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    Why You Should Mount Your Wifi Router on the Ceiling (and How to Do It) – Lifehacker - January 5, 2024 by Mr HomeBuilder

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    The best advice on router placement is advice we all ignore: Place your router in the middle of the room for the best possible wifi. Dont hide the router away or place it near a wall. This isn't practical, though, because the walls are where outlets live, and as people have moved to mesh, that means more routers littered throughout the home and more devices to hide. Ive tried to treat these wifi pucks (what I call my Nest routers) as sculpture, worthy of shelf space, but I dont love it. Once I started adding hubs to each room in the form of Google Minis, things became chaotic, with wires snaking off shelves in each room and these two tiny pieces of tech generally getting in the way.

    To solve that problem, Ive started mounting my hubs and routers to the ceiling, and it works fantastically. Given the amount of accessories that exist to support the idea, Im clearly not the only one. Ceiling placement solves a lot of problems: It can put the routers in the middle of the room, away from the wall, without the cord issues, and it doesnt take up counter or shelf space. I hardly notice them there, which makes senseafter all, how often do you notice your smoke detector? Its such a good idea that some brands, like Eero, that previously required the router by upright, are now designing wall and ceiling-mount routers.

    Cord cover to keep cords tidy and hidden ($9.99)

    Ceiling mount for older Google wifi routers ($12.99)

    A three-pack of cord winding ceiling mounts for newer Google wifi routers ($23.99)

    Ceiling-mountable Eero mesh router ($299.99)

    TP Link ceiling-mountable mesh router ($136.78)

    Three-pack of TP Link mesh wifi routers ($299.99)

    Youll need a few items to make this work. First, youre going to need to find a ceiling mount for your routers or hubs if it doesnt mount on its own, like the Eero, and there are two places to look. Amazon has a surprising number of options for Google brands, and TP Link, and is the best place to look first by just typing [router name] ceiling mount. A lot of wall mounts will also work for the ceiling. The surprising place I first found a mount some years back was on Etsy, where a lot of people are 3D printing them, so thats worth checking out. (Router and hub mounts should be plastic, not metal, so 3D printing makes a lot of sense.) Youll need a drill, and youll want to buy some cord cover, which is usually paintable. Most routers and hubs have six- to eight-foot cords, so you might need to buy a longer cord to reach as far as you need; usually this is just a USB-C cord.

    Decide where your equipment is going to go in the room. It doesnt need to be in the centerthe farther away you get from the wall, the better for reception. I recommend attaching your mounts with screws instead of using adhesive: Ive never found the adhesive to be effective, even on the wall, and you dont need your router or hub falling to the floor. Orient both your hub and router with the USB input facing the wall. Embed the cords in the cord cover, and then stick it to the ceiling. Lots of cord cover comes with connectors to make turns, but if it doesnt, just cut the cord cover with an box cutter at a forty five degree angle and put both pieces together to form a corner.

    Reception improved at my home, and responsiveness on my Google Minis improved, as well, by simply mounting my devices to the ceiling. It keeps my shelves looking a little neater, and the project cost about fifteen dollars per room. In fact, it's working so well that if I moved, I'd go to the extra step of installing devices when I install ceiling lights, and hide the cords entirely in the crawlspace.

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    Why You Should Mount Your Wifi Router on the Ceiling (and How to Do It) - Lifehacker

    6 Inspiring Examples of Effective and Aesthetic Acoustic Solutions – ArchDaily - October 11, 2021 by Mr HomeBuilder

    6 Inspiring Examples of Effective and Aesthetic Acoustic Solutions

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    Acoustic comfort is affected by the levels and the nature of the sound experienced in an interior space, measured in decibels. The functionality and aesthetics of working and living spaces are usually the primary focus of the designer, however, too often overlooked, are the factors contributing to the productivity of employees or the comfort of residents. Providing a comfortable acoustic environment contributes significantly to the overall mood and health of people operating within it.

    Kvadrat Acoustics meets these challenges by collaborating with architects and designers to create aesthetically outstanding spaces with perfect sound control, using the inherent properties of beautiful textiles. Let's review some of its solutions applied in 5 interior design projects.

    At the headquarters of Aedas architects in Singapore, Soft Cells panels by Kvadrat Acoustics were installed on walls and ceilings to enhance the acoustic comfort and aesthetic quality of the Interior and Architects offices. They support the design concept, which delivers a hotel-like ambiance that facilitates discreet conversations. Aedas worked closely with Kvadrat Acoustics and Multiline, the lighting supplier, to create custom integrated panels for most of the ceilings in the reception and meeting rooms. The collaboration also focused on ensuring that the hanging lights and panels could be precisely adjusted to the final ceiling level with equal spacing between the panels.

    The ceiling at Under, designed by Snhetta architects, features acoustic panels by Kvadrat Acoustics in a variety of different geometries. In the underwater dining area, which looks out at marine life, the ceiling unites concave and planar acoustic panels, creating an acoustic environment that steadily becomes increasingly crisp and still, while the colors melt from light reds to dark greens and blues. Both above and below the ocean in Lindenes, Norway, 137 Soft Cells panels upholstered in a specially developed textile: the "Under" (named after the restaurant for which it was developed).

    Located close to Munich, the680 sqm Skin and Laser Center - which opened in 2016 - is a practice that focuses on classical and aesthetic dermatology. The texture of the skin is at the heart of the design concept by Reimann Interior & Design. For instance, the hexagonal shape of skin cells can be found in the wall design, as well as in custom-made concrete cubes used in different areas. Furthermore, the colour concept is comprised of different skin tones.

    Novartis is a global healthcare company. The organizations Asklepios 8 office tower was built in collaboration between architects Herzog De Meuron and the Novartis Business Services unit. Situated in the Novartis Campus, it overlooks the Rhine river in Basel, Switzerland. The interior, which is characterized by lightness and transparency, supports creative collaboration. Reflecting this, writable walls that invite people to visualize and share ideas are used throughout, while acoustic conditions are optimized to facilitate conversations. Soft Cells panels in assorted colors are installed on walls and ceilings to optimize acoustic quality for web conferences and face-to-face meetings. They are in 100 meeting rooms, across all floors.

    In Ohio, Foster + Partners specified a Kvadrat Acoustics solution throughout the Samson Pavilion which is designed for Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland Clinic. A new vision for a health pavilion looks to the future of integrated, interactive health education. Most of the Soft Cells panels in the building are installed in the roof trusses above the spacious Delos M. Cosgrove courtyard. Triangular and upholstered in Toto, they deliver an acoustic environment that facilitates collaboration.

    Soft Cells panels by Kvadrat Acoustics are designed for optimal sustainability. Consequently, they meet the criteria of major environmental building certifications notably: DGNB, LEED, BREEAM, and HQE. Furthermore, they hold a low emission certificate, Eurofins Indoor Air Comfort, and are third-party verified EPD (Environmental Product Declaration).

    AMOREPACIFIC is the largest cosmetics company in Korea, responsible for a portfolio of 30 brands. The companys new headquarters were designed and completed by David Chipperfield Architects, is in Seoul, South Korea. The 22-story cube-shaped building accommodates more than 3,500 AMOREPACIFIC employees. The site also incorporates a museum, a library of exhibition catalogs, an auditorium, several gardens, and a tea house.

    To ensure a perfect match with the buildings design requirements, Kvadrat Acoustics' R&D unit developed special product and installation solutions, even setting up a Kvadrat Acoustics production facility was set up in Seoul. Different types of custom Soft Cells panels by Kvadrat Acoustics were installed on walls and ceilings throughout the building.

    A specially-defined 50 mm panel installation depth was developed for the headquarters (Usually Soft Cells panels have an installation depth of 55 mm.). To achieve this, new modified profiles were extruded while installation parts were redesigned. L-shaped Soft Cells panels were also engineered especially for the project, meeting the need from the architects for panels that fit around corners.

    Click here to see more examples of projects by Kvadrat Acoustics.

    Link:
    6 Inspiring Examples of Effective and Aesthetic Acoustic Solutions - ArchDaily

    6 Best Grab Bars for Around the House Safety in 2021 – Healthline - October 11, 2021 by Mr HomeBuilder

    Grab bars can be especially useful in places like the bathroom where slick, slippery surfaces may cause you to lose your footing.

