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Object Timeline

  • We acquired this object.

2018

  • Work on this object began.

2019

2024

  • You found it!

After Ancient Sunlight

It was designed by Charlotte McCurdy. It is dated 2018. Its medium is raincoat on mannequin, book, infographics (2). It is a part of the department.

For this raincoat, Charlotte McCurdy created a petroleum-free, algae-based plastic that is carbon negative. Currently, the majority of plastic materials are made from fossil fuels, or stores of carbon created by "ancient sunlight." Instead, McCurdy encourages the use of new materials that metabolize atmospheric carbon, such as quickly grown plant matter. The accompanying book and infographics document her research into the reservoirs of earth's carbon and the potential for harnessing photosynthetic productivity or "young sunlight" for meeting our material needs.

It is credited Courtesy of Charlotte McCurdy.

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition Nature—Cooper Hewitt Design Triennial.

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<ref name=CH>{{cite web |url=https://collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/2318798843/ |title=After Ancient Sunlight |author=Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |accessdate=21 December 2024 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref>