by the artist and the environment
I’ve been thinking about what I could contribute to the world wide discussion raised today with Blog Action Day. I decided to talk about my behaviour as an artist as well as a homemaker.
As an artist concerned for my own health and for the health of the environment, I stopped etching several years ago. I used to do a lot of deep etching, which meant using very strong acid baths because I wanted to imitate the weathering effects of nature in the process and the resulting images (in the Meta-morphosis series and many of the Nexus pieces). The etching facilities in the studio are very good, with powerful ventilation and special tanks to collect the wastes. That’s why I don’t do this at home! In spite of that I’ve been long concerned about residual absorption into my body as well as into the environment over my many years of printmaking.
I’ve been pleased to be able to use more and more digital processes in my printmaking though I haven’t been able to give up hand printed plates entirely. Collagraphs have been satisfying that need and I’m thinking of drypoints again, or possibly even linocuts and woodblocks. There’s still the issue of the solvents used to clean up the printing inks and I wish our shop would use some of the safer alternatives in the market even if they are costlier and a bit less efficient.
Some testing that was done on me a couple of years ago revealed a lot of toxins in my body. Learning this increased my resolve to eliminate as much exposure as possible, even to what I use in my home – the cleaning products, soaps, shampoo and the cosmetics I put on my skin. I’ve been switching to more organic produce and to antibiotic and chemical free naturally raised and fed chicken, beef and bison meat. Eschewing farmed fish, we’re lucky to find good wild salmon and other fish here but I’m concerned by the dwindling supplies in the world. I don’t use any pharmaceuticals, only naturopathic/homeopathic products when needed. I must give a lot of credit to my daughter Elisa for inspiring and teaching me by her example.
These are just a few of the ways I try to reduce my impact on the environment as well as to improve and guard my own health. I know that I could be making a lot more changes, like getting rid of my car, though I don’t drive it more than necessary.
Further reading:
on artists’ health
toxic-free artists
ADDENDUM: Wednesday, Oct.17th. Several people have expressed interest and some frustration in finding safe cosmetics, so I thought I’d add some of the links that I use that may help you in your search.
Skin Deep is a great resource where you can search products by brand name or ingredients. I use this one a lot.
The Dirty Dozen Chemicals in Cosmetics offers a handy check list of what to avoid.
My daughter Erika bought this book and recommends it highly: Ecoholic by Adria Vasil. I have to get my own copy!
October 15, 2007 in Being an Artist, Blogging, Environment by Marja-Leena
Indeed Marja-Leena, IF we could eliminate toxic materials by ten percent per year, our world would be much different. You know I have a background in chemical technology which I’ve tried to use to help us become less dependant on chemicals – some used in artwork. But even when I implemented the WHMIS program in 1990, there were still too many loopholes which have yet to be closed. I doubt there will ever be proper legislation to overcome the ‘dollar-factor!’ However, you are certainly a role-model who cares enough to express yourself openly – let’s the rest of us to our part!
Hi Roger, you are absolutely right about chemicals and the ‘dollar factor’, it really is quite appalling. It seems to me that as consumers we do have power, the power to refuse to buy these products and not wait for legislation, but we ALL have to do it together. I must admit to being a pessimistic optimist about whether people really care enough to stop and change their behaviour.
Marja-Leena, I’m inspired by this post and by all the thought you’ve put into trying to bring your life into balance with the earth. It’s very difficult with fine art and photographic chemicals. We’re glad that digital processes have become the norm for us too; my husband had a lot of trouble with his skin that was directly traceable to the darkroom chemicals, but we were also breathing those volatile substances. I’m glad that we now have alternatives but there is so much more we could be doing. This year I’ve taken some further dietary steps, but you remind me about household cleaners and skin and hair products… I really admire the integrity of your holistic approach!
Hello Marja-Leena,
I was very pleased to receive your email first thing in the morning and have placed your comment on my blog. I am very sorry that you have no access to the comment function.
Regarding the environment, I feel and act in many ways the same you do. I try to use organical products and buy “bio” food.
I stay away from antibiotics and pharmaceuticals, taking only naturopathic medicine.
I do have a car and need it to get to work. But when I travel to Frankfurt I take the subway.
Beth, thank you for chiming in! I, too, used to use the darkroom to prepare positives for the photo etching process and I always felt ill after. I was so happy when we were able to replace that step with digital processes. It’s a new journey learning to take better care of our health, isn’t it?
