Inspiring Change for the Climate Crisis

C a ed b Ad ia a G P a a d de ig ed b J h Q a ale

PARTICIPATING ARTISTS S e e Be e Sa ah Me e B e Pa la Pi a B Si Che Ced ic Ha e Ma ha Helle H i H a g M iel H a h Pa li e Li Ma ia Cele e Li a di C J L i Michelle L gee Michael Ma i g Shelb Me e h ff Nil M chhala Michaela M e Ca l E M e Jeff e N li S e e R di L a Sc C hia S a le Rebecca McGee T ck h

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The current environmental crisis is multifactorial pollution extreme weather loss of biodiversity and other tragedies too complex too intertwined and yet too urgent A collective problem that requires collective solutions But as individuals it is easy to feel overwhelmed and powerless We wonder How can I contribute to the solution?

This exhibit of dimensional works of art offer the perspective of multidisciplinary artists exploring various aspects of this crisis Some address the impact of consumerism by reinventing reclaimed materials or by creating a dialog with humanity s waste and pollution Some explore the effect of climate change in our local communities or global ecosystems and others celebrate natural beings and their interconnection pointing to their unique beauty and vulnerabilities We hope to inspire in the viewer a sense of wonder as well as an awareness that change is not only possible but also a necessary and powerful element for critical environmental transformation Awareness and recognition of the crisis are the first personal steps to change the current trend We can tap into each of our creative strengths deliver action big or small and contribute to the ripple effect needed to resolve this global crisis This joint force is fierce and those in power are listening Adriana G Prat Exhibit Curator

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Ad ia a G P a is an academically trained scientist with a PhD in Biophysics turned abstract artist on a quest to inspire awareness and change action for the environmental crisis via her work and the work of other artists through her curatorial role with the i C artists group Adriana has been passionate about the natural world since her childhood days in Argentina thanks to her father who educated her on his strong environmental values that influenced her curiosity to become a scientist After moving to the US a more introspective lifestyle inspired Adriana to embrace her passion for art making She studied the fundamentals of art in adult education classes and workshops although she considers herself highly self taught In her Cambridge studio she paints on alternative supports such as corrugated cardboard and continuously looks for ways to transform her work to avoid consumerism and to reduce her contribution to the climate crisis Adriana has exhibited at galleries academic institutions art centers museums open studios and alternative spaces in Argentina and the US mostly in the greater Boston area She has also shown in galleries in Reykjavík Iceland and London UK Adriana is a member of the National Association of Women Artists NAWA the Experimental Group of the Rockport Art Association Museum and the SoWa Artists Guild among others

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S e e Be

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Steve Bennett is a Cambridge MA lens based visual artist His work falls into two categories The first the world as seen includes traditional candid street photographs still life compositions close up images of natural and human made subjects barely discernible to the human eye and expansive landscapes that inspire a sense of the sublime The second the world reimagined consists of abstract composites architectural infrastructure and technological images fused with human and natural elements The resulting work invites viewers to explore alternate realities filled with mystery suspense and surprise as they navigate between what is and what if and between the predictable and the unpredictable His work has been shown in numerous juried exhibitions across the United States It has also been displayed at software biotech and financial service companies in the Boston area Trapped in a Melting World consists of photographs taken at Iceland s Jökulsárlón lagoon and the performing arts building Harpa in Reykjavik Jökulsárlón is considered to be ground zero for climate change as the temperature rises Breiðamerkurjökull the glacier at the outlet of the lagoon recedes into the ocean Eventually the lagoon will merge with the open sea The people in the photograph are walking a ramp in the remarkable MC Escher like Harpa building My composite art piece closes the physical gap km between the lagoon and everyday life in the city With the sharp cropping of the ramp and no discernable starting or end point the message is clear there is no place to go and we are scarily trapped in a melting world

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Sa ah Me e B e Born in Hadley NY Sarah Meyers Brent received her BFA from Skidmore College her Post Baccalaureate in Studio Art from Brandeis University and her MFA in painting from the University of New Hampshire The artist maintains a studio at Waltham Mills Artist Associationin Waltham MA Represented by the Chase Young Gallery in Boston Brent has exhibited widely Reviews of her exhibitions have appeared in Artscope Magazine Art New England the Boston Globe Sculpture Magazine and other publications Her work is in the permanent collections of Danforth Art Museum School Liquitex Corporation and in numerous private collections

My mixed media works take discarded items from my house community and town transfer station to create sculptures and alternative landscapes that embody the craziness of motherhood and environmental chaos The mix of old kids clothes paint globs toys and rags incorporated with dirt and other natural elements look as if they are simultaneously growing and decaying They express the weight of raising children in environmental disorder while juggling our lives and trying to maintain a sense of self and balance Referencing the overuse of stuff in our lives and the mental load that women carry around piles of trash take on a second organic life I work through the mess of life to try to find order in chaos and beauty in the reality of imperfection

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Paula Pitman Brown is an artist who creates narrative paintings that communicate The complex relationship between people and animals in our urban world She is Affiliated with several galleries exhibits throughout New England and is in many publications and utubes Currently Paula teaches at The Museum of Fines Arts in Boston She has taught Painting and drawing for over years including high school art in Chelmsford Ma and the Waltham Public Schools She has also taught art for over twenty years at The Decordova Art Museum in Lincoln Ma While at the Decordova one of the Teaching emphasis was the Multicultural Art Camp Paula has also taught a variety of Zoom Art Classes FaceTime Art as well as private art classes Paula has an Art Education Degree from Suffolk University and Boston State College She has a BFA with distinction from Massachusetts College of Art where her major Was Painting and Art History My work is a narrative encounter between animals in the natural world and the overpowering activity of the human world I want to address the continuation of all wildlife for co existence and for humans to respect all living things My daily walks feed my positive attitude and creative ideas Seeing a wild animal in our urban world is auspicious for me It gives me hope My animals are always on the move active lively and colorful We have to keep moving forward I am the running and dancing deer

