Artists Awarded Millions in 5Pointz Case

A victory for the group of artists whose work was painted over back in 2013, a judge has ruled in their favor in their case against real estate developer Gerald Wolkoff. Sadly, the $150,000 for each of the 45 pieces (a total award of $6.75 million) doesn’t reverse the whitewashing of the iconic 5Pointz building in Queens—which was a “temple” for artists and an inspiring …

Pottery from Sonoma Wildfire Ash

After the destruction of last year’s Sonoma County wildfires, ceramicist Gregory Roberts launched the Sonoma Ash Project, wherein he turned ash into meaningful ceramics. Roberts asked his neighbors to donate ash from the wildfires they personally experienced. To his surprise, more than 125 people have donated thus far, some leaving notes explaining the value of what they left with him. The diversity of color and …

CSIRO’s Membrane Makes Sydney Harbor Water Drinkable

Still in the midst of a global drinking water crisis, new developments trigger excitement over the potential for saving lives. Australia’s CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization) has created a brand new filtration system centered around a membrane of Graphair, a material produced from graphene. Their testing removed 99% of contaminants—and a specific test on water from Sydney Harbor made that water drinkable. Graphair …