His art resembles the plate armor of soldiers in medieval Europe and 
Japan. At the same time, it has the effect of a fluttering piece of fabric. Born in Ghana, his work is developed from a unique way of joining small pieces of metal. All of his pieces are composed of what would be discarded metal whether it be cans, lids or caps. Pieces take thousands of hours to produce and besides the impact they have on protecting the environment, give work to countless Nigerians in the production of a piece. His work consists of flattening strips of metal, cutting them into hexagons and then connecting them together with pieces of wire. All of his pieces are created while maintaining the original names of the products they were recycled from. They can be as large as 16 feet and will never appear in the same manner depending on how they are hung. The draping of the metal is so fluid that no matter how they are hung they maintain their beauty. His work reflects the artist’s concern for our present-day environmental crisis. If you ever have a chance to see a piece of his work, don’t hesitate.
Category: Sustainable
What about Lawns?
Having a beautiful, lush green lawn is something that makes many homeowners feel proud. Lawns however take a great deal of water and 
pesticides to maintain. More precisely, lawns use 3 trillion gallons of water a year, 200 million gallons of gas, (for mowers) and 70 million pounds of pesticides. In addition, scientists are concerned that these lush lawns are really dead zones for all the birds and insects that are needed for pollination. What so many home owners are considering is replacing part or all of their lawns with a variety of natural ground covers. Most grow only a few inches and come in a variety of greens, violets and burgundy. Consider clover, ginger, creeping thyme, Ivy, vinca these are but a few. Most of them bloom once a year, spread slowly and eliminate the need for maintenance and can greatly reduce a water bill. One main thing to consider is to grow plants and ground cover that are native to the area in which you live. In areas like Arizona and California which have suffered from extreme drought, programs are being implemented to encourage homeowners to convert their lawns. California has started the “Turf Replacement Initiative” which offers rebates for every yard of lawn that is naturalized.
The COVID-19 virus and the Environment:
The coronavirus is a global health problem and imposing strict quarantine measures but at the same time has it been good for the environment? What impact is the pandemic having on our atmosphere. Scientists are recording huge reductions in air pollution from greenhouse gases, especially in nations such as China and Italy because of the restrictions placed on industry. Most of their information is from what is being observed from satellites. There has been a substantial drop in nitrogen oxide levels in areas of the world that rely heavily on industry. Concentrations of NO2 are down to 35% from 50-60%, depending on the area, from a year ago at the same time. Working at home has reduced vehicular traffic. It shows how economy and environment are tightly woven. There are reports from Venice that you can actually see through the waters in the canals. Of course, this does not mean that the quality has improved only that debris has been allowed to settle. All this as a result of no boat traffic. How strange that a pandemic is showing us what changes we need to make to live healthier lives.
Let Them Eat Steak…
Gallaghers Steak House, a 93 year old institution, in mid-town Manhattan 
was forced to close as a result of the virus. The owner had to make a decision on what to do with its perishable meats as well as all the special cuts that take 28 days to age. Mr. Poll decided that he would treat first responders to his choice meats. His chief chef, Alan Ashkinaze, prepared and wrapped orders for firefighters and police to pick up as a way to say thanks. All in all, 4,000 to 5,000 lbs. were given away that Friday at a cost of $50,000.