visual style, using as a primary example Ikeda Riyoko's 1972 hit The Rose of Versailles, which has been called the "shining masterpiece of shōjo manga."

REMINDER

Jessie and Charlie: I still need exhibition information from you. Please e-mail me ASAP. Failure to participate will lead to exclusion or a very inaccurate description.

Everybody come to Marc's thing on Saturday night! It'll be fun!

Thats all.
xo

Francis Alÿs: The Poetics of Experimentation. Saturday 19 June 2010, 14.00–17.00

Francis Alÿs’s practice encompasses political issues such as borders and migration, poetics of the everyday (as seen in his objects and small-format paintings), and gestures signalling an interest in precariousness and performativity. These three areas are discussed by T.J. Demos, Anna Dezeuze and Catherine Lampert, chaired by curator Mark Godfrey, in connection with the exhibition at Tate Modern.
Francis Alÿs supported by Eugenio Lopez, Mexico with additional support from Bilge Ogut Cumbusyan and Haro Cumbusyan

Tate Modern Starr Auditorium
£15 (£12 concessions), booking recommended

Henry Hudson "Crapula" at 20 Hoxton Square Projects 3rd June 2010

“CRAPULA”
(plural crapulae)
Sickness or indisposition caused by excessive eating or drinking.
From Latin crāpula (“‘intoxication’”) from Ancient Greek κραιπάλη (kraipalē), “‘intoxication, hangover’”).

Following his appearance in a group show with 20 Hoxton Square Projects in 2007, British artist Henry Hudson returns to the space to present a new body of work “CRAPULA”.

Described by Richard Dorment as ‘an astonishing young painter’, Hudson uses incongruous media, such as children’s plasticine or clumps of human hair, to explore moral and social decay in Britain. He has already established a strong voice and marked visual identity, with an ironic tone embellished by his use of peculiar materials. As the rebellious Hudson delves into London’s dank and dreary underbelly, the reality that seeps out is one of humour and horror, depravity and comedy. Hudson is blessed with a Hogarthian wit and satirical eye, and with it he constructs a provocative consideration of what it means to be British today.

Bryam Shaw Final Exhibition

Hi you guys

Hope you've all had a lovely weekend in the sun going back to the lives you used to live pre Unit 7.

It's not only us that's had a steamroll of exhibition pressure over us, the guys as Bryam Shaw are now showing off what they've managed to learn over the foundation year.

The show is going on right now and will be on untill Friday.
I was thinking of going on Thursday around noon if anybody is interested to join me?

Here's the facebook event for the show which gives you all the details of the location. I was thinking maybe meet up at Archway tubestation about 12:30?
Let me know if you're up for it!

And enjoy the sun
/e

Donyale Luna pour Future Essence Pure Coconut Oi

Artist Danielle Dean is looking for help for a project in Brixton Market. The project space is an off-shoot of 198 contemporary arts and learning. 

Danielle is restaging her work called "Donyale Luna pour Future Essence Pure Coconut Oil"  which was launched as a window display at Central St Martins in January 2010 and has been shown since at Tate Modern.

Danielle is offering the opportunity for motivated students who are interested in developing their skills in installion and throughout the project. She is looking for students who are willing to offer creative input and take on  the responsibility for working 'front of house' during the period of the 12th June till the 20th.  Working hours flexible but paid only in coconut oil.

This is a great project and Danielle is a very friendly and motivated emerging artist who is developing a growing interest in her work both here and internationally. This would be especially useful for people who are local to the area but that is not essential.

Please contact Danielle if you are interested and for more details,

danielledean83@hotmail.com

07931908023

Hope this interests one or two of you

Best
Adrian

I'm going to this show at Camden Arts Centre

Back to the good old days when we had time to go to shows and have nights out and do things not clearly connected to our project proposal. I'm definitely going to Marc's night at The Constitution, 42 St. Pancras Way, NW1 0QT. And very possibly going tomorrow night to the P.V. at Parasol Unit (see Julieta's post).

