OLD SCHOOL AND NEW SCHOOL GREEN ART

Morten Flyverbom is one of Denmark's best "Green Artists" having created green art for decades. He also happens to be the father of Copenhagen DJ Mikkel Flyverbom, and his name translated means "Flying Boom". All I hope is that his art has a boom, because if green art is the next big thing, he deserved some serious respect. 

The above Wooden Bike by Morten Flyverbom

The above Electric Wooden Bike by Dutch Bough Bikes

The City of Philadelphia, who is known to support street art, grafitti, murals and public art has lately had Edina Tokodi doing her moss graffiti and urban guerrilla tactics in the city of brotherly love. Tokodi was commissioned by SEPTA (Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority) to encourage Philadelphia’s commuters to ‘Go Green’ with her navigable moss icons and green walls in the Market East Station’s passenger service area, ticketing area, and on the exterior of the station building and Transportation Museum. The initiative is part of SEPTA’s mission to help commuters become more aware of the positive environmental impact of using mass transit regularly.

Philly’s effort to ‘Go Green’ via ‘moss transit’ will hopefully make the random commuter think of how goos it is that they actually use public transportation, instead of a their car. The ticket prices of a train ticket does not hurt as much everyday, as it does when pumping your tank full of black blood. I found a great post on inhabitat.com. Read on!



In a recent interview with Edina, the artist described that the ‘Go Green’ project took approximately one month of materials preparation. The installation’s opening coincided with the Philadelphia Flower Show, a popular time for increased traffic to and from the city. The artist and her collaborator, Jozsef Valyi-Toth, used “100% natural sheet moss”, turf-like plant matter grown explicitly for decoration and design purposes.

The actual installation of the moss icons and signage took one week of working non-stop, around the clock. This included creating custom-fitted moss inserts for 32 SEPTA posters (10 inches by 10
inches) and 40 pieces that fit into the SEPTA logos throughout the site. Edina and Jozsef also made two ‘Go Green’ signs with each letter measuring 2 feet by 3 feet. Red Tettemer, the very hip advertising agency, also lent a hand in the communication design details for the project
(check out the very cute video of the project’s installation process on their website).



The ‘Go Green’ project seems to already have won over the hearts and minds of day-to-day commuters at Market East Station. According to SEPTA, the feedback thus far has been extremely positive with Tokodi’s moss icons being one of the most creative projects they have helped sponsor
in a very long time. It might be a while before we are able to grow vertical gardens and vegetable walls ala Patrick Blanc

Patrick Blanc lets plants grow on any vertical surface: Marché des Halles in Avign

...in ‘the underground’ or along the train tracks so to speak, but eco-minded public works are here to stay, and there may soon come a time when being on the ‘go-green-go’ may be one of the most-energy efficient and civic minded activities that we can collectively participate in.

LINKS:
+ Mosstika - Edina Tokodi

+ Urban Moss Graffiti by Edina Tokodi

+ SEPTA’s ‘Go Green’ in the Philadelphis Inquirer



Personally, I think the "Go Green" concept could have been done a little more organic and interactive, but as long as it works and Philly's people "Goes Green", its all good! 

2010 UPDATE!

THE CO2 E - RACE PROJECT (AKA CO2 GREEN DRIVE)

A Project first produced in connection to the Copenhagen Climate Summit COP15 in 2009,
that now has gone worldwide and maybe soon in a City near you!

Read more about the project on their Blog HERE

Or on their site HERE