Furniture Assembly company Adds FREE Phone Calls for Posts, Questions,Comments, & Feedback

Hello Everyone!

I am very pleased to announce that EZ Furniture Assembly & Interior Innovations, LLC, the owner of NYC Dwellings & Interior Innovations has combined the efforts of Google's new phone service so anyone can ask whatever questions they have or leave feedback on our new FREE phone service. I am so very happy with this service because use it allows us to answer technical questions for everyone via their voice recording and we can either respond by email, post, or call the person in need directly.

I truely believe that this will be an asset to our company as a whole.We want this blog to be New York City's #1 stop for everything from FREE classifieds to FREE furniture purchasing advice and much, much, more! We want to KNOW what YOU want.

I really hope to hear from you soon! Our blog has had 3000 plus visitors over the last 3 months yet nobody has yet to leave comments. I hope this will change very soon because we are doing everything we can to make this YOUR blog.

Christopher Purnell
Lead Editor

Do You Own a KILLER Couch?

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb 26 (OneWorld) - Most of California's furniture contains toxic chemicals that have been linked to cancer, birth defects, hormone disruption, and neurological and reproductive dysfunction, according to a report released today.

Killer couch?

The so-called halogenated fire retardants are particularly harmful to infants and children, said Friends of the Earth, the nonprofit citizens group that tested 350 items of furniture in stores and people's houses.

"We found that two thirds of furniture sold in retail stores and 50 percent of furniture in people's homes contain high amounts of halogenated fire retardants," said Russell Long, the group's vice president. "So for the typical consumer that may have five to ten pieces of furniture in their home, their home is full of these chemicals."

The report, titled "Killer Couches: Protecting Infants and Children from Toxic Exposure," also includes information on other studies, which have shown that most Americans who undergo testing have halogenated fire retardants stored in their bodies, with babies and children showing the highest levels.

Researchers say that infants and children are the most vulnerable to the effects of halogenated fire retardant chemicals, which travel through the placenta and breast milk. Levels of these chemicals in breast milk have increased 40-fold since the 1970s.

When halogenated fire retardants burn, they turn into dioxin, one of the most dangerous chemicals known to man. Dioxin accumulates in the human body and can be passed down from generation to generation and is present in mother's breast milk.

Halogenated fire retardants also emit a dark smoke that can reduce visibility for firefighters and expose rescue workers to extremely toxic and cancer causing chemicals.

"These fire retardants were removed from children's pajamas in the 1970s because they were found to change children's DNA and likely be carcinogenic." - California State Assemblyman Mark Leno

California State Assemblyman Mark Leno of San Francisco has introduced a bill to ban the chemical in California. The bill is named in honor of Leno's daughter, Crystal Golden-Jefferson, a firefighter for the Los Angeles County Fire Department who died from workplace-related non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Leno notes that the state barred the chemicals' use in children's pajamas a generation ago.

"These fire retardants were removed from children's pajamas in the 1970s because they were found to change children's DNA and likely be carcinogenic," Leno said. "Now we have these same chemicals in many of our most intimate household products."

Leno's bill passed the State Assembly, but fell one vote short in the California Senate. The bill is backed by state fire fighters unions, environmental groups, and furniture manufacturers.

It is opposed by chambers of commerce, multiple departments in Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's administration, and the chemicals' manufacturer, which is represented by the Washington, DC- and Brussels-based Bromine Science and Environmental Forum (BSEF).

Documents on file with the California Secretary of State show that, faced with the potential banning of its product, BSEF spent nearly $7 million lobbying the California legislature last year in a successful bid to kill Leno's measure.

"We felt we did rather well," said Leno, "considering many millions of dollars were spent by the bromine chemical industry dressing themselves up as 'Californians for Fire Safety' with a multimedia campaign that included full page, full color ads in many newspapers, multiple mailings to constituents across the state of California, and television and radio advertisements; and despite that barrage of misinformation we came just two voters short of sending it to the governor."

In letters to key legislative committees, BSEF argued that Leno's bill "jeopardizes public health and safety by forcing manufacturers to switch to unspecified alternatives that do not have the same established history of use and which must comply with an as yet undefined flame resistance standard to be established by the Bureau."

