点废成绿 Greening the Beige (GtB) is an eco-minded arts collective and not-for-profit community network dedicated to nurturing awareness of environmental issues. 点废成绿 GtB promotes and celebrates earth friendly artists and organizations in Beijing.
"Why are we being forced to choose between the economy and the environment? We tend to forget that without an environment we would not have an economy, as everything we consume and I mean everything comes from our environment."
~ Franke James (contemporary artist, photographer, writer)
Beijing's landfills are getting full fast! Reduce the "trash" you throw away by purchasing products with minimal packaging. Look for reusable, recyclable, and biodegrable items and remember to carry your reusable shopping bags!
Minute by minute Greening the Beige has been wrapping up the final details and casting magic spells for the first-ever global BENEFIT WITHOUT BORDERS event -- happening in less than 30 hours right here in Beijing!
Getting right to the point, here's what's cooking...
Global Connection
We've been working on a few ways to share DesertDance with all of you that can't be in Beijing with us. Here's how that'll happen:
1) a brilliant photographer who will document the night -- photo gallery links & info will be available at www.greeningthebeige.org before the following week is through.
2) videographers at the event -- expect a creative art-angled montage coming your way in less time than it takes to plant a tree.
Silent Auction
In addition to the entry ticket (50 rmb) for the event, Greening the Beige is raising funds for its 3rd Annual Event (RE-ENERGIZE BEIJING) -- coming this November 2009 -- by hosting a silent auction at DesertDance. Guests will be able to directly review the auction prizes and make immediate bids. For those of you not attending the event, GtB will host and honor bids via email (info@greeningthebeige.org) received by July 31st, 11:59 pm, Pacific Standard Time.
The following is a list of items available for auction:
1) Potted Harmony Series (Works # 1-5), 60x90 prints, photographer Oak Taylor-Smith (www.thiscityart.org)
During the Olympic Games in 2008, Beijing was a city expecting thousands of visitors who had bought tickets to see great sporting achievements. The city underwent many changes and transformed into a lush oasis as mature trees suddenly appeared erected along roadsides and flower beds sprung up everywhere.
In Maizidian, an area between highly ex-pat populated Sanlitun and Chaoyang Park where the beach volleyball events were hosted, little islands of flowers suddenly appeared. Contained inside white plastic picket fencing, they represented a desire to brighten the area and bring something of nature to an acutely urban environment.
In the series ‘Potted Harmony’, British photographer and Beijing resident Oak Taylor-Smith questions the desire and effect of attempting to green Beijing.
2) The Desert Next Door (Works # 1-3), lightbox installations, 1.5mx1m and (2) 1mx.75m, photographer Kjell Gryspeert
‘The Desert Next Door’ is a journey with Belgian photographer Kjell Gryspeert to the Tianmo Desert, the desert situated closest to Beijing. Located just 90 km from the capital, it has been documented to exist since the early Qing Dynasty period. However, the origins of this desertified "scenic spot" remain a mystery to most scientists. One hypothesis is that the Guanting Reservoir and Lake, which is surrounded by the Tianmo Desert, was once much greater than it is now. Another is that the desert is purely another one of China's ingenious reproductions. Used as a movie set location, as well as a desertification research testing site, Tianmo Desert is the focus of this series of works illuminating the transparent lines between fact and fiction and challenging viewers to discern the difference between "fake" and "real".
3) The Biobus Space Shuttle to Evolution: Burning Man 2009 (www.burncleanproject.org)
For the third year in a row, the Burn Clean Project will be transporting burners en masse using a slick biodiesel powered bus (using fuel made from 100% locally-collected waste vegetable oil). Riders will be scooped up at Reno International Airport and whisked to Whole Foods for a quick grocery run and then on to the playa. Ride in green style.
Art & Performance Surprises
Well, obviously we can't tell you about this, as it would ruin all the fun of a surprise. To give you a hint, there will be more than meets the eye and EAR added to the oasis for you to enjoy...
Respect for the Environment
In case you haven't heard yet, we've moved DesertDance to a private restored courtyard temple with a 500+ year history spanning back to the Yuan Dynasty. Although it goes without saying, we ask everyone to honor this beautiful gift of an emergency venue with respect (i.e. -- obey restricted & no-smoking area guidelines and other posted signs at the venue, turn-off your cell phones when you're in the cinema, remain considerate of neighbors when outside the courtyard and avoid gathering in large groups outside the entrance walkway -- don't worry, there's plenty of interior outdoor space within the property boundaries).
Now that you know everything, all that's left is for you to come and dance the desert away with us.
Your Urban Art Oasis awaits....
