Shivering New Yorkers looking to escape the winter weather can respite without hopping on a plane to a tropical destination. Inside a raw space at 25 Kent (in the same space the groundbreaking street art exhibition was last year), digital mixed media artist Anne Spalter brings a tropical oasis to New York City with an immersive installation that transports visitors away from the cold streets of New York City to a surreal warm weather locale.

With real plants, Adirondack chairs to lounge in, the soothing sound of ocean waves, outlet banks and giant spheres that depict abstract summery scenes, Vacation Planet offers a place to relax and recharge and warm up. Untapped New York Insiders got to experience the installation and talk with Anne Spalter about how it came about.

Spalter, who lives in Brooklyn, can see 25 Kent from her apartment. While driving past one day, she noticed that the space, which is currently occupied by Wallplay, a platform that programs and operates vacant spaces with commercial pop-ups and art exhibitions, was taking submissions for an installation. Wanting to create an environment that was completely different from what is going on outside, Spalter filled the 8,300 square foot space with sun-emulating washer lights, real palm trees, lush greenery, and jute carpets to bring a natural tropical feeling to the industrial space.

The most striking component of the installation is the array of massive floating spheres. The spheres are arranged on the ground, on the ceiling and everywhere in between to create a fully immersive environment and to appear as if they were thrown into the space. One Insider pointed out on our tour, they appeared as if they got there as a result of the Big Bang. The spheres range in size from three to sixteen feet in diameter and each is named after a different planet.

The surface of each sphere is covered in a print made with algorithm-based digital reworks of footage that Spalter captured in vacation locales like Miami Beach. Spalter, who says all of her pieces start with a travel experience, made use of hi-tech camera equipment which allowed her to capture images that are 8,000 pixels wide. The footage is intentionally unidentifiable in terms of location, and meant to evoke a surreal quality. You can still make out beach umbrellas, kids playing in a pool, palm trees and other vacation staples.

Working with a programmer, Spalter created a plugin that allowed her to manipulate various parameters of the footage and create the kaleidoscopic images you see. Some of the spheres are covered in imagery from Santa Fe. There, Spalter captured footage of weather formations like storm clouds, rain and sunshine.

Visitors are invited to sit down and hang out as long as they want within the installation. There is free Wi-Fi, and each of the six seating areas has its own power strip. Guests can also enjoy three custom Instagram Stories filters featuring animated versions of the spheres. When visitors follow @annespalter, the Vacation Planet filters will automatically show up as swipe-able options in the Stories feature on the most updated version of the Instagram app. Speaking about the installation, Spalter noted, I can talk about it in fine art speak, but its also accessible. You can be a kid or someone who didnt study fine art and you can come in a see thats the ocean. Everyone can get something out of it. It works on any level.

Vacation Planet is free and open to the public from 11am through 7pm on Wednesday through Sunday until February 23rd.

Next, check out New Exhibit In Midtown Subway Station Showcases Graphic Design of NYC Transit System and More Illuminated, Singing See Saws are at South Street Seaport

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There are a lot of great reasons to go green.

Maybe you want an all-natural home free of contaminants, to protect your familys health. Maybe you want to use renewable materials to protect the planet. No matter your motivations, Patrice Raven and Garry Lozon at Kelownas Impression Floors are here to help.

A lot of people arent aware of the eco-friendly flooring options available, Lozon says.

And you dont have to sacrifice comfort or quality to go green. Here are four flooring solutions that will help your home in more ways than one:

1. Super-soft carpets made from recycled plastic bottles

Impression Floors is excited about Tryesse Carpets, and not just because theyre eco-friendly.

Its really soft, Lozon says, And its made to last.

Recycled plastic bottles are spun into a long, continuous filament, which means theres no shedding.

The really cool thing is that it doesnt absorb like other carpets. It cleans really easily.

Pets, wine, and other stains dont stand a chance on this carpet. People dont believe them at first, but Raven encouraged one customer to take home a sample.

She tried it at home and then bought a whole bunch!

2. Natural New Zealand wool carpets

Not only is wool renewable and all-natural, it also absorbs household air pollutants and is naturally stain-resistant.