They also argued that it will "likely result in reduced levels of fire safety for the citizens of California," a difficult assertion to sustain considering the bill's support from multiple fire fighters unions.

Groundwater, drinking water, ambient air, oceans, and ecosystems have also been contaminated by halogenated fire retardants, which are now being detected in wildlife throughout the world -- in areas as remote as the Arctic Circle.

Some of the highest levels have been found in harbor seals and aquatic life in the San Francisco Bay.

These compounds have also been found in dairy products, meat, poultry, and fish.

Why Does IKEA Sell Incomplete Beds???

I can't believe that IKEA continues to sell beds to people without all the pieces, and then has the (excuse my french) balls to blame the consumer for not knowing they needed this particular item. I know many of you are wondering what this nut is rambling on about now,right? Thought so! Anyway, all of IKEA's lovely, beautiful, chic, easy to assemble, beds use slats to support the box spring and mattress. However, at least 8 out of 10 customers purchase the beds not knowing they need to also purchase these slats seperate along with a support brace that goes directly down the middle of the bed to support the slats. Probaly for extra protection, right? Wrong! See the slats which are wooden supports that can be found on beds dating back 200 years or better. These slats are normally the same size as the width of the bed to support the box spring & mattress or you would have it on the floor. Now, for some unknown reason IKEA has chosen to cut the size of the slats in half and have them rest on a support brace in the middle of the bed. Why? Wouldn't it be easier just to include the slats in one of the 25 boxes they send with the bed? The best part about all this is they never tell you that you also need to purchase the support brace that sits in the middle and the 2 rolls of slats seperately or your bed will just be laying on the inside of the frame on the floor. Why? Couldn't they add $20 bucks to the cost of the bed set and include these two necessary parts? Or at least have a sign by the bed that reads something like, " Buying a Bed? Don't forget to purchase your support bracket & bed slats. Ask an associate if you need help". But God forbid you call them and complain! I had one poor women who waited a full month for her furniture to get delivered by Urban Express who delivers for IKEA, and all she kept saying how much she was looking forward to sleeping on a bed tonight off the floor. Well, after they finally came I had to tell her that unless she was going to get a hotel she would be on the floor again tonight because they didn't include the support bracket or the slats. She thought maybe the delivery guys forgot or misplaced them so she frantically called them only for them to call back and say they got everything she ordered. I reviewed the receipt and they were right in the meantime my damsel in distress was calling IKEA customer service. She explained that she spent almost $10,000 at their store and they forgot to send her the bracket and bed slats. This rep was quick to shoot back making it clear that they had made no mistake on THEIR part, that she failed to buy all the parts needed to correctly assemble the bed. Now this put this poor girl over the edge and she used some rather nasty but appropriate words on this weasel. She went on to explain she wasn't an interior designer nor a professional furniture crafter, that she only bought a bed that she assumed needed no more than that so called easy assembly. She finally gave up and and I felt so bad I told her i would go to IKEA the next day and get it for her. Well, not only did I get hers, I got another dozen of both the support bracket and the slats. And to this day after I have sent at least a dozen letters to the manager 8 out of 10 bed sets are still missing these pieces in which I must bring to the work site and explain to the customer that I am not trying to scam them but IKEA didn't inform you that you would need these pieces as well to assemble the bed correctly, or at least keep it off the floor. My only question is WHY?????????????????? It appears at times that IKEA makes things harder than they should, in which I shouldn't be complaining because if it was as easy as they claimed I would be out of work. However, when you buy your bed don't forget the support brace or slats!

If you went through this before please share your story I'm sure our readers would love to hear it. For the life of me I cannot figure out why we don't have many posts from our readers because in the last 3 months our website was viewed almost 4000 times! So if you have something to say, SAY IT!!!





Feed Shark

Is Your Home Childproof??? If You Have Children it Better Be.

Childproofing your home is a VERY SERIOUS matter that I believe anyone with children, or is expecting to either start taking preventive measures now, or hire a professional company to come in and do an overall assessment and then decide if you want to the work yourself or hire the company to handle it. Due to an overwhelming response from a survey our company conducted with past clients we have decided to add a childproofing service to our many other household services. We have a professional childproofing technician come out to your home and preform a top to bottom assessment of what measures need to be taken, placing emphasis on areas that differ from one household to another depending on the amount of children as well as their ages. This service is between $100.00-$150.00 , and if you decide to use our service to complete the childproofing that amount will be deducted from the service cost. After the evaluation is completed which on average takes about 1-2 hours, the inspector will sit down with you and go over whet he/she feels is in need of immediate attention and continue to make suggestions on the items listed on the report in which you will be furnished a copy of so you can start acting on those safety issues now, or hire another service to complete it for you. We normally charge between $300.00-$1200.00 depending on the size of the home and the amount of services and products required. Our prices are all inclusive and their is never a separate charge for materials or labor it is all included in the price. We have had some clients who wanted the normal safety issues taken care of while we had others who requested we have cameras placed in every area the children will be in so they can monitor them from another location. We also have installed hidden "Nanny Cameras" that are hidden cameras that are placed throughout the home to ensure the person taking care of your child is doing the right thing. Please take a moment to visit our website by clicking here and the go to our childproofing page. If you decide you would like to speak with us, or schedule an appointment for an evaluation you can use the "contact us" form here or on our website. However, below we have listed in detail several measures we feel every parent should put into place a.s.a.p. because there is no putting the milk back in the glass after it has spilt!

Child proofing your home can seem like a formidable task at times, but when you consider some of the statistics regarding child injuries in the home, you begin to realize that even the smallest prevention measures go a long way.

Now is always the time to get started, whether you have a baby already or if one is on the way. Time passes so quickly, and before you know it, your baby will be rolling, crawling and walking his way into everything.

If you’re short on time, consider hiring a professional child proofer versus doing it yourself. Often these professionals can accomplish in a couple of hours what would take you days to complete. If you plan on doing it yourself, consider the following hazards and remedies:

Stoves, Ovens and Other Appliances

Hazards: With stoves, toddler hands are at just the right height to reach burners, pot handles and sometimes even knobs.

Ovens can be opened and crawled into, whether on or off. Dishwashers can be opened and often contain sharp objects such as knives or breakables like glassware. Refrigerators contain many items that pose choking hazards and they are airtight, which could cause a child to suffocate if they managed to crawl inside and shut the door.

Remedy: Install locking latches on all appliances that open and close. Install knob covers to prevent a child from turning on burners and a stove guard to protect hands. Always keep pot handles turned inward while cooking.

Suggested Products:

• Safety 1st Stove Knob Covers
• Adjustable Stove Guard
• Safety 1st Oven Lock
• All-Purpose Locking Strap (for dishwashers)
• On/Off Appliance Lock (for refrigerators and other appliances)

Cabinets and Drawers

Hazards: Cabinets and drawers contain a multitude of hazards including sharp objects, chemicals, medications, and items that could pose a choking hazard.

Remedy: Install latches to the insides of drawers and cabinets whenever possible. Use knob latches on doors with knobs, if necessary. Make sure drawers and cabinets in all rooms are equipped with these devices. If you have an irregular cabinet and you can’t find a latch that fits, consider emptying the cabinet or making it a spot for toys and other safe objects. If you can, keep poisons and chemicals completely out of a baby’s reach and locked away.

Suggested Products:

• Safety 1st Magnetic Tot Lok for Cabinet Doors and Drawers
• KidCo Swivel Cabinet and Drawer Lock
• Safety 1st Cabinet Slide Locks

Plants

Hazards: Many plants are poisonous and can cause illness or death. Potting materials pose a choking hazard.

Remedy: Be aware of the types of plants you keep, and make sure they are labeled. Do not use rocks or marbles in potting materials or as a ground cover for plants. Keep poisonous plants well out of reach, preferably outside the home completely.

• List of Poisonous Plants (from the National Capital Poison Center, with photos)

Vases, Decorative Glassware

Hazards: Vases, decorative bowls and glassware, and other knick-knacks can break and cause cuts or lacerations. Many knick-knacks or plastic flowers have small parts that can break off and cause a choking hazard.