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Si Che a d H i H a g Si is an artist who engages in installation and digital painting She currently lives and works in London She completed her MFA at the School of Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University in the United States Si is acutely aware of environmental issues and her art practice reflects on her knowledge She uses digital photography and painting as a means of refining conceptual vocabulary Subsequently refining her own visual and conceptual vocabulary that emerged through her focus on the points of intersection between installation and space

The air pollution China now suffers from is called Wu Mai Wu means fog Mai means Haze By producing this video we are responding to Wu Mai The video recorded one of the artists Si performing as she s in Wu Mai By giving the viewers this sense of experience people will be able to witness first hand what people experience in vastly polluted areas in China Our purpose is to draw public attention to the urgent issue of air pollution If we ignore it we accept it and it will become an irreversible issue If humanity takes too long it will be too late to take action

Ced ic Ha e For years I worked in healthcare as an advocate for individuals with disabilities In the last years I have been able to do art full time My creative work comes from manipulation of language symbols and dreams whether that transforms itself into tables sculpture totems or panels as its form All pieces start from recycled materials Items that have been disregarded rejected or tossed out as trash The subject is usually determined by the recycled materials as to what it will become a table a totem a sculpture Those materials are cleaned repaired re imagined and become what I see in them

My creative work comes from manipulation of language symbols and dreams whether that transforms itself into tables sculpture totems or panels as its form All pieces start from recycled materials Items that have been disregarded rejected or tossed out as trash The subject is usually determined by the recycled materials as to what it will become a table a totem a sculpture Those materials are cleaned repaired re imagined and become what I see in them

Ma ha Helle In after retiring from a year career as a costume designer Martha began to exhibit her textile art pieces in open studio events and galleries Her practice includes art quilts textile wall hangings and fabric sculptures Her textile work has been exhibited in galleries and museums including The Belmont Gallery of Art in Belmont MA LexArt in Lexington MA Gallery in Cambridge MA The Mosesian Center for the Arts in Watertown MA The Art Ramble in Concord MA The Kathryn Schultz Gallery Cambridge Art Association in Cambridge MA The Attleboro Arts Museum in Attleboro MA and The Appalachian Center for Craft in Smithville TN Fiber Art Now Emerging Artists

Martha s work is driven by her explorations of new materials and techniques Her most recent series using indigo Persicaria tinctoria grown in her garden is in part an exploration of the processes used to coax blue from the green leaves of this hardy plant Her current work also addresses the issues around using natural dyes for example the emergence of more sustainable textile practices and artists debates over using chemical vs natural dyes permanent vs transient color processes Martha uses found and repurposed materials in her textile work Here she is presenting a portion of her dress series that speaks to the issue of sustainable practices through recycling repurposing and reusing Upcycling achieves two objectives First materials in this work are saved from being discarded into landfills and waterways Second waste is everyday familiar material so using it provides viewers an access point to the art In addition the familiar form of a dress enhances this accessibility often evoking a personal memory or emotion 10

M iel H

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Muriel Horvath engages in interdisciplinary artistic practice informed by her major in environmental studies and her love for ecology Her work flows between drawing and painting fiber arts and natural dyeing as well as papermaking and sculpture Central to her practice are organic actors such as fungi and plants which she invites to be collaborators in the work she makes These materials teach her to respect and learn from the other than human world and make art in communion with natural processes Muriel spent her childhood playing in the dirt and exploring the forests of New Hampshire and Vermont Her curiosity still drives her work in much the same way as when she was young

My practice is the product of my deep rooted desire to cultivate respectful and intimate connections with the systems and species around me and displace utility and other human positions from the center of those relationships It is formed through layers of conversation and communication I engage in listening to and learning from my materials and the other than human actors that inform and inspire the work I make I am fascinated by ecology and delight in how this complex world often defies our limited human understanding Because there are many gaps in our knowledge of these dynamic systems there is space to hypothesize fantasize and pose questions or ideas through artistic practice

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Pa li e Li Pauline Lim was born in Clarinda Iowa in She graduated cum laude in from Phillips Academy Andover MA and A B magna cum laude from Harvard College Pauline lives and works at the Brickbottom Artists Building in Somerville MA Among Pauline s selected honors and awards Outstanding Artist award Center for Arts at the Armory Somerville MA in Somerville Arts Council Artist Fellowship Visual Arts in Selected artist Neighborhood Art Exhibition Program Boston Convention Exhibition Center BCEC in Invited Master of Ceremonies Mayoral Inauguration for the Hon Joseph Curtatone City of Somerville MA in Selected artist Street Pianos Boston Festival organized by the Celebrity Series of Boston in Selected artist Phone Art Box project sponsored by Nave Gallery Somerville MA in Invited artist TEDx Somerville Conference in and Somerville Arts Council Artist Fellowship Grant winner Visual Arts in I am a fear driven person I am always freaking out about the fact that we all have to die so a lot of my paintings have to do with the frustration of being trapped in a mortal existence The increasing aches and pains of aging underscore this dilemma to me every day The pandemic the climate crisis and the ongoing dissolution of society has exacerbated this urgency and has made me seek out color and beauty as well as the relief of laughter alongside the recognition of despair In my work I started off exploring the themes of dreams and illness Then I was drawn to Medieval and Renaissance images of saints I also like playing with scale giant cat heads on human bodies or tiny humans intermingled with items on a tabletop landscape Basically I just create paintings that I would want to see that recognize the truth and folly of our existence that are visually stimulating perhaps gorgeous and frequently funny