And on Wednesday morning I'm checking out this other show, which has just earned the artist (a Spanish sculptor) a nomination to the Turner Prize:
http://www.camdenartscentre.org/exhibitions/?id=100800

Who's up for it?

TABAIMO show - PARASOL UNIT - Private view: 25 May, 6.30 – 9 p.m.

Parasol unit is delighted to present the first solo exhibition in London devoted to the work of the Japanese artist Tabaimo. Since her graduation from art school in 1999, Tabaimo’s innovative and large-scale animated drawings have been extensively shown to major critical acclaim, both in Japan and internationally.

Tabaimo is known for her skilfully drawn and disturbing animations that mix imagery from contemporary
Japanese life with digital video technique. Throughout her eleven years of practice the artist has created
satirical works that often comment on modern life in Japan, and in particular on the way her own generation
attempts to reconcile the realities of today with traditional Japanese values. Tabaimo draws inspiration from a
variety of sources, not least from the media and her own personal experience. All animations are hand-drawn
by the artist and in their execution and use of colour they are perhaps inspired by traditional Japanese
drawings and prints. Tabaimo’s work pulsates with a sense of immediacy that invites viewers to respond to
them instinctively rather than react to them through acquired or preconceived knowledge.

The exhibition at Parasol unit is comprised of five video installations: Japanese Kitchen, 1999; hanabi-ra, 2003;
guignorama, 2006; public conVENience, 2006; and yudangami, 2009.

THE UPPITY BUMP

Hello, Marc here.

Hope you all are already enjoying the mini break... and to add a little more glitter on your holiday.. I'd love to invite all of you Team Sculpture ( and it sure includes the lovely tutors ) to "The Uppity Bump" on 29th, Saturday. I'm DJing, it would be brilliant to see as many of you as possible there.. promise i won't let you down, my taste in music is the only thing I can proud of. ( no worries my music is not queered up at all )

"The Uppity Bump"
8:30 - 12:00 ( I'll be on around 10 or 10:30 )
at The Constitution ( nice and tiny pub by the canal ), 42 St. Pancras Way, NW1 0QT
29th May Saturday
entry free

let me know if you have any questions or you get lost on the way or anything.
077 9584 8621
or
marc.paintwork@gmail.com


Well, Have a lovely break. Hope to see you all soon.

djmarcspex

exhibition leaflet

Hello everyone!

Over the next two weeks, I am putting together a little leaflet for our exhibition. What I need from you is:

the title of your piece
medium used
a photo of it, or whatever supporting work you find important

Please get this to me via e-mail by next wednesday
--I'll send out an e-mail reminder on Monday.

Anybody have ideas/suggestions? I'll send everyone a proof for approval before I have anything printed.

Thank you! Have an amazing little break, hopefully we'll all see each other before re-hang day!

xx C

send to: caroline@wearfrolic.com

??

caroline
what is the thing that we were suppose to check in the blog?

KEYS FOUND IN THE STUDIO

I couldn´t find the owner so I have them with me.
xx

Juli

Well done to you all!

Really good effort today. I hope you all enjoy your mini break, and look forward to seeing you all refreshed for Monday 7th at 10.30am.

Best wishes

Adrian

UPDATE

Hey everyone.

I'm not sure if anyone actually reads this blog anymore, but anyway--great job today, by the very very end of the day it seemed to finally look like everything is going to work out! The studio is slowly taking form as a gallery space, but we still have lots to do tomorrow.

REMEMBER to be at college ON TIME tomorrow--as you need to turn in all of your paperwork before 1pm (2 copies of each the timetable, additional bibliography, evaluation and your completed risk assessment form).

If you're in panic mode tonight, during what will probably be an all-nighter for most of us and need some support, don't hesitate to call, text or e-mail me (07796418367 // caroline@wearfrolic.com)

HEY GUYS

The walls are painted! Thank you all for staying late to get the job done.

PLEASE NOTE: ANYTHING that is in the studio and doesn't need to be there must be taken away SOON, the less cluttered the space is the easier our lives will be next week.