Remedy: Put all vases and other dangerous decorations out of the reach of children. It may be tempting to leave some items out in order to “teach” your child about off-limits objects, but it’s safer (and less frustrating) in the long run to just remove them.

Tables

Hazards: Coffee tables and other tables have sharp corners. Coffee tables are especially hazardous because as babies learn to walk, they use these low tables to “cruise.”

Remedy: Install table cushions. There are some brands that just fit on corners and others that go all the way around the table. You can also make your own padding system or remove any tables that might cause injury until your child is older. One company will even custom make a machine washable, cushioned top to fit your exact table.

Suggested Products:

• Safety 1st Table Edge Bumper
• Table Edge Guard with Four Corners
  

Stairs

Hazards: More than half of all nonfatal injuries to children are from falls, according to the National SAFE KIDS Campaign. Many of these falls involve unprotected stairways. In addition, baby walkers cause more injuries than any other type of nursery product, with most of these injuries involving stairs. This has led the American Academy of Pediatrics to call for a ban of baby walkers.

Remedy: Install safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs. For the top of stairs, make sure that the gate has a secure latch and is not a pressure-type gate. Keep stairs free of clutter that could cause a fall not only for your baby, but for you as well. Always supervise a young child as they learn to climb stairs. If you feel you must use a walker, make sure you never allow your child to use it near stairs.

Suggested Products:

• Secure Solutions Stair Gate
• Extra Tall Stair Gate with Alarm
• Clear Banister Guard Kits (come in various sizes)

Smoke Detection

Hazards: According to the United States Fire Administration, two thirds of home fires that kill children happen in homes that have no smoke detectors. Infants and toddlers are especially susceptible to the dangers of fire and smoke, since they are often elevated in cribs where smoke can rise and are unable to escape a fire on their own.

Remedy: Install smoke detectors on every floor of your home, with detectors outside every bedroom door as well. Check your smoke detector’s battery at least once a year.

Suggested Products:

• Kidde Smoke Detector
• Vocal Smoke Detector (uses your recorded voice to alert your family of a fire)
• Bosch Covert Color Smoke Detector Camera

Carbon Monoxide

Hazards: Carbon Monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that is a by-product of combustion.
Common sources include water heaters, gas stoves and ovens, gas dryers, and fireplaces. Dr. Marc Bayer, medical director of the Connecticut Poison Control Center, warns about the dangers saying, "Carbon monoxide poisoning can cause neurological problems, learning disabilities, memory loss and personality changes in children and can lead to miscarriage or stillbirth for women exposed during pregnancy."

Remedy: Install carbon monoxide detectors in your home. Because alternate light and heat sources like candles and fireplaces may be used during power outages, consider a model that is battery operated or has a battery backup.

Suggested Products:

• Kidde Carbon Monoxide Detectors
• First Alert Battery-Operated Carbon Monoxide Detector
• Carbon Monoxide Detectors with Digital Displays

Water Heaters

Hazards: According to the TOMA Foundation for Burned Children, scalds are the leading cause of accidental death in the home for children from birth to age four and account for 40 percent of the burn injuries for children up to age 14. At 130 degrees F, it only takes 30 seconds for a serious burn to occur and at 140 degrees F, it takes just five seconds.

Remedy: Make sure your water heater’s thermostat is set at 120 degrees F or below. Consider purchasing temperature-change bath products like those listed below that will indicate when the water is too hot for your baby’s skin. In addition, when running bathwater, make sure that you run cold water first and then hot water. Run all water before you put the baby in the tub and always test the water beforehand.

Suggested Products:

• Safety Bath Cradle from Munchkin
• Safety First Comfy Duck Bath Center

Electrical Outlets

Hazards: Unprotected electrical outlets cause thousands of injuries and hundreds of deaths each year. The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that of those reported injuries, a full 86 percent occurred in children that were 1 to 4 years of age.

Remedy: Install face plates or outlet covers and make sure power strips are covered with a suitable safety device. The Biokinetics Research Laboratory of Temple University conducted a study to determine the effectiveness of the plug-in type outlet covers, and found that in most cases, children aged 2 to 4 could remove the covers. In covers that were 1/16” thick with a flat oval face, 100 percent of the children in the study could remove the cover! So while these covers are better than nothing, it’s best to install the tamper-resistant outlet face covers.