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Ma ia Cele e Li a di Born and raised in Buenos Aires Maria Celeste Linardi began pursuing art with fascination from an early age Her first studies were in the classical tradition at a local art institute Growing up she traveled extensively through the vast and never ending landscapes of Argentina which would later serve as inspiration for her work Later on she enrolled in the Atelier of Marcos Borio where she learned to master acrylics She was fortunate to travel to Europe where she was able to study the great masters in some of the world s most extensive art collections in Spain Italy France and England In December of Maria Celeste relocated to the USA where she traveled and lived in many cities from coast to coast grasping the essence that she would embody in her work In Maria Celeste became a US Citizen Her work has been exhibited in different galleries in Argentina and in the US

The purpose of my Environment series is to reflect the effects of climate change It is my pebble contribution to nature as intent to voice her attempt to be heard but ignored I envision that this message will help us to realize that we are one with nature and therefore share her vulnerability Even when this subject was already present in my work the idea of putting together the series was born with the painting The light within This piece was a response to the events that altered part of the landscape that used to serve as inspiration for my work All of a sudden the trees were pulled from the land and left lying on their side This beautiful green area was leveled just to build another parking lot

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CJ L i C J Lori is an oil painter living in Brookline Massachusetts Her work reflects her interest in literature anthropology and psychology as well as an abiding fascination with the natural world Often called Neo surrealism or magic realism Ms Lori s paintings explore the complex relationship between humanity and the environment Her artwork has been exhibited in solo and group shows throughout New England and in New York and Chicago including the Danforth Museum in OFF THE WALL and Figure Fantasy and Illusion Selections from the Arthur S Goldberg Collection She won first prize in Paint! a national exhibition at the South Shore Arts Center Ms Lori is represented by Forest Gallery in Arlington and Array Contemporary in Boston

A glorious fall is so bittersweet To find beauty and inspiration in nature as it explodes in brilliant colors then to watch it all wither away can feel bleak At least we know spring will come again and it will keep coming only if we speak out and act to protect our planet

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Michelle L

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Michelle Lougee s meticulously crafted otherworldly sculpture turns discarded plastic remnants of the human presence into representations of life sustaining floating microcosms currently being choked out by plastic waste Lougee recently completed a year long Public Art Residency with the town of Arlington MA In she was Artist in Residence at the Society of Arts and Crafts in Boston Her work has been exhibited internationally and closer to home at the Wilson Museum at Southern Vermont Art Center the Cape Cod Museum of Art the Fuller Craft Museum the Peabody Essex Museum the Christian Science Plaza and the Heritage Museums and Gardens Lougee creates a themed series of works which are shown as large installations or intimate groupings She is represented by the Boston Sculptors Gallery In addition she teaches at Lesley University School of Art and Design Lougee resides with her family in Cambridge MA and maintains a studio at Vernon Street Studios in Somerville MA

Michelle Lougee s work addresses the impact of our consumerist society on the natural world The forms are joyful reverence to nature with a warning Produced from crocheted post consumer plastic that would otherwise find its way to a landfill whimsical and playful forms illustrate tension between material and concept while contemplating profound problems in our culture and environment Flotsam evolved from discriminate collecting sorting and transforming of accumulated single use plastic elements into obsessive dystopian objects Ghost nets are lost fishing nets that continue to float in the oceans wreaking havoc on marine life Flotsam is a net handmade from single use plastic bags The catch in this net is plastic refuse collected in less than two months from my personal use plastic collection walks and a group of eco conscious contributors

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Michael Ma

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Michael Manning is a Boston based artist and photographer whose work explores family relationships personal trauma environmental concerns and the act of documentation itself through a variety of visual languages and media Metaphor and symbol the masculine and feminine a celebration of light and the visual and an intense love for nature are throughout Photography mixed media painting poetry and collage are his favorite mediums Michael currently lives and works in the Inman Square neighborhood of Somerville He was the recipient of an individual artist s grant through the Massachusetts Cultural Council during the pandemic and was a Lucie Foundation finalist for their call Notions of Home his image Home From the Train is included in their online print sale He has completed documentary photography projects in Cuba on teen life in Gloucester Massachusetts and on the Greek Orthodox Church in Watertown MA He has recently exhibited at the Bromfield Gallery in Boston the Arlington Center for the Arts had a solo show through the Cambridge Artist s Association and had two pieces in a show at the Cultural Center of Cape Cod called Remembering looking back on the tragedy of This body of work is an ongoing and evolving series of double exposures made particularly in New England watershed areas of environmental concern These blue toned monochrome photographic images are all made in camera one and then the second within a few moments of each other The immediacy of the creation is a critical part of my process and engagement with the environment Often involving dance like movement the making of the images becomes a conversation with nature itself In documenting these environmentally challenged areas my aim is to more fully express the beauty and fragility of nature while really pushing the boundaries of landscape photography and abstraction On a personal psychological and emotional level I m exploring unification A re union of voices of the natures within and without I hope the final images celebrate the landscape and stand on their own visually while inviting questions about place and our relationship with nature

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Shelb Me e h ff Shelby Meyerhoff is a multidisciplinary artist based in Boston Her first solo show Zoomorphics was at the Griffin Museum of Photography MA in Meyerhoff s Zoomorphics series is on view this summer in a two person exhibit at Hopkins Center for the Arts MN Meyerhoff s photographs have also been exhibited at Atlanta International Airport GA Attleboro Arts Museum MA Mattatuck Museum CT and the Horton Gallery at San Joaquin Delta College CA Zoomorphics has been featured in Harvard Magazine Fraction Magazine and A Photo Editor Meyerhoff has studied at the Griffin Museum the New England School of Photography and MassArt

In her Zoomorphics series Shelby Meyerhoff paints her own face and body and photographs herself as creatures inspired by the natural world In the midst of the climate crisis her photographs explore the complex relationships between human beings and other organisms Her images evoke the interconnectedness of humanity with other living things blurring the line between what is human and what is not Not only do many other animals around the world face an immediate threat but human beings do as well We are animals dependent on our surrounding ecosystems We are endangered So are the plants and animals and even places that we love While some of Meyerhoff s creatures are inspired by exotic animals others reference local ecology inviting viewers to notice and consider what is happening in their own surroundings as well as in other habitats around the world

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Nilou Moochhala s visual practice has been channeled into examining issues of cultural change and transformation by juxtaposing found objects imagery and language to create social and political narratives be it in public art spaces or private galleries She has been an award recipient of grants from the Massachusetts Cultural Council and New England Foundation for the Arts Nilou was selected as the Spring Artist in Residence by the Arlington Commission for Arts Culture for her site specific month installation Reflecting on Our Pandemic Experience Her work has appeared in publications such as the Boston Globe WBUR Print Artscope Arlington Advocate and Big Red Shiny among others

The four panels are juxtaposed to create a vertical shrine pillar that celebrates and yet calls out attention to what is happening to our world a critical moment for the earth s depletion of natural resources and the life on this planet What does it mean to belong to a place to immerse oneself in our environment to honor the world around us? These works convey the fleeting sensations of transcendence change beauty grief and many more The interwoven poetry was written by science writer Francesco Fiondella

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Michaela M

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Michaela Morse has a BFA in Studio Art and a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University Her BFA thesis SMFA Garden established a pollinator friendly garden with arts programming at the SMFA which she continues to socially activate as an alumna Michaela s BA thesis Coffee in Contemporary Puerto Rican Artworks Materialism in the Age of Anthropogenic Climate Change combined visual and material studies research with the development of her my dried hot drinks photo series expanding an ongoing body of work that reflects on an inward response to the climate crisis She works as a communications consultant and visual designer grateful for the opportunity to work remotely while traveling Michaela exhibited in shows and juried showcases while studying at the University of Minnesota and Tufts University and has participated in previous UVA exhibitions She hosts workshops and has lectured on her work with pollinators materiality and documentation

Michaela Morse is an interdisciplinary artist who seeks to listen deeply and respond carefully to people and materials She works with fibers organic matter repurposed objects educational materials photography and digital processes to investigate how ideas intersect A common thread in her practice is considering the ways in which we are intertwined with other beings across greater social and cultural exchanges in this relational place From her work s research to realization Michaela strives to practice a more world centered way of thinking and reflect rigorously on the contemporary challenges of living in an out of balance biosphere that is pushing back calling us into a relationship with one another and the planet in which the livelihoods of all entities are always already inextricable

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Ca l M e Carol Moses is an artist who creates non representational tableaus She employs grids patterns repeated linear elements and biomorphic forms to create a distinctive visual vocabulary Her often sober titles belie lively compositions and dynamic use of color Discrete styles namely calligraphic gestural and geometric appear throughout her omnivorous practice that moves between drawing painting printmaking and photography

This image focuses on the effects of harmful waste garbage and chemicals on the environment Including harm towards waterways oceans marine life and human life Like many other artists I am passionate about botany gardens and stewardship of the natural environment on which all living creatures depend Humanity s cruelty and carelessness towards the living planet threatens our very existence and destroys the symbiotic network of flora and fauna on our planet We humans along with all life need clean air clean water and healthy soil Greta Thunberg is right!

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Jeff e N

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Jeffrey Nowlin is an artist educator and researcher He received his BFA in Sculpture from Boston University in and earned an MFA in D from Massachusetts College of Fine Art and Design in He currently resides in Allston Boston where he actively exhibits work He volunteers in the local community as an educator and committee member He is an associate member of Boston Sculptors Gallery and an executive board member at the Piano Craft Gallery Nowlin was a participant of the Gallery Artist Residency Program His practice includes working in collage sewing fibers wood carving and drawing His current interests include phenomenology psychological and physical trauma climate awareness and the deconstruction of personal events Jeffrey Nowlin investigates the form of the body traumatic experience and personal narratives in his sculptures He utilizes reclaimed clothing and conscripted objects to ground the viewer with a sense of the body Collecting and employing discarded objects as sculptural material is an integral part of bringing awareness to our overconsumption and role in the degradation of our environment

Jeffrey s sculptural fiber works rely on reclaimed materials and found objects His concerns are piecing together personal narratives and phenomena of life His adjacency to the crisis of climate change comes in the form of undermining consumerist means of using materials rather opting for found bartered or recycled fabrics and goods to create sculpture He believes that opening up conversations around the means of production waste and reuse is a productive tactic to address our world s existential dilemma

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S e e R di Steven Rudin is a visual artist teacher and former psychiatrist based in New York City Rudin reimagines hand cut paper collage as a metaphor for memory and identity His multilayered compositions draw viewers into a dialogue about the dynamic nature of the mind Rudin s art philosophy examines how stories can be put together in different ways using the same parts His exhibitions talks and classes encourage participants to visualize their inner lives as collage In mid Rudin made the shift to art full time after nearly two decades in clinical academic and leadership positions at Columbia University He holds degrees from Columbia University Cornell University and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine As adjunct faculty at the Art Students League of New York Rudin leads workshops delving into collage as memoir Committed to sharing ideas about art and emotional resilience his recent speaking engagements include the School of the Art Institute of Chicago the Branch Museum of Art and Design and the New York Film Academy His work has been exhibited internationally in galleries public spaces and art fairs in New York Miami Los Angeles Palm Springs and Cannes

I am an artist teacher and former psychiatrist based in New York City My work explores collage as a metaphor for memory and identity I am interested in collage as a way to show that multiple stories can be told using the same parts Looking for inspiration from discarded and overlooked items is a guiding principle in my practice These works made from torn scraps of the newspapers that I used to wipe up excess paint are the after effects of other paintings 22

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As a child European American artist Luna Sconty followed her ancestors footsteps to explore Scandinavia s unspoiled landscapes inspiring her to capture the beauty of nature While the central language of Luna s paintings is oil she also experiments with raw and recycled materials repurposing elements to create a dynamic discourse between nature and art Alongside painting Luna advocates for social justice fighting for the equitable right of living in environmental and societal security Luna s art abandons normative rules and explores new ways of seeing though abstract yet familiar motifs striking a balance between form and color The bright colors found in her art embody the lightness of life and its intensity at the same time a merging of the human spirit with its environment She invites us to submerge ourselves in peaceful sometimes fantastical vignettes of nature giving us a moment to meditate on the magic it inspires I want to inspire in the viewer awe at the magic of creation and raise awareness of human responsibility to protect preserve and restore the biodiversity of nature with which we are organically intertwined so that it lives on as an oasis for generations to come My work Peace f M d represents a utopian oasis in its playfulness and as a source of vitality symbolizing the security and harmony we long for in an often restless world The theme goes even further alluding to the wounds caused by the reckless exploitation of natural resources The bright colors and powerful dynamics in my art embody the lightness of life and its intensity at the same time a merging of the human spirit with its environment and my love for nature

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Cynthia Staples is a writer and photographer Born in Virginia she has lived in Massachusetts for many years The natural environments as well as urban landscapes of these regions have been creative inspirations During the necessary isolation of the pandemic she focused on a different environment her garden Planting nurturing harvesting consuming and even sharing of food provided a cathartic experience that she has been capturing in words and images

Will one garden change the world? Why not?

Working the earth Being thoughtful of what s planted and why Balancing personal tastes with the needs of others around you Finding beauty in a dead flower knowing that its seeds will feed a bird Planting enough to consume and also to share with friends family and strangers The swell of gratitude when it rains A garden no matter how big or small provides an unending education about life and its seasons about what is sustainable and what is not In the ephemeral nature of flowers in bloom tomatoes ripening or the smell of fresh basil just picked one becomes mindful of the moment and the preciousness of this life

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Rebecca McGee T ck Rebecca McGee Tuck is a fiber artist a sculptor and a collector of lost objects After a year hiatus from art school to raise her family Tuck earned her BFA from Massachusetts College of Art and Design in Her work is a visual narrative of what she accumulates from a throw away society and as a result she gives new life to what others discard Tuck has shown her work in multiple juried shows throughout New England including the Fitchburg Art Museum the Beacon Gallery Fountain Street Gallery and the Boston Sculptors Gallery She recently won the Present Tense Award from ArtsWorcester which recognizes an artist whose work exemplifies new practices artistic risk taking and excellence in execution Tuck works among her menagerie of debris from her studio at the Mill Contemporary Art Studios in Framingham

Her work is inspired by the bits and fragments of land and sea debris that she gathers Every object she picks up has energy like an emotional artifact containing a relation to an action a person or an intriguing unknown The depth and textures that are built up through sculptural experiments become a layered narrative On the surface the objects within may only be unwanted debris but the sculptural outcome that is composed is a multilayered storyline of what was left behind With her most recent work Tuck intends to raise awareness of the abuse that the oceans face by transforming pieces of marine debris into works of art and symbols of hope calling attention to the consequences of polluting our oceans and encouraging a new commitment to action

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Unbound Visual Arts Inc N Beacon St Allston MA www UnboundVisualArts org info UnboundVisualArts org

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Exhibit Assistance Yu Diao Maisie French Nicholas Komarnitsky Hanzhi Li Savy Long Maggie Satterthwaite

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Louise Bonar Tsun Ming Chmielinski Francis Gardino Bob Greene Marcie Laden Madeline Lee Jeanne Lin Susan Loomis Wing Brenda Gael McSweeney PhD Andrea Newman Ira Ilana Papadopoulou PhD John Quatrale Ruth Rieffanaugh Diane Sheriden Karen Smigliani Jennifer Turpin Christine Winship

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Decla aci

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La crisis ambiental actual es multifactorial contaminación clima extremo pérdida de biodiversidad y otras tragedias demasiado complejas demasiado interrelacionadas y sin embargo demasiado urgentes Un problema colectivo que requiere soluciones colectivas Pero como individuos es fácil sentirse abrumado e impotente Nos preguntamos ¿Cómo puedo contribuir a la solución?

