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I know I know, here I go again blabbering about ecology. Sorry about that, but how else am I going to introduce the new earth-friendly products and services now available at Eastmont Custom Framing and the Elusie Gallery?
Besides, I really hate this slogan: "Save the Planet". First of all which planet are we talking about? It's not really clear. If you're going to try and save something, you should be a little bit more specific. And, assuming we're talking about Planet Earth, this slogan sounds like it is an endangered species like the pandas, the whales or the republicans, and that we need to save it or else it will disappear from under our feet, leaving us floating in mid galaxy, waiting by the milky way side for another planet to hitch a ride on.
Save the Planet?
Our planet was a planet before we knew it was a planet. Earth was around (litterally) way way before homo stupidus graduated to the enviable status of homo sapiens and found a way to tame the fire, and a few animals in the process, simultaneously inventing the barbecue and becoming homo pollutens. And Earth will be around - and around and around and around - long after the last one of us has thrown the last Dunkin-Donut styrofoam cup out of the last SUV on the last stretch of road to nowhere.
No, what really needs saving is a balance. This delicate balance, this subtle equilibrium, not too hot, not too cold, not to dry, not too humid, with the right amount of oxyen in the air, fish in the rivers and wine in the cellar that makes life on Earth possible and somewhat confortable for us and a few other billions living thingies. "Save the Balance" No that doesn't work either. . .
I know, we're all doing our part: you changed all the light bulbs and you bought energy efficient appliances and you rake the leaves in the fall and shovel the driveway in the winter and you carpool to soccer games and even occasionnally ride your bike to work. You're going to buy a smaller car or a hybrid as soon as the banks have been bailed out and can give out loans again. You even started hanging your laundry in the sun last summer, realizing after so many years why clothespins are called clothespins and not plastic bag closers.
That's great, and I mean it. That's great because it does make a difference, specially if there are a few millions of us doing our little eco-trip.
How much of a difference?
Well, in 2007 the total US greenhouse gas emissions released in the atmosphere INCREASED by 1.4%. (source: The Energy Information Administration). Sorry folks but that's true: increased. A little disappointing istn't it, and scary if you ask me. If you go check the data on EIA's website, you'll also see that this increase is in large part due to "unfavorable weather": too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter, resulting in a much higher demand in energy.
So that's good, it's not really our fault then, right? Wrong of course: climate change is just that, an increase in "unfavorable weather" leading to more energy demands resulting in even more unfavorable weather bringing a higher demand of energy, creating more...you get the picture.
But please don't let this discourage you,
and keep on shoveling.
But first keep on reading this newsletter to find out why it is so green.
(and can my shrink please explain why I enjoy stating the obvious so much)
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Eastmont Custom Framing has extended its line of earth-friendly products, that now includes the Sherwood Collection of wood moldings and Eco-Care, our first line of ready-made frames.
The Sherwood Collection comes in 2 different profiles and 6 different finishes. It is made in New Zealand from wood harvested from government controlled sustainable forests. This ensures that the forests will continue to thrive and provide clean air and water, stunning scenery, home for wildlife, and jobs (as my supplier says so nicely in his promo flyer). The colors of Sherwood are achieved with organic, water based stains, that allow the beauty of the grain to show through. No oils or chemical solvents are used.
Eco-Care is a line of readymade frames available in several different styles and all standard sizes from 5" x 7" to 16" x 20". EcoCare frames are very earth-friendly, starting with the moulding which is tree-free 100% bamboo, a fast growing self-renewing grass. Like the Sherwood Collection, Eco-Care frames are all finished using organic water-based stains, and all matboards, backing board and packaging are made from recycled materials and/or are recyclable. EcoCare frames are made in China, where bamboo grows abundantly. Proof that not everything coming out of China is bad. (Did you know that the Chinese are building a new city near Shanghai that is totally "green" check it out here)
To make our earth-friendly products easier to spot, we created a "green wall" showcasing all our locally grown hardwood frames, our Framerica moldings made with recycled wood, the 2 collections mentioned above as well as an assortment of moldings made from wood and even corrugated iron reclaimed from demolished buildings.