Suggested Products:

• Baby Safe Slide Outlet Cover
• Power Strip Cover
• Summer Infant Safe and Secure Outlet Covers

Electrical Cords

Hazards: Electrical cords pose two hazards. First, they are often attached to heavy equipment or lamps, and babies and toddlers can pull them down onto themselves. Second -- and many parents aren’t aware of this hazard -- if a baby or toddler mouths a cord, even the smallest break can cause electrocution or burns. Saliva is an excellent conductor of electricity, so the burn area can be quite extensive.

Remedy: Buy cord bundlers and secure cords to furniture so that they cannot be pulled. Buy cord shorteners for cords that babies can frequently reach (such as a baby monitor near a changing table). Watch teething babies very carefully, since cords are a tempting treat. Make sure all electrical cords are free of breaks, kinks and holes.

Suggested Products:

• Just Right! Cord Control Kit
• Safety 1st AC Adapter Cord Shortener
  

Fireplaces

Hazards: Fireplaces can cause injuries due to the hard, sharp edges of a hearth, from burns and also from materials inside that could cause choking, even when the fire isn’t burning.

Remedy: Install a fireplace guard to keep children out of the fireplace and place a hearth cushion around sharp edges. It is probably a good idea to stop using the fireplace if possible until your child is at an age where they can understand fire safety. Never leave a child unattended near a fireplace, whether there is a guard in place or not.

Suggested Products:

• KidCo Hearth Gate
• Hearth Cushion

Doors

Hazards: Doors pose several hazards. Doors can lead to areas of the home (or outdoors) that aren’t safe for your child. They can also pose a finger-pinch hazard. Additionally, an often overlooked problem exists in the doorstop. If you have the metal coil doorstop, the end cap can pose a choking hazard. You might be tempted to just remove the cap, but the metal coil can be sharp.

Remedy: Cover doorknobs with safety covers – one for each door you don’t want your child to be able to open. Purchase finger protectors to prevent pinching, and install one-piece plastic doorstops.

Suggested Products:

• Clear Grip Door Knob Covers
• KidCo Sliding Door Locks
• Safety 1st Lever Handle Lock

Windows

Hazards: Each year in the United States, nearly 4,700 children receive injuries caused by falls from windows.


At least half of these occur when children climb on furniture to look out a window. Another hazard comes not from windows, but from cords used on drapes and blinds. These pose a serious strangulation hazard.

Remedy: Install window guards that only allow the window to open a few inches. Move all furniture that children can climb on away from windows. Keep windows locked, and never allow children to sit on window sills. Purchase cord winders for window blinds and make sure the cords are always out of reach of children.

Suggested Products:

• Kidco Window Wedge
• Window Blinds Cord Wind-Ups

Bookcases and TV Carts

Hazards: Bookcases, TV carts, microwave carts and other top-heavy furniture pose a risk because they can tip over if a child hangs or climbs on them. Your child could become entrapped or crushed underneath the weight of such furniture.

Remedy: Use straps or anchors to secure furniture to a wall or floor. Several TV carts have been recalled recently, and companies are offering repair kits to make the pieces safe. Check to see if a brand you are using has been involved in a product recall.

Suggested Products:

• Furniture Wall Straps
  

Toilets

Hazards: Toilets cause a hazard to young children because a child can drown if they fall in. It only takes a small amount of water to cover a baby’s mouth and nose. Children cause a hazard to toilets, as well, when they throw small objects and toys inside.

Remedy: Use toilet lid locks on all toilets or keep the bathroom door securely shut at all times. Supervise children at all times in the bathroom and take a baby out of the bathroom if you have to run to answer the phone or door.

Suggested Products:

• Toilet Locks
  

Purses and Keys

Hazards: Purses contain an assortment of hazards, including medication, coins, paper clips and sharp objects. Decorative key rings often have small parts that can come off and pose a choking hazard.

Remedy: It may seem like you’ve got the entire house completely baby proofed, but not if you regularly set your purse or keys where your child can reach them. Make it a habit to keep these items locked away or out of reach and never let a baby teeth on a key ring.

