Revisions/10 and EartH premiered April 24th and were a huge success. Go to the "events" page to see pictures of the opening-- over 400 people attended the premiere.
At Eco-LogicalART we strive to create, differently. And while our green aesthetic is of the moment, environmentally right on point, it also looks back...
We do not inherit the land from our parents; we are borrowing it from our children.
To us, the 300 year old Native American saying isn't dead history, it's a compass point forward. Practically, it means we choose to showcase art and functional art made from objects that had a purpose, but now don't. In the re-envisioning we recover not only the materials of the past, but also the energy of the people who first created them. And because we believe the human element is the most powerful, as a nonprofit public art gallery, our goal is to be seen. We have been.
To date our original art works-- painted on recycled billboards--have been experienced over 40 million times... and counting.
But while the numbers are astounding, we know that true green change starts more simply. It begins in little ways with those we are borrowing from. And in the hope we will leave more for the next generation to inherit, Eco-LogicalART sponsors and works with youth groups to create art with an eco mindset for our modern green age.
ReVisions/10
Press Release
EartH
press release
As an eco-focused art gallery, we choose to make more from less. By boldly re-seeing what's around us we create differently. Our work does not emerge from a vacuum, but rather from a strong philosophical foundation. By boldly re-envisioning the by-products of modern society, we are creating new & different Eco-Art. At the same time, we encourage consumers and institutions to be eco-logical citizens. Changing the value system -- putting a social & dollar value on recycled materials -- is our mission. And we are measuring our progress not just in changed attitudes, but also in actual sales. Marketing art and functional art that is both stunning and eco-logically responsible.
We operate in a 2500 square foot gallery/studio space located in Los Angeles. Founded in 2003, and now a nonprofit, Eco-LA believes that great art need not exist only in select institutions, or the who-you-know gallery scene. We seek to serve a general population often uninitiated or intimidated by the conventional art world. Since 2005, we have been displaying original art created on recycled billboard vinyl on the exterior of our gallery. The 24/7 drive-by exhibits are seen 35,000 times daily by average Angelinos. Impressive as those views are, we set our sights higher.
In 2007, working with display companies, Eco-LogicalART created a series of hand painted renewable imagery billboards on recycled vinyl typically thrown into landfills. Now as new art, the 14 x 48 foot billboards have been displayed across the skylines of Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area. Seen an astounding forty million times, and counting, Eco-LA has evolved into a public art exhibitor of unprecedented scale.
Impressive as those views are, we have set our sights higher. Because what we leave to them will also be of their making, Eco-LA sponsors youth eco-art workshops and outreach programs. Whether working with big institutions like the Museum of Tolerance, Zimmer Museum YouTHink program, Street Poets organizations, or with the Los Angeles School District, Eco-LA strives to teach, listen to, and to learn from the future.
THE RECENT PAST:
Peter Schulberg started the DejaDesign Gallery in 2004 as an art/functional art studio producing objects made all or in part from recovered elements. Besides its own creations, an early company focus was to expose young people to a "re-visionary" way of thinking. Past workshops have been held in cooperation with the Los Angeles Unified School District (Junk for Fun). On-site the gallery has sponsored a community Kids Peace on the Wall project and run several workshops with YouTHink.org, a program run out of the Zimmer Childrens museum.
Always on the lookout for cast off material, in 2005 Schulberg learned that tons of advertising billboards were dumped into landfills monthly. Typically 14 by 48 feet these vinyl displays are an eco-challenge. The process cried out for a green solution which Schulberg came up with-- turn them into art canvasses.
Making workable canvasses from dirty and creased dead vinyl was challenging and required development of a unique stretching system. That accomplished, Schulberg offered free canvasses and display exposure on the exterior of his building to LA based artists. Response was immediate.