You can sink your feet into luxury and know that at the end of your carpets lifespan you can save it from the landfill because wool is biodegradable.

Wool carpets are more expensive, but for customers who have the budget its a worthwhile investment. Wool is a quality product and at Impression Floors well install it with care. All our customers want is a quality product and a job well done, Lozon says.

3. Ethically sourced hardwood flooring with an all-natural finish

Impression Floors only carries hardwood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, which means the wood comes from responsibly managed forests. Their eco-friendly wood products are free of chemical contamination and wont release pollutants into the air.

Green flooring also uses an all-natural oil finish.

You never need to sand them, Lozon says, You just oil the high-traffic areas when the texture starts to change. You dont have to do the whole floor.

4. Luxury vinyl

More and more vinyl is made from recycled materials, and its built to last the less frequently you have to replace your flooring, the better for the planet. Impression Floors works with some Canadian manufacturers who are focused on reducing their energy consumption during production.

Visit the store at 1725 Baron Rd. near the corner of Hwy 33 and Hwy 97, or call 250-979-7419 to find out about the latest deals.

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Kelowna couple cares for their customers, and the planet - Kelowna Capital News

GREGGS is the next retailer set to open at the Westbrook Centre.

The popular shopping centre has enjoyed a regeneration over the past year, including a remodelling of the car park and a renovation of the Asda store.

Subway opened a branch in the former Hair Shop unit during 2019, while the Odeon cinema enjoyed a revamp including the installation of recliner seats.

Independent retailers such as Willows Womenswear have also moved into the Westbrook Centre recently.

And Greggs is the latest name set to call Westbrook home.

The bakery giant is due to move into the unit formerly occupied by Westbrook Carpets and Laminates near to the entrance of the supermarket.

Job applications for shop supervisor roles in its new store at Warrington Westbrook are currently being advertised on its website.

Planned opening hours of 7am to 6pm are also stated.

Work to transform the unit is currently underway, although an opening date is not yet known.

Westbrook Carpets and Laminates previously moved into what was Blockbuster in spring 2019 after 20 years in its former home.

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Latest big name retailer set to open up at the Westbrook Centre is revealed - Warrington Guardian

ROAD bosses have apologised after revealing road closures in Witham town centre will remain in place for longer than expected.

Essex Highways has confirmed work on installing new traffic signal equipment in Newland Street will not finish by the original Monday, February 10, deadline due to 'unexpected issues'.

Both Collingwood Road and Maldon Road have been partially closed since Monday, January 13, to allow workman to improve traffic lights at the junctions with Newland Street.

Diversions have been in place and work was expected to take only four weeks.

However, Essex Highways has now confirmed work will take a week longer and be completed by Sunday, February 16.

A spokesman said: "Works to renew the traffic signal equipment begun as planned. In addition to the planned works, we have undertaken remedial works to sunken paving blocks within the crossing carpets, which was not originally part of the proposed works.

"We have also worked collaboratively with utility companies to utilise the road space and repaired a damaged manhole cover.

"Unfortunately, due to unexpected issues arising the programme has been affected and the completion date of the works is delayed.

"We are working hard to try to complete the works as soon as possible.

"We would like to apologise for the delay and thank residents and businesses for their patience and co-operation while we complete these works."

Workers have been installing underground cable ducts and new extra low voltage equipment to reduce the carbon footprint of the traffic lights in Newland Street.

Temporary traffic lights have been put in place and parts of Collingwood and Maldon roads closed to 'ensure the safety' of workers.

In January, Essex Highways said the closures would help reduce the time taken to complete the works and to keep congestion to a minimum.

Access for residents and pedestrians have been been maintained at all times.

A temporary pedestrian crossing has also be set up in Newland Street.

For more information about the work, visit essexhighways.org.

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'Unexpected issues' mean Newland Street roadworks will overrun - Braintree and Witham Times

The Beverly Center, a 900,000-square-foot mall in Los Angeles, California, has recently installed two large-scale art installations within the iconic street-facing escalators along Beverly Boulevard and La Cienega Boulevard. They are the latest work of Pae White, a local artist who grew up near the Beverly Center, and were organized by independent curator Jenelle Porter. In my opinion, said Porter, [White] is the only artist who could make such incredibly beautiful and keenly intelligent works for Beverly Center; artworks that will contribute to the already rich cultural landscape of this city.

