I Heart Green

For the love of it

Published on July 7, 2009 in for the love of it. 2 Comments Tags: dreams, man on wire.

We’re going to ask you a question, and we’d love to see your answer with comments on this blog… When was the last time you did something just for the love of it? When have you acted solely to fulfil a dream or longing?

Man on Wire

The reason we pose this question is to shine a light on the inspirational results that come from such action. Phillipe Petit for example carried out wire-walks between the Sydney Harbour Bridge pylons (shown above), over Notre Dame and between the World Trade Centres. People stood and watched and he heard their murmurs from 450metres above ground. When the dumbfounded and clearly affected policemen that witnessed the event from the top of the towers were asked about it, they could hardly describe it. Even they were clearly heart-touched. When they asked him why he did it, he answered that there was no why. According to the Academy Award-winning documentary Man on Wire, he tells the story of being in a dentist’s office as a young man and sighting a newspaper article about the planned building of the Towers in New York. He ripped the article out and raced back home, compelled. And that was before they were even built. As a child apparently all he had wanted to do was climb things, no-one could stop him.

There are some beautiful pictures of some work done in old disused newspaper dispensers in the USA. When I visited New York I used to see them standing like colourfully dressed bystanders on every corner. This lot put flowers in them, alive and grown, for the enjoyment of passers by. What a beautiful re-use of urban flotsam and jetsam. They’ve managed to turn their beat around with the power of an idea and a bit of soil and seedling action. Have a look for yourself on their website.

Man of the moment Michael Jackson said it like this:

‘Fun inspires me..out of bliss comes magic and creativity.’ – MJ

And here’s the amazing thing about our unstoppable nature as human beings: when we are compelled and driven by this kind of genuine love, not much can stop us achieving it. It’s powerful, just as are we.

Green means love

Published on July 1, 2009 in Uncategorized, alena, art and green living. 3 Comments Tags: love, Michael Jackson, Teen.

There’s a strange principle at work in all life, sometimes it’s called love. The more love we involve in the things we do (the real green, heartfelt kind of love that is) the more life, the way we live it, and the things we make, sing and shine and uplift. Strong memories of sitting in my room as a teen, drawing, writing and listening to music are great reminders of this. When I was about 15 years old, one of the by-products of this “love-time” was the picture shown here.

the love tree

The picture is oddly prophetic. Today I spent the morning making a patch of soil for my local cafe ready for planting. I did what this picture here above is talking about and made a patch of land fertile around a tree so it can grow food for the local community – and I loved it.

Just like Michael Jackson, a lot of us peak early, then perhaps look around the world for a time only to find we had it all in us to begin with. Some of us get lost along the way – whether it be by the ‘paths’ we take through danger or addiction or destructive behaviour. Mr Jackson was an incredibly beautiful and talented child, his voice and lyrics sang the world into meaning for many people, including me. He was incredibly generous with his inherant gifts. It seems he was perhaps too sensitive and hearty and lost his way amongst money, fame, isolation and painkillers. Maybe something in him gave up on love.

People are sharing their memories on his site put up by Sony Music so we can all grieve his passing together. When I think of all the wedding dancefloors, daggy nightclub DJs and house party mixes that have included a moment of “Don’t Blame ii on the Sunshine” or all the times I’ve felt overjoyed when I find “Rock With You” playing on an AM radio station in the country whilst on a roadtrip, I feel humbled and grateful. As a teen we would sing “PYT Pretty Young Thing” at the top of our voices on the back of the school bus. I was lucky to have been a teen when Thriller topped the charts for record time. It was truly thrilling back then.

So my hope for everyone reading this is that we remember our innermost passions and stay with them, and never, ever give up on them no matter what. If we find ourselves in an innoportune place to live our loves, know that whatever got us to where we are today can get us out of it.

Today, green means love to me. I love Michael Jackson and his music, and I love the fact that despite his addictions and his madness much of the world is celebrating his life and his gifts. Rest in PEACE Mr Jackson, let’s hope you find your love and your meaning somewhere, somehow. Your mission, reader, should you choose to accept it, is to make a decision to be the love, and do it now.

Do these few things and save the world… it really can be that simple.

Published on June 20, 2009 in Uncategorized and green living. 1 Comment Tags: easy, green living, simple, tips.

Be kind to people, especially those who live nearby. Peace begins at home.
Use canvas bags, not plastic ones – not only are they more attractive, they make less crinkly noises.
Use metal coffee mugs and reuse them, just carry one with you at all times (here’s a good blerb about it).
Use metal water bottles (companies like Sigg make great ones).
Eat food grown locally as much as possible – find the local market, and swap food with your neighbours if you get too much of something.
And one extra thing, find a garden that needs compost if you don’t have one yourself – ask the local school, or council to find one – and start composting. The earth needs to be fed and the garbage piles are getting too big.

These are all really simple things. If you’d like more information about any of them leave a comment here and I’ll personally get back to you with information. It’s so easy. And any time you’re spending focusing on these simple things, is time spent literally saving the world.

If you like officialdom, here’s what the Australian Govt has to say about sustainability tips.

Now, sure some of you think this is SO obvious, but others of you clearly have no clue about it. So this post is a little ode to the simple ones of us, who despite being intelligent in every other area of their lives, have not quite yet changed their basic habits.

