Photo Strip by Ruth Braden

Do you own a piece of furniture from Ikea?

This was the first question Kevin Chen, curator at Intersection for the Arts, asked me.  Most of us have a piece of furniture, whether it be from Ikea or another furniture mass distributor, that contains particle board or Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF).  What you may not know is that the materials used to make these boards are “largely toxic”.

The gallery at Intersection for the Arts is now featuring an exhibit where art meets science.  It also introduces the use of a new composite board developed by Christine Lee in collaboration with the US Department of Agriculture Forest Products Laboratory in Madison, Wisconsin.  These boards are made completely of sawdust and recycled paper pulp fibers and are non-toxic.

The exhibit features six artists who have created their own installations showcasing a range of use for the new material.  Their installations include colorful birdhouses, artistic statements about materials and sustainability, and even practical usage for the material like camper shells for trucks. This composite board has a promising place as a replacement for otherwise harmful materials.

Come visit the exhibit now through mid-March at the gallery adjacent to the HUB San Francisco.

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Ruth Braden is a HUB storyteller. Follow her at @ruthbraden