Esta exhibición de obras de arte en D y D ofrece la perspectiva de artistas multidisciplinarios que exploran varios aspectos de esta crisis Algunos abordan el impacto del consumismo reinventando materiales recuperados o creando un diálogo con los desechos de la humanidad y la contaminación Algunos exploran el efecto del cambio climático en nuestras comunidades locales o ecosistemas globales y otros celebran los seres naturales y su interconexión señalando su belleza única y sus vulnerabilidades Esperamos inspirar en el espectador una sensación de asombro así como una conciencia de que el cambio no solo es posible sino también un elemento necesario y poderoso para la crítica transformación ambiental La toma de conciencia y el reconocimiento de la crisis son los primeros pasos personales para cambiar la tendencia actual Podemos aprovechar cada una de nuestras fortalezas creativas realizar acciones grandes o pequeñas y contribuir al efecto dominó necesario para resolver esta crisis global Esta fuerza conjunta es feroz y los que están en el poder están escuchando

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Decla aci

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Si Chen Hui Huang La contaminación del aire que ahora sufre China se llama Wu Mai Wu significa niebla Mai significa Bruma Al producir este video estamos respondiendo a Wu Mai El video registró a uno de los artistas Si actuando mientras está en Wu Mai Al brindarles a los espectadores esta sensación de experiencia las personas podrán presenciar de primera mano lo que las personas experimentan en áreas altamente contaminadas en China Nuestro propósito es llamar la atención del público sobre el problema urgente de la contaminación del aire Si lo ignoramos lo aceptamos y se convertirá en un problema irreversible Si la humanidad tarda demasiado será demasiado tarde para actuar

Muriel Horvath Mi práctica es el producto de mi deseo profundamente arraigado de cultivar conexiones respetuosas e íntimas con los sistemas y especies que me rodean y desplazar la utilidad y otras posiciones humanas fuera del centro de esas relaciones Se forma a través de capas de conversación y comunicación Me comprometo a escuchar y aprender de mis materiales y de los actores no humanos que informan e inspiran el trabajo que hago Me fascina la ecología y me encanta cómo este mundo complejo a menudo desafía nuestra comprensión humana limitada Debido a que hay muchos vacíos en nuestro conocimiento de estos sistemas dinámicos hay espacio para formular hipótesis fantasear y plantear preguntas o ideas a través de la práctica artística

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Pauline Lim Soy una persona impulsada por el miedo Siempre estoy asustada por el hecho de que todos tenemos que morir por lo que muchas de mis pinturas tienen que ver con la frustración de estar atrapada en una existencia mortal Los dolores y molestias cada vez mayores del envejecimiento resaltan este dilema para mi todos los días La pandemia la crisis climática y la continua disolución de la sociedad ha exacerbado esta urgencia y me ha hecho buscar el color y la belleza así como el alivio de la risa junto al reconocimiento de la desesperación En mi trabajo comencé explorando los temas de los sueños y la enfermedad Luego me atrajeron las imágenes de santos medievales y renacentistas También me gusta jugar con la escala cabezas de gatos gigantes en cuerpos humanos o humanos diminutos entremezclados con elementos en un paisaje de mesa Básicamente solo creo pinturas que me gustaría ver que reconocen la verdad y la locura de nuestra existencia que son visualmente estimulantes quizás hermosas con frecuencia divertidas Nilou Moochhala Los cuatro paneles se yuxtaponen juntos para crear un santuario pilar vertical que celebra y sin embargo llama la atención sobre lo que le está sucediendo a nuestro mundo un momento crítico para el agotamiento de los recursos naturales de la tierra y la vida en este planeta Qué significa pertenecer a un lugar sumergirse en nuestro entorno honrar el mundo que nos rodea? Estas obras transmiten sensaciones fugaces de trascendencia cambio belleza dolor y mucho más La poesía entrelazada ha sido escrita por el escritor científico Francesco Fiondella

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Michaela Morse Michaela Morse es una artista interdisciplinaria que busca escuchar profundamente y responder con atención a las personas y los materiales Trabaja con fibras materia orgánica objetos reutilizados materiales educativos fotografía y procesos digitales para investigar cómo se cruzan las ideas Un hilo común en su práctica es considerar las maneras en que estamos entrelazados con otros seres a través de mayores intercambios sociales y culturales en este lugar relacional Desde la investigación de su trabajo hasta la realización Michaela se esfuerza por practicar una forma de pensar más centrada en el mundo y reflexionar rigurosamente sobre los desafíos contemporáneos de vivir en una biosfera desequilibrada que está retrocediendo llamándonos a una relación entre nosotros y el planeta en el que los medios de subsistencia de todas las entidades son siempre ya inextricables

Steve Bennett Trapped in a Melting World Atrapados en un Mundo que se Derrite consta de fotografías tomadas en la laguna Jökulsárlón de Islandia y el edificio de artes escénicas Harpa en Reykjavik Jökulsárlón se considera la zona de impacto del cambio climático a medida que aumenta la temperatura Breiðamerkurjökull el glaciar a la salida de la laguna retrocede hacia el océano Eventualmente la laguna se fusionará con el mar abierto Las personas en la fotografía están caminando por una rampa en el notable edificio Harpa que recuerda a MC Escher Mi obra de arte compuesta cierra la brecha física km entre la laguna y la vida cotidiana en la ciudad Con el recorte brusco de la rampa y sin un punto inicial o final perceptible el mensaje es claro no hay lugar a donde ir y estamos atrapados aterradoramente en un mundo que se derrite