The installation facing Beverly Boulevard,Day for Night for Day,is a light sculpture comprised of over 900 uniquely-shaped pieces of hand-shaped neon. Each element within the five-story piece is color-keyed to a perceptual temperature (warmth) in the daylight spectrum, resulting in a constellation of vibrant hues akin to the many characters of the Los Angeles sunset. The artist referred to the piece as both a kind of magic carpet and an immersive Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) lamp visitors interact with prior to and following their shopping experience. The title of the installation is a nod to the citys movie history, particularly the cinematic technique of simulating nighttime during the day.

The La Cienega-facing installation, Moonsets for a Sunrise,is made up of a mostly dark-hued palette to represent nighttime and the four types of moonsthe harvest moon, strawberry moon, blue moon, and snow moon. Made up of 73,635 pieces of tile glazed in over 100 colors, White ensured that no color combination module repeats anywhere within the entire expanse. The many shades on display exemplify the myriad hues of moonlight, allowing for differing interpretations of the piece from up-close as well as from passersby on the street.

White was inspired to create the two site-specific pieces after observing the unique qualities of the glass-enclosed escalators and the constant movement they provide between the parking lots and the main interior spaces. In their simultaneous explorations of the phenomenological effects of light, said White, both art installations generate different experiences during the day and the night. The neon of Day for Night for Day offers one kind of experience during daylight hours and another kind at night when its illumination is most prominent. The same applies to Moonsets for a Sunrise, though conversely: the moonlight colors are most glorious in the morning sun.

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Two five-story installations light up L.A.'s Beverly Center - The Architect's Newspaper

Installation designed by Judy Chicago for Dior Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2020 (Kristen Pelou, all images courtesy of Dior)

The fashion industry has long occupied an odd place when it comes to feminism, offering women a form of liberation through self-expression while simultaneously setting seemingly impossible, often damaging aesthetic standards. In recent years, with conversations around sexism at the forefront of popular discourse, the industry has become more self-reflective. While initiatives to diversify runways and make changes within the often exploitative world of modeling are valuable, many of fashions gestures toward feminist concerns, such as a feminist protest-themed 2014 Chanel show or fashion publications changing from a focus on dieting to wellness, seem well-intentioned on the surface but ultimately hollow. Fashion is a business, after all.

The latest feminist fashion experiment comes courtesy of Christian Dior and artist Judy Chicago. Diors creative director, Maria Grazia Chiuri, commissioned Chicago to create a set-cum-art installation for the iconic couture houses spring 2020 runway show at the Muse Rodin in Paris. The installation, titled The Female Divine, features a huge inflatable sculpture inspired by a goddess figure, a woven catwalk carpet, and 21 banners embroidered in English and French with questions including What if Women Ruled the World? It all makes for an immersive, aesthetically pleasing experience. The political element, however, feels facile.

Chicago has a certified place in feminist history her 70s installation The Dinner Party made waves for its subversive use of vaginal imagery and its large-scale focus on female achievements, and is on permanent exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum. The question of whether her involvement with Dior automatically confers some feminist authority upon the 73-year-old fashion house is a thorny one. Chicagos banners, woven by female students at a nonprofit craft school in India, ask, while positing a world ruled by women, Would Buildings Resemble Wombs?; Would God Be Female?; Would There Be Violence?; and so on. While these hypotheticals may be worth considering, a couture show doesnt seem quite the right place to do it. The models on the runway all fit the fashion industrys long-held standards of youthfulness and slenderness, and Diors couture creations are all firmly in the price available upon request category.

Chicagos installation is briefly open to the public through January 26, but its undeniable that the world of a Dior couture show remains a privileged one. The questions on Chicagos embroideries posit a feminine utopia a lovely thought, but one that feels a bit too pat given how many women vote against their own interests and how womens rights stand in immediate danger with a Republican majority. As is unfortunately so often the case with politically-minded art, the people who most need to consider the implications of Chicagos questions are the least likely to seek them out. The clothes on the runway, featuring glamorous yet subtle metallic tones and precisely tailored, goddess-like draping, are undeniably beautiful, and its certain that the combination of these designs with Chicagos work makes for a striking tableau. Whether the questions within it will make any difference outside of potentially stirring up conversation in the rarefied fashion world remains to be seen.