"I was asking them to work for nothing, on this weird new material, to be exhibited outside, hostage to heat, wind, rain, and a kid with a paintball gun. It seemed kind of crazy at the start. " But within weeks a dozen artists were on board and in November of 2004 the art made its first appearance on what would informally become LAs first "drive-by" gallery.
Going public was always part of the plan. "We're barraged with advertising but I wanted to offer better visual imagery on the horizon and to getting art out where people see it, the way they experience billboardsbut differently. "
At that point it hadn't rained a drop-- within weeks the deluges that made for LAs wettest winter in 100 years came. But the worked survived the elements, natural and street--this in a neighborhood torched by the 92 riots. And while neighbors are tagged regularly the art remains unscathed so Schulberg sees the process as going beyond recycling material, its about the return of hope.
On Earth Day 2005 the first formal indoor/outdoor show of the recycled billboard art was staged. Off The Wall featured 24 artists and 36 works on 5000 square feet or recycled vinyl. Covered by the LA Times (It Just Needs A Little Paint) over 400 people attended the opening. By the close of the three-week show over eight thousand dollars of eco-logical art was sold.
Sign Language a two person show of renowned Philippino artists Joy Mallari and Marki Justiniani followed. It featured a moving 8 by 20 mural of five hands of differing ethnicities signing out the word peace. Coinciding with the opening was a Kids Peace on the Wall workshop at which young people were given a piece of vinyl on and encouraged to paint an eco-peace themed work. 64 foot square artworks were created and remain on the gallery exterior.
With success and the viability of recycled billboards as art canvasses, the gallery then partnered with CBS Outdoor (the largest billboard company in the U.S.). Though not receiving funds, the gallery would now have access to an unlimited quantity of vinyl.
By the winter of 2005 planning for Off The Wall 2 began. Opening on April 22, 36 artists participated, producing 50 new works. LA Weekly listed it as top ten thing to do on Earth Day. Other press included the LA City Beat (Oh Rubbish! April 18-19) and Flavorpill.com (Billboard Bonanza April 22). Several hundred people attended the opening and to date art and commissioned work sales totaled over $10,000.
Present. ECO-LA continues to offer canvasses to new artists and the work up on the gallery exterior walls is now illuminated so as to be open to the public, 24/7. With huge quantities of vinyl at its disposal it is making it available to community and school groups and also beginning to offer stretched canvasses to artists for their own use at a cost of production rate.
Art to Fit the Bill. Working with McDonald Media, a major interface between the advertising and outdoor display companies, ECO-LA is working on a pilot program it hopes to premiere in the 2007. Featuring original art painted on recycled billboards to be displayed (when various billboard are un-rented) the project will expose thousands of people and multiple communities to the potential of eco-logical art.
Against the Wall. ECO-LA is about to embark on a project with graffiti artists providing them with blank recycled billboard mural walls approximately 8 x 20. Initially these will be placed on private walls in hopes that the illegal tagging will be replaced by more framed expression. As the project takes hold it is expected that public and private sponsorship will allow for multiple inner-city venues. Hopefully Against the Wall will also develop into a legal and commercial pipeline for the street artists.
Future. With non-profit status ECO-LA will move beyond simple gallery status to become a center of eco-logical art and general green awareness. It would do so in the following ways.
Kids workshops-- in house or traveling to schools-- challenge kids to look at cast offs as re-casts. Offer studio classes and summer camps programs and ultimately fund awards and scholarships to art and design institutions for best re-use designs.
School/Artist canvass program. Provide a steady stream of recycled vinyl and wall mural panels to art department starved public schools. Offer discounted recycled billboard canvasses to mainstream artists.
Against the Wall graffiti program. With the involvement of urban focused sponsors like record companies, Nike, etc, and with the cooperation of the Department of Cultural Affairs/LAPD anti-graffiti programs, offer recycled billboard vinyl canvasses to the inner-city street and moves the discussion beyond enforcement to contained encouragement.
