Weathering Art

It all began with an email from Dan Osterman – a call to artists, curators, and their ilk. He was inspired to take action by the devastation wreaked by Hurricane Sandy, the “Superstorm”. His goal was to create an artistic response to climate changes. Part of his email is cited below:

“Weather seems to be getting angrier all the time. Pollution and carbons make the air warmer, solar flares and even the shifting poles have their effect. Tornadoes, drought and hurricanes do billions of dollars in damage each year…People die because of poor planning. Businesses go under. Galleries and artists in New York City are under four feet of water…

 What can an artist say that will make a difference? Has the tipping point come? Do we run for higher ground now, or later? Are all plans on hold? Is it the Apocolypse? Keep calm and create. Artists start movements. Art provokes people to action. The artist is the unacknowledged legislator of the world…

 The water is rising. Do you have anything to say about it?”

As an artist, I had numerous thoughts on how I might respond creatively; I also wondered how student/artists might respond to the same call. I joined Dan’s committee of curators (which included Lisa Lunskaya Gordon, MaryAnn Kearns, and Naoe Suzuki), and decided to investigate with my Sculpture students, and my student teacher, Nora Gilchrist.

We shared ‘the call’ with students, and helped them to do research (a collaboration with Eben Bein’s freshman science students, enhanced by additional research in the Learning Commons and online), and encouraged them to express their thoughts and feelings in 3D, using mixed media, particularly recycled materials.

The process lasted a number of weeks, with sketches, critiques, brainstorming, maquettes, more critiques, and materials exploration. The resulting work reflects those issues that most engaged and motivated students, and the materials which best allowed them to express their ideas.