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Judy Chicago's Collaboration With Dior Is Beautiful, but Its Feminist Ambitions Are Questionable - Hyperallergic

SOUTH BEND An estimated $2 million project to convert the Bendix Theatre into an esports arena is well underway with demolition complete and crews already installing new carpeting in the facility.

Work got underway Jan. 2 and the project is expected to be completed by mid-July, said Jeff Jarnecke, who oversees the Century Center as executive director of the citys venues. After the new carpeting is completed in the next few weeks, workers will then be able to begin installing new oversized theater seats with cup holders.

The front row seats in the arena will include a tablet holder and all of the 600 seats will eventually include a USB or power outlet, said Jarnecke, adding that an engineering firm is visiting the Bendix this week to perform a technical layout the sound system and massive video boards.

Bethel University already has committed to using the new arena as home for the esports team it recently formed. Alec Betz, a graphic designer and Bethel graduate, will serve as coach of the new team.

Bethel will compete in the League of Legends, Overwatch and possibly a third game at both the varsity and club levels with perhaps 30 to 50 students participating at those levels, said Christopher Hess, Bethels associate athletic director.

Bethel will have a dedicated practice facility in the LAN Cafe that will be developed as part of the Bendix project, and Hess thinks the university could have students using the facility even on the intramural level perhaps five days a week.

Esports is a rapidly growing sport with more than 170 colleges and universities with varsity programs and an estimated 433 million fans across the globe. Though Bethel is one of the first universities to field a team in the Crossroads Conference, Hess believes it wont be long before others join in.

Hess said Bethel will only participate in games that arent overly violent or sexual and have a Teen rating.

Were looking at what other Christian universities are doing, he said. Were trying to focus on games that are more strategic.

Universities are embracing esports because of the enormous popularity of the activity, which seems to be especially appealing to students involved in STEM fields, said Hess. It will help us recruit and retain STEM students and improve the overall student experience at Bethel.

Jarnecke said other colleges and universities in the region have also expressed interest in using the esports arena and bids have already been made to host Midwest esports competitions in August and September.

The project is being paid for by collections from the St. Joseph County hotel-motel tax, and the hope is that the arena will serve to attract considerably more visitors to the once underutilized Bendix Theatre, said Jarnecke.

And ultimately, officials hope the arena will generate more hotel stays, said Jarnecke, adding that it will also boost the image of the city as a place thats tech friendly and open to cutting-edge ideas.

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South Bend's Bendix Theatre is being converted to esports arena - South Bend Tribune

The new Turftak adhesive range delivers on the proven results we are known for while vastly improving the installation process with environmentally safe, low-waste solutions.

KENNESAW, Ga. (PRWEB) January 24, 2020

Following the successful launch of the new GA3 Adhesive System at Greenbuild 2019, Chemique Adhesives unveils an innovative range of synthetic turf adhesives, called Turftak. These new artificial turf adhesives aim to bring installers into the new decade by increasing efficiencies across the turf install process, reducing wasted adhesive, and doing so in a more environmentally friendly manor.

The newly launched turftak range of adhesives, are solvent-free in nature meaning they produce zero volatile organic compounds (VOCs for short) and are equally safe to use both outdoors, and in more sensitive environments such as indoor arenas.

As a proud member of the Synthetic Turf Council, Chemique has provided turf installers with performance-grade adhesives for a number of years. With the new range of Turftak products, we are setting out to enhance and simplify the installation process. The new Turftak adhesive range delivers on the proven results we are known for while vastly improving the installation process with environmentally safe, low-waste solutions, said Mark Waring, Vice President of Chemique Adhesives USA. Across the range you will see benefits like high initial tack, permanently bonds that retain flexibility, incredible shock absorption and fast setting times that work in a variety of environments. The range is perfect for synthetic turf installations from smaller residential, to larger commercial and professional applications.