    You can install a grab bar near the toilet or in the shower or bathtub to add stability, make movements easier, and prevent falls.

    Grab bars add a measure of safety and provide a sense of security to anyone who may be prone to unsteadiness, slips, or falls. Limited mobility may be due to age as well as a medical condition, injury, or recent surgery.

    Grab bars can make it safe for a person with balance or strength concerns to be more independent. Depending on your needs, you may choose to install several grab bars.

    To choose the best grab bars, we considered the following criteria:

    Prices are indicated as follows:

    The Franklin Brass Concealed Screw Grab Bar is made of rust-resistant stainless steel to offer strength and support when using the bath, shower, or toilet. The wall-mounted bar only requires two to three screws. If you dont have studs, you can install the bar using a grab bar wall anchor, which Franklin Brass sells separately.

    The whole bar overall is 19 inches long, with the center section being 16 inches.

    Its design includes covers to conceal the screws; these end caps have a 3-inch diameter. A few customers complain that the covers dont fit perfectly. A few people said they popped off or were not tight enough to prevent water from collecting inside.

    The sturdy design of the Moen 16-Inch Angled Grab Bar can provide safety while getting in or out of the bathtub. You can also hang on to it while you shower. The bar comes with mounting hardware and is meant to be installed into wood studs. You can position it in a few different angles to suit your needs. Some users may find the brushed nickel finish adds a stylish touch.

    A few customers complain that the provided installation hardware is low quality, so you may consider buying your own.

    This stainless steel grab bar from PULSE ShowerSpas features a soft, ergonomic grip thats designed for comfort. Its easy to install and mount on wood or metal studs. The bar attaches vertically or horizontally, and includes covers to conceal the mounting screws. The grab bar attaches to a towel bar, which is sold separately.

    The Vaunn Medical Bathtub Safety Rail is designed to provide safety and support as you get in and out of the bathtub, helping to lower the risk of injuries and falls.

    The heavy-duty steel rail is easy to install without the need for tools. The adjustable clamp fits on tub walls 3 to 7 inches (8 to 18 cm) thick without leaving marks or dents. Its designed to be lightweight and portable, so you can easily move it to another bathroom or bring it along when you travel.

    You cannot use this grab bar on fiberglass or porcelain tubs since it can cause cracking.

    The Able Life Grab Bar is a transfer pole with a grab bar that can provide balance and support when standing up, sitting down, or getting in and out of the bathtub. You can place it outside the bathtub or near the toilet. Depending on the design of your bathroom, you may be able to position it so you can use it for the toilet and bathtub.

    The tension-mounted design requires no tools. It adjusts to fit ceilings 7 feet (213 cm), 8 feet (244 cm), or 9 feet (274 cm). The base and top are padded to prevent damage, markings, and scuff marks on the floor or ceiling. The portable design may be ideal for travel or to use in different rooms.

    This product is not rust-resistant, so its not intended for use inside the bathtub or shower. The handle height is not adjustable, which may be a drawback for some people.

    This wall-mounted grab bar features a horizontal bar and a vertical curved bar that rotates and locks into five positions.

    The vertical bar has four hand grips so you can use the bar to step in and out of the bathtub or shower. It also works as a support when you use the toilet. It has a space-saving design and can fold up against the wall when not in use.

    A few customer reviews mention that the vertical bar moves slightly, even when its locked into place.

    Before buying a grab bar, consider the following factors:

    To ensure safety, its vital to install the grab bar correctly. If you need assistance, ask a friend or hire a professional.

    Once the grab bar is installed, pull it to make sure its secure if you have the strength and stability to do so safely. If you dont feel comfortable testing it on your own, ask someone to check it for you.

    You can install grab bars onto various surfaces, including tile, stone, and fiberglass. Most wall-mounted grab bars require installation into a wall stud, which provides the most support. If its not possible to drill into a wall stud, you can usually buy anchors to secure the bar.

    Usually, grab bars come with installation hardware but many people like to invest in stronger materials or source their hardware from a local hardware store. Youll need a drill, level, and hammer. Additional required materials include a screwdriver and tape measure.

    Do not use a towel bar as a grab bar. For safety, only use a grab bar thats designed to support your weight and movements.

    The wet surfaces in bathrooms can make falls more likely, making grab bars a valuable addition to your home, especially if you have strength, stability, or balance concerns. Theyre equally useful for anyone who wants to make their bathroom safer.

    Consider how you plan to use the grab bar, the installation process, and any important design features. You can use this list and the provided guidance to find a grab bar that matches your needs.

    If you need help installing the grab bar on your own, seek the help of a friend or hire a professional to ensure safe, secure installation.

    Read more here:
    6 Best Grab Bars for Around the House Safety in 2021 - Healthline

    Explore the Art of Moynihan Train Hall on This New Tour – Untapped New York - October 11, 2021 by Mr HomeBuilder

    When the newMoynihan Train Hallopened in January, one of the big stars of the hall was the public art installed throughout. Installations by Kehinde Wiley,Stan Douglas, and duoElmgreen & Dragsetbrought excitement and creativity to the brand new space. The$1.6 billion hall transformed the oldJames A. Farley postal building, a 1912 Beaux-Arts-style design byMcKim, Mead and White, into a museum of its own.

    Join Untapped New York on a tour of the artistic side of Moynihan, with a little bonus trip over toPenn Stationto talk about a rarely recognized artistic remnant of the old Penn Station. Of course, there will be frameable handouts!On the in-person tour, unearth all the exciting art in Moynihan Train Hall. Hear the stories about the creation of the art and the artists themselves. Learn about some of the new art on the way to Moynihan. Explore some of the outdoor art which usually gets ignored. And discover a Penn Station remnant art piece not featured on our publicRemnants of Penn Station tour. The event is free forUntapped New York Insiders(and get your first month free with code JOINUS).

    Moynihan Train Hall Art Walk

    The artworks, which cost $6.7 million, were commissioned through a partnership between Empire State Development and thePublic Art Fund. Kehinde Wiley created a hand-painted glass triptych titledGofor the ceiling at the West 33rd Street entrance.This was Wileys first permanent site-specific installation in glass. The work depicts Black New Yorkers in breakdancing-inspired poses against a blue sky, drawing from some of his earlier works.Wiley also based a woman pointing her finger on MichelangelosCreation of Adamat the Sistine Chapel. The artist stated that he wished to play with the language of ceiling frescoes because in ceiling frescoes, people [express] a type of levity and religious devotion and ascendancy. Wiley is best-known for works likeNapoleon Leading the Army over the Alpsand the official portrait of PresidentBarack Obama, which is on view at the Brooklyn Museum.

    Stan Douglas conducted archival research to recreate nine moments from the old Penn Station. To capture this history, he cast 400 actors to dress in period costumes over four days 100 on each day of shooting then used digitally recreated interiors of the demolished building as a backdrop. Douglass photographic panels, including one in which Blackvaudevilleperformers staged a show for passengers after a 1914 snowstorm and another of a depiction of outlaw Celia Cooney, hang along the stations 80-foot-long waiting area.

    As part of Emgreen & Dragsets workThe Hive, over 30,000 pounds of futuristic skyscrapers hang upside down by the West 31st Street entry. The 91 real and fictional buildings contain windows that glow with tiny lights of 72,000 LEDs, and six of the buildings can change colors. DragsettoldThe New York Timesthat the installation was named The Hive to reflect how the diversity and richness of cities can function because people accept certain rules for coexisting.

    In a global city synonymous with art and culture it is fitting that these works which dazzle in their beauty, humanity, ambition, and technical mastery capture the spirit of this remarkable new transit hub, said Public Art Fund director Nicholas Baume in a statement. Captivating and powerful, each work is inspired by New Yorks rich heritage, its diverse and talented people, and its irrepressible creativity.

    Join Untapped New York on a tour of the artistic side of Moynihanwith a little bonus trip over to Penn Station to talk about a rarely recognized artistic remnant of the old Penn Station. The event is free forUntapped New York Insiders(and get your first month free with code JOINUS).