Olivia, I’m glad you got my email about the commenting problems. And I’m pleased to hear you are taking care of yourself too. I think one day we’ll get one of those hybrid cars, hmm?
I don’t know anything about hybrid cars, Marja-Leena. They still sound like science fiction to me.
Olivia, I’m not an expert on cars, but we have quite a number of hybrids around here. These are Japanese electric/gas models, plus the biodiesel cars are becoming a bit more common. Giving up a car is very difficult here, because public transportation is not as efficient as in Europe. I often joke half-seriously that we should start investing in horses and buggies and plan on converting our garages to stables soon!
Bison! How exotic
TG – yes, it’s very good. There are buffalo ranges in Alberta providing this meat, which is all natural, lean and healthy, just like any wild meats. Have you tried ostrich? Speaking of wild meats, I remember many meals of wonderful elk meat in Finland – my uncles hunted it every fall. I should say though, we eat red meat only about once a week, but when it’s wild or range fed only there aren’t the usual concerns. (Geesh, I do go off in tangents in the comments, sorry.)
I remember having elk meat, too, when I visited Finland a long time ago. It tasted delicious. Do you miss Finland?
Olivia, I miss the Finnishness, my family roots and the culture, if you know what I mean. Yet my home is here where I grew up and have my own family now. How to explain this state of having roots in two places?
I understand very well what you mean, Marja-Leena. My sister in Toronto feels the same way. She has been living in Canada since 1973, is married with a Canadian and has a daughter. But she has kept on her German passport and flies “home” to Germany at least once every year.
It is a very strange feeling, being torn between two countries or even continents, loving both. This feeling is shared by immigrants around the world, I believe.
Really interesting,ML. I’ve been thinking a bit about this kind of thing – and also about Blog Action Day, I couldn’t think of anything for it and missed the boat, so it’s good to read yours – after reading Stitchwort on giving up shampoo etc. It’s alarming the number of totally new, totally untested molecules that have been brought into being in the last 50 years or so, that we’re consuming one way and another all the time. Some of the time we have little choice, they’re in the air and water and environment anyway, but we should think of the ones we can perhaps avoid… On the other hand I find the thought of giving up what I’ve come to consider basic hygiene quite difficult.
But I’ll keep trying to be aware, cut back, consume more responsibly.
I like the sound of you doing wood and lino-cuts!
Yes, Olivia, it is a feeling most immigrants share, though I think it was much stronger for my parents. Having come here as a five-year-old, I think I’m more ‘Canadianized’. I know some lose their first language completely but I’m glad I’ve kept mine, even if it is a little ‘rusty’. I’ve always been interested in my roots too.
Lucy, it’s appalling, it’s a crime! The more I learn about it all, the more I’ve been making changes. I’ve been very slowly switching my shampoo, soaps, creams and so on but the research has taken a lot of time though I don’t use a lot of products. I check what the stores offer, then at home I check online and vice-versa. Some products aren’t as safe as they make themselves out to be. And I’m also looking for reasonably priced products, too, not a $30 tube of lipstick!!
I’ve added some links to the post above for the benefit of several readers who have shown an interest in learning more about the products we should avoid and what to buy. Good luck!
Great post, mom!
Lucy, you should know it’s not about *giving up* any basic hygiene or anything at all, it’s about changing. Reprioritizing. I mean, you can even buy natural nail polish!
Sometimes natural products will require more frequent application but they can also last longer as well. I compared Tom’s of Maine natural deodorant (though it still contains propylene glycol: not good) to Secret antiperspirant, which didn’t work that well anyway. For maybe a couple dollars more, it lasts 3 to 5 times as long and doesn’t make your skin feel disgusting and sticky. I personally recommend a salt crystal which works even better for me and will probably last a lifetime. Mom, you’re still not convinced about that one!
I think I’m lucky to be using even fewer products than you when it comes to finding alternatives, but I think my budget is a little tighter! 🙂
Erika, thanks for your input! In all of this, we do still have personal preferences as to what works for us. It can be a bit of trial and error with patience mixed in. The information on certain ingredients like propylene glycol and petrolatum (aka Vaseline) seem to be contradictory and confusing. I wish I didn’t need a little help with a bit of makeup because those products are for me the hardest to find safe replacements for – mercury in mascara, lead in lipstick – gasp!