Floors

Hazards: Deep carpets hide objects that can cause choking such as coins. The corners of kitchen floors, especially underneath cabinet edges, often harbor choking hazards like dried pasta, beans or pet food.

Remedy: Get down on the floor and check for items regularly.

Keep the floor swept and vacuumed and make sure any pasta or other spills are cleaned up immediately. Keep pet food and bowls inaccessible to children.

Other Tips

Child proofing is ongoing. Don’t just do the job of baby proofing once. Take a look around before your baby is born, once your baby is crawling, and again once he starts walking. Be sure to get down on your hands and knees as you look around the home, to find hazards your adult eyes may not see as readily as your baby’s eyes will.

Educate Yourself and Other Caregivers. Make sure you take a first aid and CPR class, and encourage anyone who will be taking care of your child to do the same, including grandparents, aunts and uncles. Make sure child care providers and babysitters are CPR certified.

As an extra measure, consider purchasing a CPR Prompt Rescue Aid for around $40. This device contains spoken, step-by-step instructions on how to perform CPR on a child. There are full-size versions available as well as a keychain version.

Employ Constant Supervision. Remember, the most crucial part of baby proofing involves adult supervision. Always be aware of your surroundings and keep a close watch on your child at all times.

NO MATTER WHERE YOU BUY IT, WHO DOES IT, JUST DO IT FOR YOUR CHILDRENS SAKE. I HATE TO THINK OF ALL THE BEAUTIFUL, INNOCENT CHILDREN WE LOSE EVERY YEAR TO DISEASES WE HAVE NO CURE FOR, ACCIDENTS THAT THERE WAS NOTHING ANYONE COULD DO TO PREVENT, BUT THIS IS SOMETHING WE CAN PREVENT! DO THE RIGHT THING!



Christopher C. Purnell
President & Founder
www.ezfurnitureassembly.com

Imagine a Whole Apartment in one Box!

It might not look like it, but inside this box, there's an armoire, a desk, a height-adjustable stool, two more stools, a six-shelf bookcase, and a bed with a mattress. Casulo, the brilliant, modular setup designed by Marcel Krings & Sebastian Mühlhäuser, hides furnishings enough for an entire room -- or, heck, an entire apartment -- in a small 31"x47" (that's 80 cm x 120 cm) box. Two people can lift, carry, and assemble (and then disassemble, when it's time to move) each piece of furniture within the Casulo in about 10 minutes -- it requires no tools for assembly -- and every part of the boxy exterior is Green.

Is this amazing or what? It amazes me how we are able to create and manufacturer such quality products that are Green and can be shipped in smaller spaces which means lower costs. I am not exactly certain where you could find this st, but I am sure www.treehugger.com would be a good place to start.

However, if you have the normal flatpack furniture and need professional assembly we at www.ezfurnitureassembly.com would be happy to help.

Pastor Paul Wirth Issues 30 Day Sex Challenge

If sex isn't in your schedule as much as you'd like, a Florida pastor is proposing a challenge.

"We're launching into our 30-day sex challenge. We wanted to be able to help couples both married and single to really refocus their sex lives around what God's principles are," says Paul Wirth, Pastor of "Relevant Church" in Ybor City, Florida.

Pastor Wirth says he came up with the idea because so many people have told him they have "no time for sex".

The paster says, married people should try to have sex for 30 days. A few people have already signed up for the "30-Day Sex Challenge".

Doug Webber says, "Between life, the house, the kids, the business, sometimes how this whole thing got started gets kind of forgotten. So that's what I'm most excited about it, I'm excited about that refocusing time for us."

But single people also have a challenge. The pastor says they have to abstain from sex. "We're asking the single people to take a break from sex, maybe take a sex detox for 30 days ... even if they've been together for years. Because maybe the sex for them has been the central theme of their relationship and maybe they're missing a part of it."

Jarrett Haas is single and has accepted the challenge. "I want to be able to say you know whenever I do find a wife one day, hey I did this for you when I was 26 years old."

Pastor Webber says while this challenge should re-kindle passion and affection in marriages, it will also teach singles to appreciate themselves and their partners without the sex.

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Artist in Residence

When Guy Ben-Ner goes to Ikea, he’s not there for the meatballs.