    Moynihan Train Hall Art Walk

    Next, check out Justin Rivers Op-Ed Moynihan Trail Hall is Not Perfect, But its Close Enough.

    See the original post:
    Explore the Art of Moynihan Train Hall on This New Tour - Untapped New York

    11 Track Lighting Types Explained And Easy Guide On Different Them – vermontpressbureau.com - October 11, 2021 by Mr HomeBuilder

    Track lighting is a type of indirect illumination, typically installed in offices and other commercial spaces. Track lights are mounted to the ceiling or wall and are often encased in decorative metal housings that can be positioned anywhere along the track. They can be used individually or combined with other types of lamps for an even broader range of light effects.

    The track lighting system comes with a metal surface that is mounted to the ceiling or wall, known as the track. The track is connected to a power source and can be extended however long you need it to be. There are numerous options available types of tracking lighting.

    Halogen track lights are the most commonly used type of track lighting. These fixtures have an incandescent bulb with a halogen capsule, which provides higher lumen output than standard bulbs at a lower wattage. This allows for more lumens per watt than other bulb options.

    Halogen track lights can be installed in wall or ceiling tracks and are typically used in commercial applications that require high-quality lighting with a longer life span.

    Like other track lights, halogen models are available in a variety of styles and finishes to complement the surrounding dcor.

    LED track lights operate on small, low-voltage DC units. This is great for people who have to track the amount of energy their lighting uses carefully. LED lights are known for using up to eighty percent less electricity than other types of bulbs.

    One major drawback to LED track lighting is that the light they produce tends toward a blue-green spectrum. This is not true of all LED lights, but its a good idea to sample them before you buy if thats an important feature for your space.

    LED lighting is typically used in residential settings, but they are also gaining popularity for commercial spaces. They are ideal for areas with a lot of moisture, because LEDs dont create any heat.

    A floodlight track light has the ability to produce broad area illumination as well as narrow spot lighting. They are typically mounted near the ceiling and aimed down onto a targeted area.

    Floodlights are often used in kitchens or dining areas, where they can be aimed at the area where food preparation takes place. This type of track lighting is also great for illuminating large, open floor plans.

    Floodlights are often used in combination with uplights, which is a track light that is mounted on the ceiling above and pointed down at an angle. Uplights usually use linear lighting modules that offer directional illumination.

    Fluorescent track lights are the least expensive type of lighting on the market. These fixtures have a long life span and T5 fluorescent bulbs, which produce more light per watt than other types of bulbs.

    Fluorescent track lights are often used in offices or warehouses that need low-cost, high-quality lighting for a wide variety of purposes.

    The biggest disadvantage of these fixtures is that they emit a large amount of heat. They are also one of the noisiest types of lights available, making them unsuitable for homes with kids or pets.

    Fluorescent track lights come in a variety of sizes. Some are designed to sit on the floor while others can be mounted on a wall.

    Because fluorescent track lights contain fluorescent bulbs, the light they produce is very white. These bulbs are also ideal for highlighting items that need to be seen clearly because the light produced by these fixtures does not distort colors like incandescent bulbs can.

    Because of the additional parts required, fluorescent track lights often cost more than other types of lighting fixtures. In order to make most out of your investment, make sure to choose the right type of fixture.

    Low-voltage track lights have a lamp that plugs into the wall and then has a wire coming out of it that is connected to an LED or fluorescent tube. The tubes can be suspended from the ceiling, placed on the floor, or attached directly to the wall. This type of lighting is often used in basements or other areas that will be repainted frequently.

    Low-voltage track lights are often placed along a wall. The positioning of the fixture is used to spotlight an area or display certain items.

    Low-voltage track lights are easy to install, but they do not provide much flexibility in terms of positioning the tube. They can only be positioned vertically or horizontally.

    OLED track lights have a very long life span, and they produce virtually no heat. These are the most expensive type of track lighting systems on the market, but theyre also known for their high-quality lighting.

    Since OLED track lights produce no heat and are both energy efficient and longer lasting than other lamps, these fixtures can be used in places where they are exposed to the elements and will not be repainted regularly.

    OLED track lights are designed to be attached directly to the wall. They also come in both a fluorescent and LED design.

    One disadvantage of OLED track lights is that the light they produce has a blue tint. This makes them ideal for highlighting certain items but not so great for general illumination.

    Since OLED track lights do not need to be cleaned often, you should also consider how easy it will be to replace parts when they start to wear out.

    The HID type of track lighting is the most common. They feature two bulbs: one that produces a blue light, and another that produces the white light. This creates a pleasant combination of warm color temperatures to illuminate your space while still providing ample illumination.

    Like most other types of track lighting, there are HID track lights that have fluorescent and LED bulbs.

    When it comes to HID track lighting, there are two wattage options: 35 watts or 50 watts. The higher-wattage lights typically last longer, and they also produce more lumens (light). Therefore, if you want a brighter light in your space, these fixtures might be a suitable choice.

    HID track lights use high-intensity discharge lamps to produce a very bright light. These lights are typically used for retail lighting, stage lighting, or any other place where you need a lot of light over a wide area.

    Because they require high amounts of energy and are not as energy efficient as LED or fluorescent bulbs, they come with a high initial cost. However, they are among the most durable and longest-lasting track lights around.

    A linear track light system is composed of individual fixtures arranged in a line. These systems are used in warehouse or office spaces, or anywhere where long stretches of uninterrupted lighting are needed.

    Linear track lights are energy efficient, and they produce very consistent illumination along their entire length. Linear systems often come with endcaps that can be adjusted using a remote control.

    Linear track lighting is often used behind retail showcases where it might be subject to damage. The fixtures on these lines are more durable than others and can withstand a higher amount of pressure.

    Linear track lights are often suspended directly above showcases in order to display merchandise. In this situation, the light is used as both illumination and advertisement for the products below it.

    A circular track light system is composed of individual fixtures arranged in a circle. Circular systems are used primarily for highlighting artwork in museums and art galleries. They can also be found as accent lighting in retail spaces or other areas where highly focused illumination is needed over a smaller area.

    These lights are not very energy efficient, but their brightness makes up for it. However, they do produce a lot of heat, so theyre often used as accent lighting or as supplemental lighting to larger systems.

    Circular track lights are typically suspended from the ceiling. They are also found in residential applications as well, where they can be used to highlight a piece of art, create an interesting lighting pattern on the ceiling, or provide ample illumination for reading at night.

    A ceiling-mounted track light system is composed of individual fixtures which mount directly to the ceiling. These systems can be arranged in a line, circle, or any other arrangement you choose. Ceiling-mounted track lights are used primarily for illuminating retail spaces or showcasing artwork.

    Because they do not take up any floor space and typically have a very long life-span, theyre often good options when trying to illuminate large areas at an affordable price. This is one of the main reasons they are often used in retail spaces.

    Ceiling-mounted track lights are also a very popular choice for highlighting artwork in galleries or museums. This type of lighting avoids glare, which makes it easier to see the details on a painting (for example).

    A flush-mounted track light system is composed of individual fixtures which are mounted to a surface such as the wall, ceiling or floor. These systems can be used anywhere that lighting needs to be highly focused in one direction, rather than dispersed over an area.

    Because these lights can be placed in places with limited space, they can be used as task lighting or accent lighting without changing the way a room looks. They are also popular for highlighting artwork, plants, and other decorative pieces.

    These types of track lights are often found in kitchens and bathrooms, where they can be mounted to the underside or side of cabinets. They can also be used to highlight artwork on ceiling-mounted doors.

    Linear track lights are longer, while circular systems provide more focused (and therefore brighter) light. They also differ in terms of their construction; because a linear system contains multiple fixtures that run parallel to one another, it must have some sort of support mechanism in order for them to be spaced evenly.

    Ceiling-mounted track lights are suspended directly from the ceiling. They can be arranged in a line, circle, or any other arrangement you choose. Flush mounted systems do not take up any floor space and typically have a very long life-span. This makes them very popular when trying to illuminate large areas, but they can be difficult to place near windows and doors because of their protruding fixtures.