ECO-LA art-- for rent. Offer indoor/outdoor subscriptions of billboard art for rent to eco-minded and socially conscious stores. Encourage the energy companies (oil being a major element in PVC vinyl) to have billboard art on their company walls. Challenge the TV and major film production studios-- responsible for thousands of billboards to rent billboard art. Related, approach eco-minded celebrities and get them to allow their billboard images to be painted on and sold for charitable environmental causes.
Large scale billboard art. By Spring of 2007, for the month coinciding with Earth Day expand the Art to fit the Bill experience. Have eco and socially conscious companies (Whole foods, Starbucks, Apple, etc) serve as underwriters to help create both a physical and internet website of art that spreads across the city of Los Angeles and to other cities as well.
Eco-logicalArt ads-- going full circle. With the publics awareness of the green angle associated with recycled billboard art, have artists paint original advertisements on recycled billboards.
ECO-LA outdoor market. Monthly and as interest grows, weekly, have a recycled, recovered element art market. Have the public see the billboard art being created. Offer kids re-use workshops. Invite weekly eco-minded sponsors like bio-diesel companies, Prius cars, and bicycle clubs to give demonstrations.
Conclusion: With the green market no longer relegated to the sidelines, and as major companies invest in eco-technology and green branding, non-profit ECO-LA will be well positioned to offer up creative eco-logical solutions in challenging environmental times. And while doubtful that it will substantially reduce the height of a landfill, or make for cleaner water, it will in its own way honor that old Shaker saying by leaving a slightly lighter footprint on the planet and by borrowing a bit less of it from the children of the future. Or so is the hope.
The Eco-LogicalART Gallery Board of Directors
SARAH BACKHOUSE: Sarah Backhouse is host, producer and writer at The G Living Network. Being the face of green lifestyle network is a position she relishes both professionally and personally. While professing a love of irony, secularism and cricket her roots are firmly planted at The G Living Network where shes honored to be able share her eco passion on a daily basis. Sarah is currently enjoying living a sustainable lifestyle in Los Angeles with her husband and son.
SHIRA BOARDMAN: Shira Boardman is President of Red Magnet, an umbrella for creative companies that specialize in visual effects. They are located in Santa Monica, California. Previously, Boardman was Executive Producer and Partner at Japanese Monster, an LA based commercial production company. Shira hails from New York where she worked in creative industries including fashion design, American Indian antiques and event planning.
CHRIS CARLSON: Christine Carlson is an accomplished research geologist and teacher. After several years of working in West Africa and traveling the globe, she moved to the historic West Adams district of Los Angeles where she has lived for the past twenty-one years with her husband and two children. Chris is very active within her community, focusing on the importance of historic preservation, urban conservation and community organizations to promote public engagement.
BRUCE DEMARTINI: Bruce DeMartini develops collaborative programming for Thoreau Center for Sustainability, a multi-tenant nonprofit center located in the Presidio. He also manages the Thoreau Center art galleries, where he hosts community outreach programs and offers gallery space for local artists and arts organizations. Prior to joining Tides Shared Spaces, Bruce worked in marketing, the banking industry, and for several nonprofits supporting after-school programs and special education advocacy. Bruce has a B.A. in English Literature from San Francisco State University.
WHITNEY GREEN: Whitney Green joined Walt Disney Pictures in 1994 as Senior Vice President, Motion Picture Production. This position entails over- seeing all aspects of feature film production for the Walt Disney and Touchstone labels. Most recently she has overseen production on Enchanted, Prince Caspian, Step Up 1 & 2, High School Musical 3: Senior Year, The Game Plan and the new Disney documentary nature label. This job caps a career of production managing and producing movies, television and documentaries. In addition to her production expertise, Whitney is also the director of the award winning theatrical short on the ballet, Balances.