Come check out our green selection and take advantage of a 20% promotional discount on anything from our green wall. Offer ends February 28th (and of course cannot be combined with any other discount).
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The Elusie Gallery presents
TO BE HUNG OVER
our 4th annual exhibit of preowned Art.
February 2nd through March 14
If you did some remodelling and that landscape painting just doesn't fit the new style of your home anymore,
if your children are now all out of the house and you don't know what to do with their posters,
if your wife really doesn't like this collection of erotica you just bought on ebay,
if you moved into a smaller home and you don't have enough wall space anymore for all your artwork,
bring it to the Elusie Gallery and we will try to sell it for you.
And if on the other hand you are looking for artwork, come visit the gallery and check what this exhibition has to offer. The choice is guaranteed to be eclectic and the prices fair. The exhibition will be held auction style. You'll be able to bid from the first day of this exhibit that will run through 2 artwalks so you can come and check on your bids often. We will also inform you via email if you have been outbid.
Sellers, call us at 413-529-9265 or send us an email at info@eastmontgallery.net for details about this exhibition
Another green initiative: art recycled.
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You know that at Eastmont we're always trying to minimize the waste our operation creates: old frames and scrap matboards are donated to Riverside Industries or art therapy teachers, packaging material is reused by Boss Brown Art for their own shipping, and leftover moldings are turned into mini frames that we then sell at ridiculously low price.
We hang them on a recycled coat rack that we have nicknamed "the frame tree".
These days there is more supply than demand and all the branches of our frame tree are full. To make room for newer mini-frames we're slashing these ridiculously low prices even further: for a limited time all frames up to 8" x 10" are $5.00 each and anything larger $10.00
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Cindy has come up with another way to implement the 3 Rs, reduce, reuse, recycle. She has created a beautiful "reuse box" that we have placed in the town hall's foyer and filled with scrap matboards, foamcore, cardboard tubes, etc.
So if you are doing some craft projects around the house or if you are a school teacher or an art therapist and need some craft material, come check Cindy's Reuse Box and take anything you want.
It's all free of course.
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It's this time of the year again, taxes are due soon. We look at our inventory and feel totally overwhelmed. We need to get rid of all this stuff before we have to count it all!
all stock matboards are now 40% off
and all stock moldings are 30% off
this offer cannot be combined...you know the story...
Sale ends February 28th or when we run out of stock. I think it's going to be February 28th...
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Have you been to the Easthampton Historic Town Hall recently? If so you must have noticed some changes. At least 2 of them. The first is that the floors of the hallway have been refinished. No more sad and worn vinyl tiles. The hardwood shines. What a difference it makes!
The second thing you notice when you come to the town hall is how clean it is. Specially the bathrooms! I mean, seriously, before you had to be pretty desparate to go there. Now, if it weren't for the frigid temperatures, you could really take your time, enjoy the experience, read a magazine. And smell the cleanliness. Cleanliness due to Mom's Green Clean: thank you Lei for doing such a great job, and doing it the green way too (see: green, again!)
By the way, if you are interested about the future plans for the Historic Town Hall, this announcement by the Easthampton Planning Dept. is for you:
The Future of Historic Town Hall
Please join us for a community presentation on the reuse of the historic Town Hall. Bartram & Cochran Consultants will present a marketing strategy for the site and identify economic development options, while Schoenhardt Architects will present an architectural assessment of the building and a design for reuse, followed by discussion.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
3:30 PM
At Historic Town Hall
43 Main Street, Easthampton
Call the Planning Department at 529-1438 with any questions.
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There's a lot more that I should be telling you about but I've reached my limit and I'm sure you have reached yours too. It will have to be done in a special edition, a week or two from now. Special edition that will talk about the Easthampton Bear Fest (did you know that the Call to Artists is out? Check the website) and the Eastmont Art Fund and the Call to Artists for its third annual fundraising exhibit.
Thank you for reading and remember:
The Bears are coming to Easthampton!
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