    Track lighting systems are generally not the most energy efficient option since installation is more costly than surface-mounted options like recessed lighting and pendant lights. However, they do produce a lot of light while using relatively little energy; this is one of the reasons track lighting systems are often utilized in retail spaces where electricity costs can be high.

    Track lighting systems typically take standard E26 halogen bulbs or CFLs (compact fluorescent lamps). Although LEDs are not compatible with track lighting systems because they produce too much heat, there are 12 volt LED bulbs that are designed for surface-mounted track lights.

    If you have a track lighting system in your retail space, be sure to keep the bulbs clean and well-maintained. Not only will this save you money in the long run, it will also reduce your carbon footprint.

    The term linear describes how track lighting systems are arranged with respect to one another. Linear track lighting means that the bulbs are parallel to each other, rather than perpendicular or overlapping each other (as in a circular system). This is what makes the difference between linear and circular track lights.

    The name becomes more important when you want to replace a lightbulb; each system will work with common E26 halogen bulbs, but youll want to make sure the replacement bulb is compatible with your system. Halogen bulbs are also known as incandescent lights and they use a filament that glows white-hot when electricity is run through it.

    A type of flush-mount track lighting system, the under cabinet system typically consists of a series of bulbs mounted to a flat surface with very small fixtures that give off bright light without glaring. This is most often used to illuminate jewelry in retail spaces or for security reasons because it makes it harder for burglars to hide in the shadows.

    Yes, absolutely; you will typically need basic hand tools and a power drill when installing track lighting systems. If youre uncertain about your wiring abilities, you can always hire an electrician to do the work for you. This installation kit comes with everything you need except the light bulbs.

    Track lighting was originally designed for use in retail spaces where energy efficiency is crucial and people are walking around all day. Some designers are also using it for lighting outdoor bars and patios because it can help keep the mood of the party going without drawing a lot of attention to itself.

    You can also use track lighting for home design projects and you may find that this type of light source is perfect for illuminating a long hallway or space with many doors; in fact, most track lights are designed for installation in hallways or retail spaces.

    In conclusion, there are many different track lighting types and sizes that you can use. The choice of the type, style or size depends on what you want. Lighting is an important element to make a room look brighter and attractive for your eyes.

    It is important to know the different track lighting types for your room and also easy to install it at home.

    Here is the original post:
    11 Track Lighting Types Explained And Easy Guide On Different Them - vermontpressbureau.com

    Arts & Culture: Out Of This World – Nob Hill Gazette - October 11, 2021 by Mr HomeBuilder

    His Stanford studio is one of several places where artist Ala Ebtekar worked on the handmade clay tiles for Luminous Ground.Ala Ebtekars installation at the Asian Art Museum offers a look at the universe, with layers of meaning.

    Ala Ebtekar is well aware that some museumgoers will seek out his latest work, Luminous Ground, intent on snapping a selfie. After all, composed of 1,800 handmade tiles that capture the cosmos and line a 55-foot-long wall of the new rooftop terrace at the Asian Art Museum, the artwork makes for a striking backdrop. But the Berkeley-born artist is optimistic that when the installation opens to the public later this fall, visitors will come away with much more than social media fodder.

    One of the major things for me is creating these contemplative experiences and creating work that speaks in different ways, says Ebtekar. It doesnt mean that every person is going to get all of those things. Theres enough richness in just one facet, but you do have these multiple facets. And if some people just want to take a selfie with it, thats cool, too.

    Ebtekar has long been enamored with the exquisitely tiled edifices of his parents native Iran, among them the 16th-century Ali Qapu palace in Isfahan, with its vaulted ceiling depicting heaven. Initially trained as a painter he earned a BFA from the San Francisco Art Institute and an MFA from Stanford University, where he is a lecturer in the department of art and art history Ebtekars own foray into tilework dates back several years. For a 2018 exhibition at Napas di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art, he fabricated 1,000 cyanotype tiles, relying on a photographic printing method invented in the 1840s. The tiles referenced an image from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope and covered a 10-by-22-foot area of the gallery floor, mirroring the dimensions of the skylight overhead.

    The words of 11th-century Persian astronomer, mathematician and poet Omar Khayyam served as inspiration: Drink wine and look up at the moon and think of all the civilizations the moon has seen passing by. Says Ebtekar: We often romantically look up at the moon, but think about how long the moon has gazed at us.

    Since Ebtekar had participated in various Asian Art Museum exhibitions and programs, Karin Oen, then an associate curator for contemporary art at the museum, was already familiar with his practice when she heard about the site-specific installation in Napa. Even so, it made an impression. I was intrigued by how layered it was, she recalls. The overlay of a cyanotype-like process on handmade California clay tiles, the amalgamation of space-age imagery from the Hubble telescope with a longstanding human interest in both astronomy and astrology, an engagement with the architecture of sacred spaces and Medieval Persian poetry.

    One of the major things for me is creating these contemplative experiences and creating work that speaks in different ways. Ala Ebtekar

    Oen reached out to Ebtekar about a commission for the Asian Art Museums East West Bank Art Terrace, designed by Kulapat Yantrasast of WHY Architecture. Ebtekar once again employed a Hubble image in this case, representing 12 billion years of cosmic history and the cyanotype technique. The two-and-a-half-year undertaking started with mining soil in California and mixing it to create a white-bodied clay. The clay was pounded, rolled and cut into 5-by-5-inch tiles, which were then fired.

    Working in the Central Valley his head ceramicist, Ritsuko Miyazaki, along with assistants Hannah Desch and Racquelle Justo, are based in Fresno Ebtekar was struck by the regions history, particularly as it relates to labor and immigration. Amador County, for example, has a rich mining past and was home to Fiddletown Chinatown. Ebtekars use of soil kindles a connection to the Central Valleys agriculture industry and its immigrant workforce. Theres a lot there in terms of the history of California and America in general, he observes.

    From Fresno, the tiles were transported to the Peninsula, where Ebtekar maintains a studio. In a darkroom, he brushed an altered cyanotype solution over the tiles, which were subsequently divided into sets of 25. Ive taken this image and basically broken it into 72 negatives, Ebtekar elaborates. Each negative is around 27 by 27 inches and provides coverage for about 25 tiles.

    With the negative on top of the tiles, clamped between sheets of glass and wood, he exposed them to the sun. Back in a dark environment, the tiles were washed with water. Once they were thoroughly dry, the final step entailed four coatings of what Ebtekar describes as a homemade glaze that weatherproofs the tiles and prevents further sun exposure. Theres so many variations in this mosaic, he says of the end result, noting that in addition to being birthed by light, the four elements fire, water, earth and air coalesce in the tiles.

    Joining Luminous Ground on the museum terrace are Ai Weiweis Fountain of Light, an illuminated twisting sculpture comprised of thousands of strung glass beads; Pinaree Sanpitaks stainless steel Breast Stupa Topiary series, whose forms draw on the female breast as well as the stupa, a hemispherical Buddhist shrine; and Dont Mess With Me (aka The Pink Lady), street artist Jas Charanjivas response to the gang rape and murder of a young woman on a Delhi bus in 2012.

    According to Oen, the works are all connected by the theme of past, present and future an appropriate jumping-off point for the first installation of a space following a major transformation of a historical museum. The 7,500-square-foot outdoor platform and 8,500-square-foot Akiko Yamazaki and Jerry Yang Pavilion that it sits atop are part of the Asian Art Museums multimillion-dollar expansion project, which was initiated in 2017.

    Reflecting on the multivalent Luminous Ground and the myriad individuals who played a role in its creation from the NASA/ESA team to tile glazer Miguel Suarez Ebtekar likens his largest endeavor to date to a movie, when you see the cast come up, he says. Theres a lot of hands involved in this. They dont necessarily know each other, but then it all comes together. Its a collective of voices in that way.