Have a lovely lovely weekend--see ya'll on Monday!

What I'm doing.

An Archive of found/Appropriated Objects Presented in a chest. Consisting of no more than five drawers, Here are a few examples of the contents of the drawers. Im planning on bringing the whole thing in monday afternoon.

(These photographs are no more than notes.)

Love and stuff. Tommy. xXx

Hello,

Here are some pictures from my crappy camera
of the exciting sculpture group meeting!

ana

I know you are busy, but........

Show on, not too far away, some of you may be interested in some aspect or other of this work...

http://peifenfineart.com/j-howard-black-money.html


See you all Thursday, I hope

Pierpaolo

Using your blog entries as reflection

Hi all

I was extremely impressed today with your meeting. Also, with this blog as well. Many of you write better direct to the blog perhaps than to your reflective journals?

For this reason, I think you should consider printing your written, contributed posts (yours, not others, of course) that you have made to this blog, as these show ongoing and critical reflection/evaluation, and in terms of the evolution of the wall, detailed planning as well.

We won't be able to assess direct from the blog, so hard copy it will need to be. Only print stuff from the beginning of Unit 7 (and edit if necessary). Bring these to the Friday session

Best wishes

Adrian

UPDATED SCHEDULE

HEY GUYS.
as promised, here is an UP TO DATE timetable of the events in the coming days:

TUESDAY, MAY 11: 4pm "family meeting" to discuss plans, and map spaces///wall hole patching/removal of all things taped/pinned

THURSDAY, MAY 13: clear out unnecessary furniture and ALL IRRELEVANT THINGS

FRIDAY, MAY 14: bring your research files, journals, supporting work, etc, for casual group self-assessments///ALSO, please have a draft of your risk assessment form completed.

TENTATIVE: wall painting----hopefully we can get this done after hours of Friday? We'll talk about this at the meeting on Tuesday!

MONDAY, MAY 17: All work for exhibition should be in the process of installation today.

TENTATIVE: Tuesday or Wednesday (18th/19th)--we should probably give the floors and perhaps also the windows a quick clean.

Hopefully I didn't miss anything...please speak up if you have any additions/conflicts/ideas.

Hair and fur used in Gulf of Mexico oil clean-up

I mentioned the remarkable oil absorbing properties of hair to Caroline when she was doing the stairs, and thought afterwards maybe I had imagined it...but no I didnt. Just goes to show how weird and wonderful can be the uses of materials..

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8672124.stm

Hair and fur used in Gulf of Mexico oil clean-up


France, UK, Spain, Brazil, Australia, Canada and the US are taking part
Hairdressers, pet groomers and farmers worldwide are collecting hair and fur to help mop up the devastating oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
The hair, stuffed into nylon tights, helps booms soak up thick oil spewing from the blown-out well off Louisiana.
About 370,000 salons are taking part, said the charity organising the massive "hair lift". Matter of Trust is largely co-ordinating its efforts via Facebook.
Some 450,000lbs (204,000kg) of hair and fur is said to being arriving each day.
Hair is an extremely efficient material for taking in all kinds of oils including petroleum, Matter of Trust's co-founder Lisa Gautier told the BBC's World Today programme.
She explained that each follicle has an enormous surface area, which the oil "sticks" to.

FROM BBC WORLD SERVICE


More from BBC World Service
Volunteers have been stuffing the nylons with hair at 15 warehouses close to the disaster zone, making huge "hairy sausages" or booms, she said.
The booms will be laid on beaches rather than out at sea, soaking up any oil that washes ashore.
The technique has been backed by the Applied Fabric Technologies, the world's second largest oil boom manufacturer.
Ms Gautier said donations had come from France, England, Spain, Brazil, Australia, Canada and the US, and that new volunteers were signing up all the time. There are constant updates on shipments on the charity's Facebook page.
Alpaca and sheep farmers have also got involved, according to the San Francisco-based charity.
Oil has been escaping at a rate of 5,000 barrels (210,000 gallons) a day since 20 April, after an explosion on a BP-leased rig.