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Pamela Lang

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Edith
Saatkamp

ON A bright and sunny day
in mid-spring, when the air
smells sweet, rhododen-
drons are‘dressed in lumi-
nous colors, and snowy
‘mountain tops form a crisp
outline asainst the clear
blue sky, “Vancouver is the
most beautiful city I know. —

_ Sidewalks are covered in soft
pink petals, and leaves unfurl in
many tints from the palest yellow
to the richest green.

This image was a faint memory
“as 1 walked ‘in the pouring rain,

- blustery wind and darkness of a
late November afternoon.

There were no mountains, and
the sidewalks were covered in
slippery, brown leaves.

If there was a smell in the air.
it was that of decomposing leaves

and damp smoke from neighbor-
hood chimneys, the dark smell of
fall and winter.

I was afflicted by SAD and. so
to speak, in asad state of mind.
The acronym stands for Seasonal
Affective Disorder, and the condi-

“tion is characterized by dimin-

ished energy, low productivity,
sleepiness and sadness.

It can range from mild discom-
fort to depression. For thase who
dread winter, the symptoms often
start in late August and last to

early spring, when we take a deep
breath, feel happy and know we
have overcome it.

What causes it, and how did
SAD find its way into an article

66 If there was a smell
in the air, it was that
of decomposing leaves
and damp smoke from
neighborhood chimneys,
the dark smell of fall

and winter, 99°

on lighting?

The briefest explanation of the
cause is lack of light. According
to research on the subject, light
has antidepressant effects: if only
dim light reaches the retina, these
effects cannat be transmitted to
the brain.

The generally accepted cure.
therefore, is to turn on or create
more light. to extend daylight
hours and to expose the eyes to
more light.

And this is where lighting, or
to be specific, light boxes come’
in.

They are handy and casy to
make. In spring they are often

cused to provide more light for

Friday, December 9, 1994 ~ North Shore News — 17

STORIES

growing seedlings; but in winter
they can help us to overcome the
blues.

A light box is a very simple
device; a shallow matte white box,
ipproximately four inches deep.
Width and height can vary accord-
ing to available space.

Bringing interiors to light

Fluorescent tubes are attached
to the back. of the box, so that the
light is evenly diffused. The front
of the box can be covered with
translucent acrylic, etched or
sandblasted glass, strong rice
paper ... any material that trans-

‘mits light, but hides the fluores-

cent tubes.

The tubes can be ordinary
warm or cool white fluorescents;
sometimes full spectrum fluores-
cents are used, but these contain
the ultraviolet rays of the spec-
trum which we have learned to
avoid.

The box cun be installed at eye
height above ‘a work counter in
the kitchen, on a wall in front of a
desk, in a bedroom, in a window-
shaped opening between two

See Lighting page 20

Photo reprinted from The Lighting Book by Deyan Sudjic |

A LIGHT box can take on an elegant ‘appearance when given
touches like stained glass and an arched frame.’

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