    Related

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    Arts & Culture: Out Of This World - Nob Hill Gazette

    Photos of the Week: Manchin, California oil spill and a podium dog | TheHill – The Hill - October 11, 2021 by Mr HomeBuilder

    Japan's newly elected Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stands after his election at the House of Representative's plenary session in Tokyo on Oct. 4. Keizo Mori/UPI Photo

    Supporters of legal abortion gather outside the Supreme Court on the first day of its new term Oct. 4. The high court is set to consider a Mississippi abortion law, with its proponents calling on the justices to overturn Roe v. Wade.Bonnie Cash/UPI Photo

    Colombian police push back Haitian immigrants after authorities temporarily closed a ferry boat ticket office because of crowd control issues on Oct. 4 in Necocli, Colombia. Upwards of 20,000 immigrants, most from Haiti, have been waiting in Necocli for as long as a month for available seats to ferry across a bay and continue their journey into Panama in route to the U.S. John Moore/Getty Images

    Capitol Police extract Dale Paul Melvin, 55, of Kimball, Mich., after he illegally parked in front of the Supreme Court and refusing to move for more than an hour on Oct. 5. According to Capitol Police, "the man refused to talk, made a statement to the effect of 'time for talking is done,' " adding he had also come to the Capitol complex in August "and made concerning statements." Greg Nash

    Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugan, a former product manager, testifies before the Senate Commerce Committee's subcommittee on consumer protection on Oct. 5. Julia Nikhinson

    Workers in protective suits clean oilon Oct. 5 in an inlet leading to the environmentally sensitive Talbert Marsh wetlands after a 126,000-gallon spill from an offshore oil platform in Huntington Beach, Calif. The heavy crude oil spill has affected close to 25 miles of coastline in Orange County, with authorities closing beaches in the vicinity. Mario Tama/Getty Images

    President BidenJoe BidenBiden remembers Gen. Odierno: 'Part of some of our most poignant memories' Building back better by investing in workers and communities Internal battles heat up over Biden agenda MORE leaves the Oval Office for Marine One as he heads to Lansing, Mich.,on Oct. 5 to promote the bipartisan infrastructure bill and his Build Back Better agenda. Yuri Gripas/UPI Photo

    Bubba Wallace celebrates with fellow driver Ryan Blaney after being declared the winner of the rain-shortened NASCAR Cup Series YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway in Lincoln, Ala., on Oct. 5, becoming only the second Black driver to win a cup race. Chris Graythen/Getty Images

    Artist Suzanne Brennan Firstenberg helps to take down her installation "In America: Remember" honoring the more than 600,000 COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. at the Washington Monument on Oct. 5. Julia Nikhinson

    Red robed protesters from Extinction Rebellion take part in blockading the oil rig maintenance facility at Cromarty Firth Port Authority on Oct. 6 in Invergordon, Scotland. The group is calling for an end of fossil fuel extraction and support for a transition of skilled oil and gas workers into decommissioning and renewable industries. Jeff J. Mitchell/Getty Images

    Sen. Joe ManchinJoe ManchinInternal battles heat up over Biden agenda Sunday shows preview: Senate votes to raise debt ceiling; Facebook whistleblower blasts company during testimony Growing number of Democrats endorse abolishing debt limit altogether MORE (D-W.Va.) makes a statement outside his office in the Hart Senate Office Building onOct. 6 regarding the bipartisan infrastructure plan, the debt ceiling and other topics. Greg Nash

    Iowa Sens. Joni ErnstJoni Kay ErnstTrump heads to Iowa as 2024 chatter grows Photos of the Week: Manchin, California oil spill and a podium dog Senate GOP seeks bipartisan panel to investigate Afghanistan withdrawal MORE (R) and Chuck GrassleyChuck GrassleyTrump says Grassley has his 'complete and total endorsement' Trump heads to Iowa as 2024 chatter grows Photos of the Week: Manchin, California oil spill and a podium dog MORE (R) laugh as they wait for a press a conference Oct. 6 to discuss the situation at the border. Julia Nikhinson

    A member of fireforce personnel observeson Oct. 7 a multistory apartment building after it collapsed in Bangalore, India. Manjunath Kiran/AFP/Getty Images

    Pope FrancisPope FrancisPelosi and Pope Francis meet amid push for action on climate change Pope calls on lawmakers to 'narrow' partisan politics to fight climate change Photos of the Week: Manchin, California oil spill and a podium dog MORE's cassock lifts up as he speaks onOct. 7 at the Rome's Colosseum during the International Meeting for Peace with leaders of various religions. Stefano Spaziani/UPI Photo

    A staff member for Sen. Rand PaulRandal (Rand) Howard PaulJournalist Dave Levinthal discusses 'uptick' in congressional stock trade violations McConnell vows GOP won't help raise debt ceiling in December after Schumer 'tantrum' Photos of the Week: Manchin, California oil spill and a podium dog MORE (R-Ky.) takes photos of her puppy Jefferson on a podium before a press conference Oct. 7 to introduce legislation that would end the Food and Drug Administration's mandate that experimental drugs must be tested on animals before they are used on humans in clinical trials. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

    Demonstrators protest in front of Planalto Palace in Brasilia, Brazil, on Oct. 8, the day the country was expected to reach the milestone of 600,000 people killed by COVID-19. Evaristo Sa/AFP/Getty Images

    Photos curated by Greg Nash, Julia Nikhinson and Madeline Monroe.

    Link:
    Photos of the Week: Manchin, California oil spill and a podium dog | TheHill - The Hill

    Best of Scotland: 20 of the most stylish places to eat, drink and stay – HeraldScotland - October 11, 2021 by Mr HomeBuilder

    Scotland boasts some of the most stylish restaurants, bars and hotels in the UK. Here, Paul Trainer and Ailsa Sheldon reveal their personal top 20 of our best new and long-established venues.

    Its easy to walk past Divino Enoteca, nestled into a dark corner of tiny Merchant Street though once youve discovered this cavern of delights you wont forget how to find it. With its dark walls, exposed brick, walls of wine bottles, leather seating and mood lighting, this restaurant certainly knows how to set the scene especially on live jazz nights. The heated secret courtyard is lovely too. With classic, sophisticated Italian cooking and an impressively long and interesting wine list (including 32 by the glass), Divino Enoteca is an atmospheric delight. (AS)

    5 Merchant Street, Edinburgh, EH1 2QD

    A stylishand contemporary brasserie and bar on St Vincent Place, the venue underwent a complete refurbishment and rebrand during lockdown. An impressive marble bar is the focal point for the dining room with a separate whisky room and private dining area named The Boardroom, in a nod to the buildings history as the former Scottish headquarters of the Bank of England. Ask for a table in the elegant but relaxed garden room where you can enjoy panko crusted bass or roasted butternut linguine. (PT)

    25 St Vincent Place, Glasgow G1 2DT

    A Speyside hotel with modern and traditional stylish nods to the Highlands of Scotland, Craigellachie is a comfortable, rural retreat with an impressive food offering. Guests are quickly distracted by The Quaich Bar, a celebration of whisky equipped with over 800 bottles. It was opened 120 years ago and exemplifies romantic Scotlands vision for hospitality, seen through a progressive, modern lens. Take a seat in this cosy sitting room built into a bar, and allow staff to guide you through a single malt odyssey. (PT)

    Seton a 520-acre estate overlooking St Andrews, Fairmont is known for its dramatic cliff-top views, peaceful setting and championship golf courses. Theres destination dining at its St Andrews Bar & Grill with River Tay cured rainbow trout, Crail crab salad, whole grilled St Andrews Bay lobster and dry-aged steaks cooked on a Josper grill. An extensive refurbishment in 2016 brought a new sense of space to the hotels huge atrium, incorporating a 60-metre-long ceiling sculpture by artist George Singer, eclectic furniture styles, and softer furnishings. Upholstery, fabrics and art in the hotel is influenced by local history and landscapes with the fishing villages of Fife providing inspiration and a sense of place. (PT)

    With stained glass windows, nautical ephemera and a giant Bjrk print, it shouldnt really work - but somehow it really does. This is Nobles, a lovingly restored familyrun pub where contemporary art meets Victorian glamour with some of the best food and drink in Edinburgh. Its stylish and sophisticated, without taking itself too seriously. Enjoy a cracking Bloody Mary with brunch, pop in for a pint, or book a table in the evening to explore the delights of the a la carte menu. Whatever the occasion, Nobles is always a good port of call. (AS)

    44a Constitution Street, Leith EH6 6RS

    THE 485-acre The Macallan Estate is a world-leading hospitality destination set in serene countryside. Alongside the focus on single malt whisky, there is fine dining, fishing, tours and events. The distinctive distillery experience was designed by architects Roger Stirk Harbour + Partners and unveiled in 2018. It features an imposing circular vault warehouse and a dining room where you can enjoy pan-seared Highland venison, west coast scallops and locally-caught salmon. (PT)

    Italianbrewer Doppio Malto has transformed a landmark location on Glasgows George Square to create its first venue in the UK. The kitchen brewery includes a basement bar with a ceiling installation featuring colourful umbrellas and a 180-seat restaurant, complete with traditional terrazzo flooring and terracotta plant pots. The menu offers a wide selection of Italian dishes including pizza, pastas, speciality meats cooked on the grill, and desserts. Visit for 16 variations of Doppio Malto craft beers from Erba and Iglesias. (PT)

    Thecalm minimalist interior of Argyle Place has made this family-run coffee shop a firm favourite with Edinburgh aesthetes think exposed brick, concrete, elegant wooden furniture and plenty of plants. Squint and you could be in Copenhagen, not Marchmont. With Mr Eion roasting coffee in the basement and super-skilled baristas, this is the perfect place to savour a flat white near the Meadows. Stay for the food, too enjoy generously filled homemade focaccia, tasty tarts and brioche bacon rolls. Grab a seat by the window and savour the friendly atmosphere. (AS) 25-28 Argyle Place, Edinburgh, EH9 1JJ

    A tearoom on a working farm, the rustic setting is revealed within a glass greenhouse with grape vines on the ceiling and interior walls. Your neighbours are 130 dairy cows that provide the milk to make the award-winning Isle of Mull Cheddar and Hebridean Blue. Enjoy homebaking and sourdough bread alongside pork and cheese from the farm. A short drive from Tobermory, the cafe and shop provide scenic views over the Isle of Mull. (PT)

    Sgriob-ruadh Farm, Tobermory, Isle of Mull, PA75 6QD

    Inventive tasting menus are the order of the day at Aurora and are best suited for adventurous palates. The floor and shelving in Aurora are crafted from reclaimed scaffolding wood, with wine racks made from repurposed bread cages. Simple furniture, industrial-style lighting and bold paintings by Edinburgh-based South African artist Jonathan Freemantle complete the look. This little gem of a restaurant is not in the trendy part of Leith, but definitely deserves a place on the radar of Edinburgh food-lovers. With only 20 covers it can be hard to get a table but for those who do, the culinary journey through the menu and the intimate setting make for a memorable evening. (AS)

    187 Great Junction St., Edinburgh, EH6 5LQ

    21212 is a delightful boutique hotel in a leafy Georgian terrace in central Edinburgh. With just four bedrooms above the Michelinstarred restaurant, this is a truly special place to stay. The look is dark, glamorous and decadent without the chintz, and rooms are the epitome of luxury. Dinner is five courses dont let the apparent simplicity of the menu fool you. Supremely talented Paul Kitching, right, is at the helm of the elegant restaurant so prepare to be dazzled, and very well taken care of. Make sure you take time to wander in the private gardens by Calton Hill, a special secret spot in the heart of the city. (AS)

    3 Royal Terrace, Edinburgh, EH7 5AB

    Elliotts is a proud neighbourhood cafe, where seasonal salads, tasty brunch dishes and delicious home baking are served in an effortlessly chic but relaxed style. Run by food stylist and cookbook writer Jess Elliott Dennison, every detail has been considered and the overall modern rustic feel is stylish and homely. Menus are chalked up and change with the seasons, fruit and vegetables take centre stage with inventive salads and baked dishes, plus plenty of pickles, jams, homemade cordials and ice creams all of which you can enjoy on the benches outside. There are plenty of lovely groceries, plus beautiful and useful kitchen utensils to take home, too. (AS)

    27 Sciennes Road, Edinburgh, EH9 1NX

    Whatis better than wine and cheese? Well, how about sitting in elegant wine bar Smith & Gertrude in Edinburghs popular Stockbridge and enjoying the best of both? Wine flights are the speciality every two weeks the team formulates two different wine flights, with optional but heartily encouraged cheese pairings. This is a wonderful way to try new and unexpected wines and hopefully discover some new favourites. With a warm wood interior, perfect people-watching windows and a very warm welcome, Smith & Gertrude is the ideal combination of sophistication and relaxation whether youre popping in for a glass of something delicious, or settling in for the evening. (AS)

    26 Hamilton Pl, Stockbridge, Edinburgh, EH3 5AU

    TheGothic glamour of the dining room at The Witchery continues across nine luxury suites hidden in a historic tower in Jollies Close, just off the Royal Mile. Each is theatrically decorated to fit with a theme, including the dramatic, velvet-draped Sempill room and The Guardroom with rooftop views to Princes Street, a salon-style sitting room, and a four-poster bedroom. The Witchery is one of the most atmospheric places to stay in Scotland, displaying a total commitment to flamboyant style. Each room is bedecked with antiques, luxurious drapes and baronial decor. An immersive experience, when you stay here you will be blissfully unaware that you are in one of the busiest tourist areas of the capital. (PT)

    352 Castlehill, Edinburgh, EH1 2NF

    How many of us in busy working and homeschooling households in these busy months of Covid have dreamed of escaping to a spa? No children or Zoom calls, no distractions and only relaxation on the schedule. At Stobo Castle, your daydreams are a reality. From the beautiful pool overlooking trees and hills to the gorgeous gardens and ornate art-filled drawing rooms, every detail in this stately home-style hotel is designed to calm and restore. Book a massage or wallow in the Jacuzzi and steam rooms. With its multiple spa of the year awards, Stobo is worth saving up for. (AS)

    Stobo Castle Health Spa, Stobo, Peeblesshire, EH45 8NY

    The Grandtully Hotel in rural Perthshire is sister hotel to Ballintaggart Farm but has a distinctive style and personality all of its own. The Grandtully has only eight rooms, all individually designed some with roll-top baths or riverside views, one with a record player but all equally perfect for a much-needed relaxing break. Downstairs, the elegant bar The Tully serves up some of the finest cocktails in Perthshire. Try a perfect Negroni with some Loch Fyne oysters or Great Glen charcuterie. Move into the dining room all warm wood and flickering candles and be treated to a delicious seasonal and inventive menu thats perfect for sharing. (AS)

    The Grandtully Hotel, Grandtully, Perthshire, PH9 0PL

    Seaviews dont come better than this. With glass walls overlooking the beautiful West Sands beach (as well as the world-famous Old Course), this is seaside dining at its best. The Seafood Ristorante specialises in the best of Scottish seafood with an Italian twist. Currently holding the title of Catering in Scotlands Scottish Restaurant of the Year, this airy, elegant restaurant is becoming an iconic dining destination. Enjoy the panoramic views with delicious garlicky Anstruther lobster, Pittenweem halibut straight off the boat, or perhaps enjoy a crisp glass of Gavi out on the terrace. (AS)

    Bruce Embankment, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9AB

    Hotelier James Thomsons Prestonfield House in Edinburgh is a riot of elaborately ornamental decoration and rococo antiques. Set in a private park at the foot of Arthurs Seat, you find yourself minutes away from Edinburgh city centre but transported into another world of Scottish country house splendour. Think four-poster beds so high they require steps, imposing oil paintings, ornate ceiling cornices, rich fabrics and antique furniture. The individuallycharacterful bedrooms are a delight and you will enjoy impeccable service and five-star Scottish hospitality. Prestonfields Rhubarb restaurant showcases Scottish produce in gloriously opulent surroundings with monkfish, smoked salmon, Tweeddale Scotch lamb and Angus beef among the homegrown delights on the menu.(PT)

    Priestfield Rd, Edinburgh, EH16 5UT

    TheDowans Hotel sits in the heart of Scotlands malt whisky industry, instilling its impressive bar with a sense of purpose. Set high above the Spey Valley, with views across the village of Aberlour, this magnificent family-owned hotel boasts a collection of over 500 bottles, displayed in a beautifully designed whisky library. Its one of the most impressive settings for a dram in Scotland and a must visit on every whisky aficionados bucket list. (PT)

    A recentarrival on Lynedoch Street in Glasgows west end, Fly South is a wall-to-wall celebration of cocktails featuring bespoke cabinets that house a range of interesting spirits. Six months of refurbishment on the first floor of a period property included restoring the original cornicing, adding a marble top bar, parquet wood flooring, chandeliers and stained glass. Dundee-based Macmerry 300 opened the bar following the debut of its two other stylish properties in Glasgow, The Bull on Great Western Road and The Luchador in the southside. Abandon Ship on Mitchell Street will complete the set in September. (PT)

    Best of Scotland magazine is published monthly in The Herald on Sunday and Sunday National newspapers.