There are three new products within the adhesive range and a new application unit that increases install efficiency by up to 60 percent. Turftak 1 is an easy to use single-component polyurethane adhesive that requires no mixing, sets fast, and is extremely resistant to moisture and shock. Similarly, a two-component formula, dubbed Turftak2, promotes complete control over the bonding process eliminating pesky environmental factors such as heat and humidity-a common problem in the industry. Rounding out the range is Turftak-SMP, a single-component moisture cure adhesive that is UV-stable, can bond to wet surfaces, and can be used with Chemiques revolutionary new GA3 Applicator to provide an incredibly clean, efficient, low-waste solution to bonding synthetic turf.

About Chemique

Chemique Adhesives, Inc., is a pioneer in the development of solvent-free polyurethane, water- based adhesives and adhesive application equipment. It has fast become the first-choice supplier for a diverse range of industries requiring specialist products.

Working closely with customers and clients, Chemiques experienced chemists and engineers provide new and innovative solutions to their adhesive and adhesive application needs. With a wide array of products Chemique can offer its solutions to a diverse range of industries, including transportation, foam conversion, raised access flooring, architectural panels, portable buildings, furniture and many others.

With operations across North America and Europe, Chemique specializes in the development of custom bonding solutions for customers worldwide.

For more information, visit http://www.chemiqueadhesives.com/us

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Rolling Out the Green Carpet: Chemique Adhesives Unveils New Turftak Range of Synthetic Turf Adhesives for 2020 - PR Web

By AMY TAXIN

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (AP) Christina Mauser poured her heart and soul into coaching and teaching physical education at the school where young Gianna and her basketball star father Kobe Bryant were an integral part of the community.

The mother of three worked at the campus in Newport Beach for more than a decade and helped lead its eighth-grade basketball team to its first championship, Harbor Day School said in a statement.

Bouquets were laid at the entrance to the campus Monday, a day after a helicopter carrying Bryant, , Mauser and six others to a youth basketball tournament . Everyone aboard perished.

This loss is indescribable, the school said in the statement, describing Gianna as someone who never left anyone out, was mature beyond her years and had an unmatched work ethic, as is the loss of her father who was a respected and active member of the school community.

Harbor Day is a private school in the idyllic seaside community where Bryant lived. Mauser, of nearby Huntington Beach, taught and coached at the school from 2007 to 2018, the school said.

She and her husband Matt taught and coached basketball at the school, which is how they met Bryant, Matt Mauser told NBC's Today" show.

She had a keen mind for defense, he said, and Bryant brought her on to help coach that skill at his Mamba Academy training facility where Gianna's club team played.

They called her the mother of defense: MOD, he said.

She was just an amazing person: beautiful, smart, funny, Mauser said. He didnt pick her because she was a slouch. He picked her because she was amazing.

At the school, some students arrived Monday wearing purple and gold, the colors of Bryant's Los Angeles Lakers.

Maria Paun, 81, stopped by to lay flowers at the campus where she said she remembered waiting to pick up her granddaughter more than a decade ago while Bryant waited for his eldest daughter.

He said, I like your accent, Grandma, she recalled through tears. He was somebody. And I am a nobody. But he bent down to give me a hug.

The pilot of the helicopter was identified as Ara Zobayan. Peter and Claudia Lowry, owners of Group 3 Aviation in Los Angeles, said he previously worked there.

In a Facebook post, the couple said Zobayan came to their company in 1998 to learn to fly after taking a sightseeing flight at the Grand Canyon and deciding he wanted to become a pilot.

Ara worked hard in other businesses to save enough money to pay for training, they said. Flying was his lifes passion.

Also among the victims of Sunday's crash were Payton Chester, a 13-year-old member of the basketball team, and her mother Sarah, Payton's grandmother Catherine George told .

We're just sad, I mean, we're heartbroken, Sarah Chester's brother Andy George told the . Its starting to settle in a little bit, but Im still in disbelief."

Orange Coast Colleges longtime baseball coach John Altobelli, his wife Keri and their daughter Alyssa were also on board, said Tony Altobelli, the coachs brother. Alyssa also played on Gianna's team.