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• By Jerry Saltz
• Published Feb 19, 2008

Ikea’s homepage recently proposed: “Feel free to take advantage of us.” At Postmasters Gallery, the wily Guy Ben-Ner has happily obliged. Last year, without permission, this Israel-born artist who lives in New York and Berlin—he ably represented Israel in the 2005 Venice Biennale—installed himself, his wife, and their two cutie-pie kids in Ikea model rooms all over the world. Setting a camcorder on “auto,” Ben-Ner filmed his family in a semi-scripted soap opera. Most scenes last until Ikea staff throws everyone out. The result is the bitingly crackpot, politically poignant eighteen-minute Stealing Beauty.

Ben-Ner’s film, while a bit inert and drawn-out, takes cues from Buster Keaton, Rube Goldberg, John Cage, vaudeville, Frederic Engels, and Edward Said. Shots are well-planned but simple, chance dictates results, sight gags reign, identity politics are ever present. In the opening scene, we watch the straight-faced beanpole Ben-Ner duck behind a shower curtain and begin to bathe. Ben-Ner’s wife peers into the shower and catches him masturbating. He throws on a robe and dashes out, protesting that he was only washing. His son and daughter enter as Ben-Ner pours a drink (we hear liquid, but nothing comes out of the pitcher). Ben-Ner’s wife tells him that his children have been misbehaving. He lectures the kids, spouting pseudo-Marxist bromides like “the family stops the property from leaking out,” holding forth on the value of objects, commodities, and the means of production. The son asks, “Is Mom private property?” and the kids write a manifesto of statements like “Children of the world, unite.” If Air America ran after-school specials, they’d sound like this.

Throughout, visual glitches multiply. Ben-Ner interrupts scenes to give stage directions. Strangers walk through, some staring as if at the zoo. The tags on the furniture switch languages. Announcements in German, Hebrew, and English intrude. The family keeps looking off-camera, skittish as deer. The narrative flows uninterrupted from room to room, continuity be damned. In one scene, Ben-Ner lies in five different beds.

As ordinary as the surroundings are, the Ben-Ners aren’t your typical TV family. They have accents and dark skin, and stand out like glockenspiels in these squeaky-clean Euro environments. The Ben-Ners behave as if they were displaced nomads, acting out a primal need and a territorial aggression, claiming these Ikeas as a kind of Promised Land.

Much political art is overdidactic, with a false axis of right and wrong. Ben-Ner’s art is richer and more confusing. Though the artist is Israeli, Said’s words about the Palestinian plight best get at the undercurrent in this work: the “unhealable rift” and “terminal loss” of exile. Ben-Ner seems to posit that we are all others in someone’s eyes. Like many with overdetermined histories, Ben-Ner seems to wish his family would blend in, that its backstory would just go away.

It won’t, of course, and as he touches on these issues and melds the personal and political, while trying to make art and be a loving father, Ben-Ner creates androgynous and empathetic psychic sparks. He recombines ideas of masculinity in ways that few male artists have. In the past, he has shown himself imprisoned under a crib by his son and cast himself as a loving father of an ostrich family in Riverside Park. Whatever he does, you feel Ben-Ner’s desire to simultaneously ruffle feathers, escape, and make do.

In the rear gallery, Ben-Ner has installed two stationary bikes. If you climb on and pedal, a short video titled I’d give it to you if I could but I borrowed it is projected on a monitor. Onscreen, Ben-Ner and his kids rummage through a museum and assemble a bicycle from several readymade sculptures. After putting Duchamp’s bicycle wheel and the bike seat and handlebars of Picasso’s bull’s-head sculpture back to their original uses, the brood pauses to take LSD—the Ben-Ner family values are nothing if not strange—and then goes out for a ride. It’s as if you’re in a penny arcade watching some ancient film machine, only you’re part of the entertainment, and you mimic the action.

All art comes from other art, and all immigrants come from other places. What makes Ben-Ner’s art stand out is that he puts these ideas together so well, continually cannibalizing the culture and objects he encounters, trying to make these things work for his art and his family. In this way, he echoes the immigrant’s story and the artist’s quest.