Cali Green » recycled

Recycled Skateboard Art by Haroshi

art — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 20:30:33 +0000

There is no end, only transformation…even for your old skateboards. Now you don’t have to feel so bad after you destroy your board and get a concussion trying to Ollie your little sister. OK, so maybe you can feel bad about your concussion, but your skateboard will live on. You can trust that after you regain consciousnesses and turn your board over to the creative hands of an artist, your board will be re-born as a work of art or a very unique piece of furniture. You might even come out with the coolest drink coasters on your block and it could be a good ice-breaker when Marisa comes over for that barbecue. “Yeah, they were made from my old skateboard. I broke a tooth that day.” Or not.

Some of the most impressive works I have seen were created by Japanese sculptor and skateboarder, Haroshi. The first thing that captured my attention was the quality and creativity displayed in his sculptures. He incorporates three-dimensions, mosaic, and pixelation to transform a rough medium into a smooth and structured piece of fine art. Just as a gardener uses dead leaves to create compost for future planting, Haroshi does not revive the battered, scraped, and broken skateboards. Instead, he transforms them into something new and in many eyes: something better.

The finished product, as visually stunning as it may be, is not all it may seem. There is a soul inside each of Haroshi’s creations in the form of a broken metal piece from a skateboard. It cannot be seen, but it is present inside the wooden carving. This practice is similar to “Unkei,” a Japanese sculptor of Buddhas who was active in the 12th Century and used to place a crystal ball in the position of the Buddha’s heart.

Haroshi is another great example of artists thinking outside the box and blending innovation with creativity and Eco-mindedness. These decks could have very easily ended up in a land-fill, but instead they draw our attention in art galleries. As I stare at the sculptures myself, I wonder if perhaps I am missing something. Is it possible to find potential and beauty in everything? Right now, I am thinking YES.

Screaming My Hand, 2010

Screaming My Foot, 2010

Mad Skull, 2009

Tattoo Bear, 2009

Moose, 2010

Mario Series, 2009

Piles of skateboard decks in Haroshi's studio

RecycleMania – Sustainable Fashion show

caligreen — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 21:01:45 +0000

This Saturday, Feb 27th, 2010 from 1 p.m – 4 p.m in Anisqoyo Park (Isla Vista) the Associated Students Recycling Committee will be hosting a Sustainable Fashion Show as part of RecycleMania, a ten-week international recycling competition (www.recyclemania.org). The event will feature garments designed from students utilizing recyclable materials (plastic, mixed paper, aluminum, e-waste, etc). There will be a live DJ, band (Other Nature), food, and prizes for the best designs.

You can find Cali Green there all day, we will also be one of the featured designers.. come out and support the cause!

Raw Swimwear

caligreen — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 19:50:51 +0000

Alright girls, it’s hot tub weather and we got what you need. Now until January 31st Raw Swimwear, made in the USA from 100% recycled and reclaimed materials… is available at the Cali Green Store. Find us on 1 w. ortega st – Santa Barbara and Raw Swimwear online here.

Organic is Good. Recycling is Better.

caligreen — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:10:55 +0000

It’s great to see more and more clothing companies creating better and more sustainable products. We recently came across Playback, a company based out of Brooklyn, NY who is focusing on the benefits of using recycled materials to create quality garments with style.

playback clothing

I like Playback’s approach, they have obviously done they’re homework. They’re looping in top notch schools like Yale and Standford to research and measure the impact of their production methods. All of this information is made available to you on their website.

The Process – the short version: Playback is gathering recyclable materials such as cotton scraps and plastic bottles that would otherwise end up in a landfill. They carefully sort by color to avoid using extra dye, break down the scraps into a fiber form and re-spin them into yarn. Yarn is woven into their Eco-Logic-Fabric and then designed into a garment that is better for the environment.

Cali Green is proud to announce that we are now carrying Playback products in our store location. Take a moment to look over their website, there’s a lot of very useful information on the blog and news sections as well. And come in and check out the recycled hoodies.. they really are a top notch product.

more info:
http://www.playbackclothing.com/
http://www.playbackclothing.com/blog/

KEEP CALI GREEN!!