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    Best of Scotland: 20 of the most stylish places to eat, drink and stay - HeraldScotland

    Greater New York, a Show of the Moment, Dwells in the Radical Past – The New York Times - October 11, 2021 by Mr HomeBuilder

    Three things stand out about the current edition of Greater New York, a survey at MoMA PS1 of artists living and working in New York, which happens every five years: pitch-perfect politics, intense nostalgia and an underwhelming display of new art.

    Organized by a curatorial team led by Ruba Katrib, Greater New York which opened Thursday is both a show of our moment and one that attempts to escape it through the trap door of history. In the art world at the moment, its safer to celebrate the underknown, underrecognized and under-acknowledged artist who was radical half a century ago than to dive into the actual messy politics of the present.

    The best work here, overwhelmingly, is the art made decades ago, not within the last few years. That is unfortunate, because it gives the impression that great art isnt being made right now. Meanwhile, art in New York is vibrant, which you can see on any given day, particularly in galleries on the Lower East Side, Chinatown and TriBeCa, and in pockets of Queens.

    However, this is still a deeply political show. Every large exhibition trains you how to observe it, and here you quickly learn to look at the wall labels, which focus in many cases on the ethnicity of artists. This is interesting information but the hazard is that art is turned into a rhetorical instrument rather than a bearer of illuminating or speculative ideas.

    The show features the work of 47 artists and collectives and bridges documentary photography, surrealism, painting and video. Here are dominant threads and standout contributors.

    The excavation of history weighs so heavily in Greater New York, it calls to mind classic narratives of our metropolis: Edwin G. Burrows and Mike Wallaces masterpiece, Gotham: A History of New York City to 1898 (1999); Luc Santes Low Life: Lures and Snares of Old New York (2003); the film Downtown 81 (2000), which starred a young Jean-Michel Basquiat and a pre-gentrified Lower East Side.

    Some of the work here is directly linked to these histories. Alan Michelson (a Mohawk artist) has created an installation, Midden (2021), in which a video created along the Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn and Newtown Creek on the border of Queens glides over a pile of oyster shells, a food mainstay in New York for millenniums, until the oyster beds were stripped away during colonization and industrialization.

    Two installations by the collective Shanzhai Lyric draw from the history of Canal Street, which started off as a swamp and a waterway and later became an artery for commerce, including bootleg luxury goods and T-shirts. A dedicated room at MoMA PS1 displays the contents of the collectives Canal Street Research Association storage unit: foam Statue of Liberty crowns, miniature Empire State Buildings and other tourist curios. Near the museums entrance, their installation of T-shirts manufactured in China and printed with odd phrases in English creates a disjointed poem.

    Hands down the best paintings in the show are the bright, colorful abstractions by Paulina Peavy (1901-1999), an artist who said she had an encounter with a U.F.O. while attending a sance in California in 1932 and later moved to New York, where she lived and worked until age 97. Peavys paintings here, made between the 1930s and 60s, are part of a wave of resurrections of lesser-known women artists in the 20th century, including Agnes Pelton, Hilma af Klint and Emma Kunz, whose abstract paintings were based in spiritual or healing practices rather than the formal arguments and battles of mainstream art movements.

    The best photographs in Greater New York are also historical ones. Hiram Maristany served as the official documentary photographer for the Puerto Rican Young Lords, a group that arose from the Black Power movement in the 1960s. His black and white images from that period are a powerful representation of an artist preserving his own community, as he says in the wall text. After a year of the most documented protests in history (Black Lives Matter), it would be nice to see more recent documentation of the current social justice movement.

    Marilyn Nance traveled to Lagos, Nigeria, in 1977 to document FESTAC 77, the Second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture that drew thousands of artists, writers and activists. A range of her New York street photographs from the 70s and 90s are on display, capturing people jumping subway turnstiles, musicians and circus elephants sauntering down a nocturnal city street.

    A 1989 video of the poet Diane Burns (identified as Chemehuevi and Anishanabe) reciting a punk poem on the Lower East Side crackles with humor around Indigenous politics, gentrification and displacement. Regina Vaters two Saudades do Brasil videos, from the mid-70s and mid-80s, compare New York with gritty Brazilian cities. There are also drawings, photographs and paintings from the 80s by artists like Ewao Kagoshima, Julio Galn, Peter Hujar, Andreas Sterzing and Luis Frangella that offer a window into an edgier, largely pre-AIDS New York as well as the rise of various aesthetics around graffiti and L.G.B.T.Q.I.A. art.

    While many of these artists have been overlooked, a fraction of the historical displays would suffice. They allude, however, to art being produced right now. Swing by the gallery Higher Pictures Generation in Dumbo for a tutorial on contemporary photography. For queer art and work that explores and celebrates intersectional identities check out Queer Thoughts, Company, Fierman, PPOW or the Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art. For overlooked artists of all stripes, go to Ortuzar Projects in TriBeCa. And for painting by emerging artists, check out small galleries like 56 Henry, Jack Barrett, Charles Moffett or Housing, at 191 Henry, which aims to support Black artists in particular.

    A wave of anti-Asian hate crimes, Donald Trumps presidency and the reinvigorated #MeToo and Black Lives Matter movements have challenged curators and institutions to highlight diversity and right historical wrongs. Here are some notable presentations that intelligently address these issues.

    The Seneca author and artist G. Peter Jemisons excellent works on paper reference the Canandaigua Treaty of 1794, its impact on the Haudenosaunee the Six Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy and campaigns by churches and schools to eradicate the culture and language in northeast North America. His use of humble paper bags is what is most exciting about his work.

    Similarly, Curtis Cuffies sculptures from the 90s address where art flourishes and is displayed. He saw the sidewalk as his primary venue and used scavenged materials clothing, objects and trash items. They were originally installed around Astor Place and the East Village, which was undergoing intense gentrification. (If Cuffie, who died in 2002, were a young artist today, his witty assemblages and costumes would likely appear on Instagram or TikTok.)

    Yuji Agematsus impactful wall of detritus collected on daily walks during the pandemic and stuffed into cellophane cigarette-box wrappers is a scruffy update of On Kawaras conceptual Date Paintings, which marked the days, starting during the Vietnam War.

    Steffani Jemisons Similitude (2019) is a wry commentary on cultural appropriation filmed in anonymous sites across New York. The video, starring a Black actor trained in mime, recreates gestures and actions of people carrying out daily activities. Politics here are drawn from everyday life and question the idea of language and mimicry.

    Some of the most powerful aesthetic statements last year appeared in the form of monuments covered with graffiti, torn down, or removed. Images of activists in Bristol, England, removing the statue of the slave trader Edward Colston last year suggested a wave of empowered community action, joy and possibility.

    I thought of this when viewing Doreen Garners sculpture Lucys Agony (2021), which references gynecological experiments carried out on African American women by doctors like J. Marion Sims. A statue honoring Sims was removed from its prominent site on Fifth Avenue in 2018, but it was not destroyed.

    Garners sculpture borrows the 90s installation shock tactics of artists like Mona Hatoum, Robert Gober and Pepon Osorio, but it also conjures battles over the Covid-19 vaccine, and modern-day inequities in medicine.

