Crosscurrents

Fereshteh Toosi is an interdisciplinary, Chicago-based artist who works with art you can interact with. While designing a community garden accesible to people with disabilities, she began her latest project: Garlic & Greens. Inspired by her interest in growing food and cultural migration, Garlic & Greens aims to capture soul food stories in Chicago.  She also teaches art at Columbia College Chicago. Turnstyle contributor Whitney Henry-Lester spoke to Toosi about her new project and the documentation of soul food.

In last night’s State of the Union speech, President Obama laid out his plan for a better economy. His proposals focus on U.S. manufacturing, energy independence, adapting skills to a changing economy, and tax increases on the very wealthy. The speech, which comes at the start of the election year, is just the beginning of the president’s case for a second term…

The City of Oakland issues 2,500 pink slips; composting, biodegrading, recycling, and land-filling; an answer to wasted street-light; and local cellist Nathan Chan.

Imagine, for a minute, that you’re Governor Jerry Brown.

Composting is just one way we’re thinking about reducing waste, and when it works, we notice: landfills slim down, and gardens bulk up. But then there’s the waste that doesn’t take up space, like energy.