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Sarah Meyers Brent Mis trabajos de técnica mixta toman artículos desechados de mi casa comunidad y estación de transferencia de la ciudad para crear esculturas y paisajes alternativos que encarnan la locura de la maternidad y el caos ambiental La mezcla de ropa vieja de niños manchas de pintura juguetes y trapos junto con tierra y otros elementos naturales parecen crecer y descomponerse simultáneamente Expresan el peso de criar niños en medio del desorden ambiental mientras hacemos malabarismos con nuestras vidas y tratamos de mantener un sentido de identidad y equilibrio Haciendo referencia al uso excesivo de cosas en nuestras vidas y la carga mental que las mujeres llevamos las pilas de basura adquieren una segunda vida orgánica Trabajo a través del desorden de la vida para tratar de encontrar orden en el caos y belleza en la realidad de la imperfección

Cedric Harper Mi trabajo creativo proviene de la manipulación de los símbolos del lenguaje y los sueños ya sea que se transforme en mesas esculturas tótems o paneles como su forma Todas las piezas parten de materiales reciclados Artículos que se han descartado rechazado o tirado a la basura El sujeto suele estar determinado por los materiales reciclados en cuanto a lo que se convertirá una mesa un tótem una escultura Esos materiales se limpian reparan se re imaginan y se convierten en lo que veo en ellos

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Martha Heller Martha utiliza materiales encontrados y reutilizados en su trabajo textil Aquí presenta una sección de su serie de vestidos que habla sobre el tema de las prácticas sostenibles a través del reciclaje la reutilización y el reuso Upcycling consigue dos objetivos En primer lugar se evita que los materiales de este trabajo se desechen en vertederos basurales y vías fluviales En segundo lugar el uso de materiales reconocibles brinda a los espectadores un punto de acceso al arte Además la forma familiar de una prenda realza esta accesibilidad a menudo evocando un recuerdo o una emoción personal

Maria Celeste Linardi El propósito de mi Serie Medio Ambiente es reflejar los efectos del cambio climático Es mi granito de arena hacia la naturaleza como intento de expresar su deseo de ser escuchada pero ignorada Imagino que este mensaje nos ayudará a darnos cuenta de que somos uno con la naturaleza y por lo tanto compartimos su vulnerabilidad Si bien este tema ya estaba presente en mi obra la idea de armar la serie nació con el cuadro La luz interior Esta pieza fue una respuesta a los eventos que alteraron parte del paisaje que solía servir de inspiración para mi trabajo De repente los árboles fueron arrancados de la tierra y fueron dejados tirados de lado Esta hermosa área verde fue nivelada solo para construir otro estacionamiento

C J Lori Un otoño glorioso es tan agridulce Encontrar belleza e inspiración en la naturaleza a medida que explota en colores brillantes y luego ver cómo se marchita todo puede resultar desolador Al menos sabemos que la primavera volverá y seguirá llegando solo si nos hacemos oír y actuamos para proteger nuestro planeta

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Michelle Lougee El trabajo de Michelle Lougee aborda el impacto de nuestra sociedad consumista en el mundo natural Las formas son una alegre reverencia a la naturaleza con una advertencia Producidas a partir de plástico post consumo tejido a ganchillo que de lo contrario terminaría en un vertedero basural las formas caprichosas y divertidas ilustran la tensión entre el material y el concepto mientras contemplan problemas profundos en nuestra cultura y medio ambiente Flotsam evolucionó a partir de la recolección clasificación y transformación de elementos plásticos de un solo uso acumulados en objetos obsesivos y distópicos Las redes fantasma son redes de pesca perdidas que continúan flotando en los océanos causando estragos en la vida marina Flotsam es una red hecha a mano a partir de bolsas de plástico de un solo uso La captura en esta red es la basura plástica recolectada en menos de dos meses a partir de mi uso personal caminatas de recolección de plástico y gracias un grupo de contribuyentes con conciencia ecológica

Rebecca McGee Tuck Rebecca McGee Tuck es una escultora de técnicas mixtas y coleccionista de objetos perdidos Su trabajo está inspirado en los pedazos y fragmentos de desechos terrestres y marinos que recolecta Cada objeto que recoge tiene energía como un artefacto emocional que contiene una relación con una acción una persona o un desconocido que despierta curiosidad La profundidad y las texturas que se construyen a través de experimentos escultóricos se convierten en una narrativa en capas En la superficie los objetos dentro pueden ser solo desechos no deseados pero el resultado escultórico que se compone es una historia multi capas de lo que quedó atrás Con su trabajo más reciente Tuck pretende crear conciencia sobre el abuso que sufren los océanos al transformar pedazos de desechos marinos en obras de arte y símbolos de esperanza llamando la atención sobre las consecuencias de contaminar nuestros océanos y fomentando un nuevo compromiso de acción