    A typical phenomenon in large surveys is to include merely acceptable art by extraordinary artists. Too often, it gives a lukewarm introduction to people who have made exceptional contributions but whose best works may not be available. This challenge was met here by curators presenting paintings and works on paper by Milford Graves, who started off as a percussionist and became a visionary healer, teacher, visual artist and martial arts master. Graves, who died in February, has an exhibition opening in a few days at Artists Space, where I expect he will be better represented.

    Look, too, for works on paper by Rosemary Mayer (1943-2014), though her recent show at Gordon Robichaux gallery featured examples of her best work: billowing fabric suggestive of womens anatomy.

    The bulk of the art here by younger contemporary artists unfortunately replicates, without much vision, the dreamy, quirky, surrealism of artists like Marc Chagall, Leonor Fini or Remedios Varo; early Modernist abstract painting and sculpture; experimental photography from the 1920s and 30s; and the bodily sculpture of Kiki Smith.

    One of the most enduring and important factors in the art world class remains largely invisible in this show. Rents are still high in New York, and artists are expected to have costly graduate degrees. The wealth of museum patrons and trustees, has become a sticking point among protesters and groups like Decolonize This Place. While wall labels describing the ethnicity of artists feels quaint at this point, what would be truly radical would be to include the artists debt load, which literally determines many contemporary artists ability to participate in the studio-based art world. (Moreover, the faulty assumption that artists from so-called developing nations are not among the wealthy classes in their countries of origin is a huge oversight.)

    One of the dont-miss works addressing class is Marie Karlbergs satirical video The Good Terrorist (2021), which updates Doris Lessings 1985 novel of the same name. It features several well-known artists (Nicole Eisenman, Jacolby Satterwhite) playing entitled revolutionaries occupying a luxury apartment on the Upper East Side.

    Here, identity politics actors include people of color and some who are gay are seamlessly woven into a work in which radical leftists attempt to coexist and effect change in the world. Perhaps the most telling feature is that their privilege as famous artists cozy in the museum world goes unmentioned in the wall text.

    Greater New York 2021

    Through April 18, 2022, MoMA PS1, 22-25 Jackson Ave., Queens; (718) 784-2084; moma.org. Entry to MoMA PS1 is by advance timed ticket.

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    Greater New York, a Show of the Moment, Dwells in the Radical Past - The New York Times

    COP26: The sculpture created from 1765 Antarctic air – Yahoo News - October 11, 2021 by Mr HomeBuilder

    Wayne Binitie displays his sculpture

    Antarctic snowfall two-and-half centuries old forms the basis of a new artwork by Wayne Binitie, titled 1765 - Antarctic Air. It forms the centrepiece to the Polar Zero exhibition in Glasgow throughout the UN climate summit COP26. Binitie says he wants his piece to provide an artistic marker of how much the earth's atmosphere has altered since the crucial date of 1765.

    The slightly battered old statue of the inventor James Watt on Glasgow Green stands a couple of miles from the city's modern Science Centre. There's an obvious connection: Watt (who died in 1819) has long been acclaimed as one of the great figures of Scottish science and engineering.

    But thanks to Binitie, a Royal College of Art PhD candidate, there's currently a more specific link as well.

    In 1765, crossing the parkland where the statue now is, Watt successfully thought through how steam engines - increasingly vital to industry - could be redesigned to become hugely more efficient.

    The year 1765 is regarded by some as the start of the Industrial Revolution.

    But Binitie says it's also when humans started to do serious damage to the atmosphere which sustains us all. In an unusual artistic collaboration with the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) he's built the significance of that year into the small but striking installation 1765 - Antarctic Air at the heart of the Polar Zero exhibition.

    1765 - Antarctic Air

    "We wanted to offer some proximity to what's quite a remote conversation now taking place about global warming," he says. "Because of COP26 the Glasgow Science Centre was the obvious place to do it. We're offering a sense of touch and what it means to be in touch with ice and air.

    "As you enter the oval-shaped room there's a cylindrical glass sculpture on one side, housed in a floor-to-ceiling black steel frame. The cylinder contains a visible area of liquid silicone and above that is air, carefully extracted from polar ice dating from 1765.

    Story continues

    The ice core mined from deep in the snow of the Antarctic

    "On the other side of the room is a second cylinder of Antarctic ice. It's intact but you see it melting all the time: it will be replaced during the run of the exhibition with other ice we have in store."

    Visitors can touch and hear and if they're brave even taste the second lot of ice. In addition there is a highly evocative soundtrack in the room, blending music and the sounds of nature.

    The man who mined the ice for the British Antarctic Survey is glaciologist Dr Robert Mulvaney. He's been visiting the Antarctic for 25 years, staying for up to 80 weeks in a tent to drill out ice-cores before returning to the British base station.

    "The essence of what we're doing as scientists is to record what happened to the ice-sheet over a period of many thousands of years: that way we can investigate what happened to the climate and to the atmosphere.

    Artist Wayne Binitie documents his work with the Antarctic ice

    "For instance next spring I shall be making a trip to Greenland where the ice-sheet can give a record going back around 120,000 years. But in Antarctica we've already been back over 800,000 years and a new project will we hope take us back up to 1.5 million years."

    Given those mind-boggling figures the water dripping slowly from Binitie's installation - the ice had already been in storage for 30 years - may seem of minor importance. "We've done all the science on it now and it was surplus to requirements.

    "So the British Antarctic Survey was delighted to cooperate on the art project because we want people to understand what's happening to the polar regions. 1765 is usually accepted as the beginning of the period in which human beings changed the atmosphere through the burning of fossil fuels on an industrial scale."

    Robert Mulvaney (left), Graham Dodd and Wayne Binitie examine their collaboration on the sculpture

    Dr Mulvaney makes uncovering ice from 256 years ago sound like child's play - once you've set up your tents around 1,000km from the home comforts of the Antarctic base station.

    "Snow falls in Antarctica year by year - but there's no melting going on. So the snow builds up and compresses all the years of snow beneath. As we drill down we're driving further and further into the past - a bit like counting the rings of a big tree.

    "What helps is that every so often we know that a certain volcano blew up in a particular year and we may find evidence of that. So using our drills to find a specific year isn't quite as hard as you would imagine."

    Analysis shows that in 1765 carbon dioxide made up 280 parts per million in the air. By the 1960s that had already increased to 315 parts per million. But today the figure is 415 per million - an obvious increase in the rate of change.

    The ice supplied for the Binitie artwork came from 110 metres down. The deepest Dr Mulvaney has drilled is around 3,200 metres.

    The Antarctic gas being extracted

    Binitie was meant to experience all of this courtesy of the BAS but Covid got in the way. It's obvious how much Dr Mulvaney delights in describing the experience of being there. Asked if satellite phones keep the small team safely in touch with the world he says he does his best not to use them: "It brings the troubles of the world onto the site and I need to be focused on the work."

    Once the ice core was extracted, the job was to release the flecks of air trapped in the Antarctic in 1765. Binitie's concept is to establish this as a starting line: the purest possible air trapped in ice just before the modern world started to pollute it. The international engineering company Arup helped out with some of the practicalities.

    Graham Dodd of Arup says encasing 256 year-old air within glass was a challenge. "After a lot of thought we decided the right technique was to make a casing with a void inside which we then filled with fluid. We had to find a way so Robert could then inject into that space the air extracted from the ice that the BAS had given us.

    Antarctic air up close

    "The other artistic challenge was to find a way to display the other column, which is simply ice. As an artist, Wayne needed visitors to see and hear the ice dripping away very slowly as that makes the point about global warming. Arup's engineering job was to ensure it doesn't disappear too quickly."

    Binitie thinks the global warming conversation can sometimes feel too generic, with issues almost too big to comprehend. "So I hope our installation in Glasgow will persuade people that the polar regions are a sufficiently precious thing to care about. Some perspectives are political or theoretical or economic but we're trying to supply a poetic perspective too.

    Binitie hopes some of the VIPs attending COP26 nearby will come to see his installation. "We'd like 1765 - Antarctic Ice to surprise them. I want to do something to encourage a collective conversation: if we move forward collectively we know we can achieve a lot."

    Polar Zero is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council, part of UK Research and Innovation.

    Read this article:
    COP26: The sculpture created from 1765 Antarctic air - Yahoo News

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