Altobelli coached at the college for 28 years, won a state championship last season and was named National Coach of the Year last year for his division, his brother said.

On Sunday, coaches, friends and former players gathered at the baseball field on the Costa Mesa campus where Altobelli had been known to mow the grass until turf was installed. They swapped memories of Altobelli laying down carpet in the locker room, chiding the umpire during games, dressing as a pirate for Halloween and providing endless support to his students.

He treated his team like they were sons of his, said Jason Kehler, the schools athletic director.

Nate Johnson, associate head coach, looked around the field and said none of it would have been possible without the man known as Alto. Flowers were laid at home plate.

This whole thing I joke, its the house that Alto built, because he built it all, he said.

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Coach on Bryant helicopter put "heart and soul" in teaching - Journal Review

Kevin McNamara, Providence (R.I.) Journal Published 2:15 p.m. ET Jan. 27, 2020

College basketball is not college football. Hurray for that, right hoop heads?

This college basketball season is getting crazier by the week. So far weve witnessed a season marked by frequent slip-and-falls atop the Top 25 poll, blue bloods losing to no-names, constant shuffling in the deepest conferences and an undefeated start by a West Coast mid-major not named Gonzaga.

This is the flip side of a college football world that has become boringly predictable. Minutes after a defeated Clemson walked off the Superdome carpet in the national title game, feverish sportswriters installed the Tigers as favorites to win next January. Now theres a shock. Bet LSU and Alabama were tucked closely behind the Tigers.

College hoops is a different animal, especially this season. While every fan misses the dominance of a Zion Williamson, its impossible to predict what will happen in this wide-open season. Dayton over Duke? Sure. San Diego State an undefeated, number one seed? Maybe. National champion Virginia a bubble team? Check.

North Carolina forward Armando Bacot (5) tries to grab a loose ball against Pittsburgh during the second half at the Petersen Events Center.(Photo: Charles LeClaire, USA TODAY Sports)

"People who say the regular season doesnt mean a lot are wrong. You have to qualify. You cant take qualifying for granted, said Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski. The top 25 could be a top 50. Theres so many teams that have a chance to be really, really good. In our sport only 68 teams make the playoffs. Its not 80 out of 100 like in football.

How upside down is college basketball this season? Let us count the ways.

The fun began back in November when Duke lost a home game to Stephen F. Austin and Kentucky was shocked by Evansville. While the Lumberjacks (17-3) sit atop the Southland and should be circled in red in your bracket come March, the Purple Aces are winless in the Valley.

When Baylor jumped Gonzaga this week, the Bears became the sixthNo. 1 team in the USA TODAY men's basketball poll.

Two Saturdays ago Duke, Auburn and Butler all lost after entering the day ranked No. 3, 4 and 5.

Then theres North Carolina. The Tar Heels are last in the ACC. Not Boston College, not Georgia Tech. Michael Jordans school. The Heels (9-10) lost star freshman Cole Anthony to a knee injury after nine games, but were only 6-3 with him in the lineup. Carolina lost a buy game to Wofford, lost to Clemson in Chapel Hill for the first time since, well, ever and is the least talented team I have ever coached, according to Roy Williams.

Hmm, talent procurement is the job of the coaching staff so what does that quote have to say about Roy and his staff?

Who is the favorite to win the national player of the year? Obi Toppin. Coach of the year? Brian Dutcher. If your reaction to those names is a head scratch, youre not alone.

What will all this unpredictability mean come March and, hopefully, at the Final Four in Atlanta in April? Throw out those assigned seeds and be very afraid if you draw Northern Iowa, East Tennessee State, Yale or some other hungry outfit.

Its cool for the game, said Notre Dame coach Mike Brey. If you think about March, if you can get in that thing why cant you dream big? Whats happened has been so interesting with the so-called top teams. Its been musical chairs. It gives more teams hope if you can qualify.

In college football only four teams earn a shot at a championship. You can name a few of next seasons qualifiers right now. In college basketball, you find trouble picking a team to win three or four games in a row.

Its crazy, its volatile, its fun. Right hoop heads?

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Opinion: College basketball is getting crazier by the week because of its beautiful chaos - USA TODAY