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Michael Manning Esta obra es una serie continua y en evolución de exposiciones dobles realizadas particularmente en las áreas de preocupación ambiental de la cuenca hidrográfica de Nueva Inglaterra Estas imágenes fotográficas monocromáticas en tonos azules se hacen todas en la cámara una y luego la segunda con unos pocos instantes de diferencia La inmediatez de la creación es una parte crítica de mi proceso y compromiso con el medio ambiente A menudo involucrando un movimiento similar al de la danza la creación de las imágenes se convierte en una conversación con la naturaleza misma Al documentar estas áreas con desafíos ambientales mi objetivo es expresar más plenamente la belleza y la fragilidad de la naturaleza al mismo tiempo que supero los límites de la fotografía de paisajes y la abstracción A nivel personal psicológico y emocional estoy explorando la unificación una reunión de voces de las naturalezas dentro y fuera Espero que las imágenes finales celebren el paisaje y se destaquen por sí mismas visualmente mientras invitan preguntas sobre el lugar y nuestra relación con la naturaleza

Shelby Meyerhoff En su serie Zoomorphics Shelby Meyerhoff pinta su propio rostro y cuerpo y se fotografía a sí misma como criaturas inspiradas en el mundo natural En medio de la crisis climática sus fotografías exploran las complejas relaciones entre los seres humanos y otros organismos Sus imágenes evocan la interconexión de la humanidad con otros seres vivos desdibujando la línea entre lo que es humano y lo que no lo es No solo muchos otros animales en todo el mundo se enfrentan a una amenaza inmediata sino también los seres humanos Somos animales dependientes de los ecosistemas que nos rodean Estamos en peligro Así también lo están las plantas y los animales e incluso los lugares que amamos Mientres que algunas de las criaturas de Meyerhoff están inspiradas en animales exóticos otras hacen referencia a la ecología local invitando a los espectadores a observar y considerar lo que sucede en su propio entorno así como en otros hábitats del mundo

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Carol Moses Esta imagen se centra en el daño al medio ambiente causado por los desechos la basura los productos químicos que dañan las vías fluviales los océanos la vida marina y la vida humana Al igual que muchos artistas me apasiona la botánica los jardines y la administración del entorno natural del que dependen todos los seres vivos La crueldad y el descuido de la crisis climática amenaza la vida humana y causa destrucción en la red interconectada de la vida vegetal y animal en nuestro planeta Nosotros con todos en la red de la vida necesitamos aire limpio agua limpia suelo sano Greta tiene razón!

Jeffrey Nowlin Las obras escultórica de fibra de Jeffrey se basan en materiales recuperados y objetos encontrados Sus preocupaciones son reconstruir narrativas personales y fenómenos de la vida Su adyacencia a la crisis del cambio climático se manifiesta en el socavar los medios consumistas de uso de materiales y en su lugar optar por telas y bienes encontrados intercambiados o reciclados para crear esculturas Él cree que abrir conversaciones sobre los medios de producción el desperdicio y la reutilización es una táctica productiva para abordar el dilema existencial de nuestro mundo Paula Pitman Brown Mi trabajo es un encuentro narrativo entre los animales en el mundo natural y la actividad abrumadora del mundo humano Quiero abordar la continuación de toda la vida silvestre para la coexistencia y para que los humanos respeten a todos los seres vivos Mis caminatas diarias alimentan mi actitud positiva e ideas creativas Ver un animal salvaje en nuestro mundo urbano es auspicioso para mí Me da esperanza Mis animales siempre están en movimiento activos animados y coloridos Tenemos que seguir avanzando Soy el venado que corre y baila

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Steven Rudin Soy artista profesor y ex psiquiatra residiendo en la ciudad de Nueva York Mi trabajo explora el collage como metáfora de la memoria y la identidad Me interesa el collage como una forma de mostrar que se pueden contar múltiples historias usando las mismas partes Buscar inspiración en elementos descartados e ignorados es un principio que rige mi práctica Estas obras hechas con trozos de periódicos que usé para limpiar el exceso de pintura son los efectos secundarios de otras pinturas Luna Sconty Con mi arte centrado en la belleza de la naturaleza audaz pero delicado en sus detalles quiero inspirar en el espectador asombro ante la magia de la naturaleza y crear conciencia de nuestra responsabilidad de preservar y apreciar el regalo que nos brinda en lugar de consumirlo y destruirlo Peace of Mind Tranquilidad de Espíritu simboliza la seguridad y la armonía que anhelamos en un mundo plagado de contaminación y descuido El tema va más allá aludiendo a las heridas que provoca la tala temeraria de árboles con fines lucrativos Los colores brillantes y la poderosa dinámica de mi arte encarnan la ligereza de la vida y su intensidad al mismo tiempo una fusión del espíritu humano con su entorno y mi amor por la naturaleza Ante la amenaza al medio ambiente uno podría imaginar su antítesis como un oasis utópico en su alegría y como una fuente de vitalidad Los seres humanos somos responsables de contrarrestar la amenaza del cambio climático y la consiguiente destrucción de los recursos naturales al proteger preservar y restaurar la biodiversidad de la naturaleza con la que estamos entrelazados orgánicamente para que las heridas puedan sanar y vivir como un oasis durante generaciones por venir

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Cynthia Staples ¿Un jardín cambiará el mundo? ¿Por que no? Trabajando la tierra Siendo considerado con lo que se planta y por qué Equilibrando los gustos personales con las necesidades de los que te rodean Encontrando belleza en una flor muerta sabiendo que sus semillas alimentarán a un pájaro Sembrando suficiente para consumir y también para compartir con amigos familiares y extraños La oleada de gratitud cuando llueve Un jardín no importa cuán grande o pequeño sea proporciona una educación interminable sobre la vida y sus estaciones sobre lo que es sustentable y lo que no lo es En la naturaleza efímera de las flores en flor los tomates que maduran o el olor de la albahaca fresca recién cortada uno se vuelve consciente del momento y de la preciosidad de esta vida

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