‘Nuff said. Go hero now and start ticking of that list above.

What is green / Aviva Hannah

Published on June 9, 2009 in Uncategorized, art, mixed media and paintings. 1 Comment Tags: art, avivahannah, environment, mixed media.

Aviva Hannah is an eco-scientist and artist. She has participated in many exhibitions and protests in relation to deforestation in Tasmania, where she is based. Since childhood her talents as an artist and naturalist have been advanced. Aviva Hannah also travels and performs whilst journaling and drawing. Her lifestyle is organic in the true sense of the word. Here is her take on the ‘what does green mean’ question.

what is green…..

‘Time to Cherish or Perish’ Aviva Hannah 2008, recycled paper, mixed media. Currently held in private collection of Christine Milne, Green Senator “being green is daring to care…..in a society that has only just begun to realise its damage and repercussions, being green is standing up, admitting mistakes and the many comforts that ‘progressive’ modern society has provided, as detrimental to ecological processes and making changes. In many cases being ‘green’ will be more expensive, harder work and more personally energy intensive but in the long term….being green is looking way past the short term economic agendas, personal and political.

being green is daring to stare into the lair of humanity… but one must beware the glare…if you care, it may tear your heart apart…. there has come a time, when we must cherish or perish….

i think being green is recognizing that the earth is the ultimate provider, protector, carer and destroyer… i think being green is about Respect and Response.”

See work from Aviva Hannah’s latest exhibition here.

Hoodies and street art

Published on June 6, 2009 in Uncategorized, alena and art. 1 Comment Tags: alena, art, Banksy, buy art, Cans Festival, hoodies, mixed media.

If you’ve been following this blog for a little while you will know a few things about iheartgreen. You’ll know that some of the artworks on this page are for sale and you can buy either the original or a print for a very reasonable price (just leave a comment and we’ll get in touch if you want to know more). You may not know that some have already been sold (like the one shown here and the I Heart Green artwork below). One thing they all have in common is that they arise from an organic process – ideas gathered from experience and inspiration that randomly cross paths of artists transcribed into visual form.

This picture below is a semi-self-portrait, whipped up in response to a lingering image of a faceless man in a hooded jumper, and probably inspired by street artists around the globe who use this image, including but not limited to one of our favourites - Banksy. Apart from his amazing street art, he generously flew street artists from around the world to the Cans Festival in May last year (he was the sole sponsor). For more on this you can go to the official site or have a look at a wonderful Aussie blog called Images to Live By written by Melbourne-based academic Alison Young that I found today on the subject. The Australian street artists that were flown to London for the festival were Vexta, Tom Civil and DLux (have a look at a great collection of the work of theirs and others here on Flickr).

All those great things led bit by by to the formation of this image here.

hoodiegirl detail - pen, acrylic & crayon on canvas

hoddie girl self portrait

Please comment and let us know what you’re thinking, and a big shout out to my little bro who is the proud owner of this picture as of tomorrow. Happy Birthday little brother, you’re my hero.

‘Nuff said.

Oh, and hey bro’… did I tell you, you’re my hero?

What does green mean / Vanessa Gray

Published on June 4, 2009 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments

Beautiful woman, talented actor, hypnotherapist and creator of organic homemade beauty products and scents, Sydney-based Vanessa Gray truly lives green.

Here is her answer to the question we pose on this site ‘what does green mean?’

Vanessa Megan Gray from alena russell on Vimeo.

Permablitz: coming soon to a garden near you

Published on June 4, 2009 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments

There is a movement that is growing at the moment, which is especially prominent in our awareness on days like today: World Environment Day. Many people seem to want to get their piece of the green action in any way they can. Now for those who are not-so-motivated by money, but a little more on the community side, there are angelic and creative teams of people waiting in the wings to make it happen if you’ll just say the word and give them a bit of earth to play with.

In the local area of iheartgreen there’s a group called Permaculture East (click here to email them) and there’s a video of one of their projects on this site. It’s short and it’s worth a look. Peter Driscoll calls himself “An old geezer tryin’ to do his bit for a better Sydney to live in. Co-convenor of Transition Sydney and Permaculture East” and we heart him for it.

Networks such as these are invaluable in changing the way we look at our environment and teach us to work together. At the risk of stating the obvious, it’s no coincidence that Community and Communicaton share the first 7 letters in common: they’re both crucial to sustainability. Local green-groups are there if you care to find them, and they’re usually closer and more accessible than you may think. Plus, it’s a great way to meet people in your area with shared passions and interests.

Now stop sitting at the computer, and get out there and get your hands dirty people!

Green means using what you have

Published on May 30, 2009 in Uncategorized, alena and art. 0 Comments Tags: art, green, reuse.

Saturday night at home and at the bottom of the shelves are some coloured crayons, a canvas, some black pens. Here’s what they made. OH yeah, and we really really really do heart green… thanks for stopping by.

i heart green various media on canvas by alena

Deep gratitude

Published on May 29, 2009 in Uncategorized, alena, art and paintings. 0 Comments Tags: art, gratitude, painting.

My heart is green with gratitude instead of envy for so many reasons. We don’t live in Darfur, we live in Sydney. We can breathe today. Things are growing in the garden. We have choices. We are healthy, sheltered and fed.

Just to be alive would be enough.

Pencil and acrylic on canvas by Alena