SEAN ROBERTSON: Sean Robertson is V.P. and Creative Director for CBS Outdoors Western Region. His advertising career began in 1986 as Art Director for Sleuth Publications. His outdoor career started seventeen years ago at Gannett Outdoor. Currently Chairman of the Creative Committee of the OAAA (Outdoor Advertising Association of America), Sean has undertaken a quest to improve our creative life on the streets. He also consults, lectures, and shares his love of the Urban Gallery throughout markets in North and South America. Sean lives in the Bay area with his wife and two kids.
RICK ROBINSON: Rick is National Creative Director of MacDonald Media, an 80-year-old advertising company. As a member of the OAAA Hall of Fame, Rick is also a creative consultant, public speaker, fine artist and writer. His eighteen years in the business include stints as a salesperson for Ackerley Advertising SF, Business Development Manager for Gannett Outdoor SF & LA, and National Creative Director at Viacom Outdoor. He currently pens the The Urban Gallery column for the Southern California Advertising News and has also been featured on The History Channel, CNN, PBS Television, The Advertising Radio Show, Brand Week, The LA Times, and Outdoor Magazine
EDMON RODMAN: Edmon J. Rodman is a writer and designer. He writes a nationally distributed column for The Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA). His other published works include children's pop-up books and a biography of former LA Dodger pitcher, Hideo Nomo. His design work includes a family art tour of the Getty Museum, and the design and construction of a large-scale pop-up cardboard for Nextbook. One of his works is part of the collection at the Skirball Museum in Los Angeles. He lives in Country Club Park, a historic area of Los Angeles with his wife Brenda and three children.
KERI ROSEBRAUGH: Keri Rosebraugh attended Pasadena's Art Center College of Design where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts with honors in Illustration. Her illustrations have been featured in newspapers and magazines worldwide, with clients including The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, Disney Consumer Products, Mattel, Inc., Dreamworks, SKG, and Coca Cola, Inc. She recently served as president of the Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles. Keri has painted two original billboard art pieces for Eco-LA. Exhibited in Los Angeles and San Francisco, her works have been seen over 6 million times.
ALISON TATLOCK: Alison Tatlock is the Co-Executive Director of Street Poets, Inc., a California nonprofit that offers spoken and written word workshops for youth and young adults at school and juvenile detention sites across Los Angeles. Besides her Executive work, Alison continues to teach poetry at La Vida North, a continuation high school for pregnant girls and teen mothers. Also a playwright and performer, her plays have been developed and produced in Los Angeles and New York. Alison holds a BA from Yale in literature and theater studies and an MFA in acting from the University of California, San Diego. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and young daughter.
PETER SCHULBERG: Peter Schulberg is the Founder and Director of the Eco-LogicalART Gallery. To date he has produced over two dozen outdoor billboard art exhibits that have resulted in over 40 million public views. Under his direction, gallery sales of new art painted on recycled billboard vinyl have reached $45,000. Prior to establishing Eco-LA, Peter worked in the film industry, first in production then as a screenwriter. He has had scripts developed at PBSs American Playhouse, CBS Television, Scholastic, and Sony Pictures. Peter studied liberal arts at Hampshire College, and then attended the Cooper Union, School of Architecture. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and two children.
Peter Schulberg, Personal Bio
We do not inherit the earth from our parents; we are borrowing it from our children.
For Peter Schulberg the 300 year old Native American saying isnt history, its a compass forward to taking a bit less, making do, leaving a little more in the green account. He cant remember when he wasnt repurposing. Apparently neither does his son who offers to any and all that: My Dad doesnt buy anything new. Nothing. Hed buy food used if he could.
Born in France, transplanted to the Washington, DC, then to New York City, Schulberg was a public/private school kid. After a stint at Hampshire College he entered the Cooper Union School of Architecture. Four years later he left convinced that his love of good architecture was only matched by his inability to create it.
The film industry beckoned. His grandfather ran Paramount Pictures in the 20s and 30s. His uncle, Budd Schulberg wrote The Disenchanted The Harder They Fall, What Makes Sammy Run? and On The Waterfront. His late father, Stuart Schulberg, produced Marshal Plan films, made documentaries for NBC, and was executive producer of the TODAY show.
Indie film producer Michael Hausman gave Schulberg his first PA job in 1979. He rose through the ranks, but after 15 years in production (sick of rising at dawn) he turned to screen-writing. He soon gained pounds and killed all his houseplants (from over-watering). Still, in the next decade he developed numerous scripts, including those for PBS Great Performances, CBS TV and Sony Pictures. 10 years later, and now living in LA, he learned the Writers Guild had special programs to help an endangered specieswriters over 40, of which he was now a member
His mother had always instilled in him an extraordinary (as in beyond normal) sense of thrift. Used stuff just seemed more interesting to them. Their junk searches had geographical reach-- French flea markets, Connecticut tag sales, and east coast salvage yards were regular stops. They are also two of the four people in America who choose to make a detour to the Utica, New York, Salvation Army.
Because he considers himself a re-visionary who couldnt see clearly the first time in 2003 Schulberg started DejaDesign, his recovered element functional art studio. Its eclectic line runs the gamut from vintage instrument lamps, to pulp fiction book clocks, to cocktail tables made from old vacuum cleaners. His sourcing has led him (reassuringly) to several LA versions of his upstate NY Mecca. And while his mother has passed on shes them with him in spirit as he object forages.
Now with his non-profit Eco-LogicalART Gallery, Schulberg offers up more industrial evolution. And with his art on recycled billboard exhibits of Off The Wall 3 and ReVisions and the Taking It All OffFor ART live billboard curtain drops reaching an audience of millions, the past seems to be leading to a promising green prologue.
Of the past and future, Peter has been married to Beth George (executive producer at Boxer Films) for 17 years. He has two children. As Bennett and Laura are taller and substantially more attractive than he, they give him pause. Schulberg really believes he is their father. Or at least thats his story-- and hes sticking to it.
Print and Web Press
Broadcast Press
Download PDF.
NOW SHOWING
PAST EVENTS
ReVisions
Pictures from our EartH and ReVisions/10 premiere. 400 plus people attended the opening, including our local district 10 councilman Herb Wesson. Thanks to a donation of over $1000 from Blick Art Supply all participants received gift cards. The top prize was $100 and the night featured three fan voted favorites.
ReVisions/SF
Taking It All Off...
For ART!
Watch It Now
Layers In Motion
Press release
Green Saturday At Eco-LA
Sign Language
Kids Peace on the Wall
Off The Wall 3
Off The Wall
Off The Wall 2
Gimme Shelter ART!
project flier
EartH North Grid
EartH South Grid
The Eco-LogicalART Gallery
Is a... dynamic 2500 square foot gallery space located on the Pico Corridor in Los Angeles.
Is a... center of art and functional art made from recycled materials.
Is a... home to youth eco-workshops and "green" eco-art demonstrations.
Available to rent for appropriate functions and events.
TAPING OUT THE CANVAS AREA
Eco-LogicalART has sponsored new art painted on recycled 14 by 48 foot billboards since 2007. To date we have diverted over 20,000 square feet and more three tons of vinyl from landfills.
Eco-LogicalART has sponsored new art painted on recycled 14 by 48 foot billboards since 2007.
To date we have diverted over 20,000 square feet and more three tons of vinyl from landfills.
Our "drive-by" billboard "renewable imagery" public art exhibits have been seen over 40 million times across the skylines of Los Angeles and San Francisco. Partnering with CBS Outdoor, Clear Channel, Lamar and Van Wagner Outdoor, the donation of advertising time now tops $450,000.
Fine Art
We are proud to say that our line at Eco-LogicalART has a great "green" perspective. We strive to showcase artists who choose to work with recycled and recovered elements.
As we feature new art on a regular basis, please stop in to see our latest offerings. And for the latest show information check the EVENTS page.
