“Climate of Uncertainty” exhibition explores human impact on environment, opens Jan. 10 at DePaul Art Museum - Taken from the DePaul Art Museum web site (click here for more details)
The DePaul Art Museum will explore the human impact on the environment with “Climate of Uncertainty,” an interactive exhibition that opens Jan. 10 and runs through March 24. The museum is free and open to the public every day. An opening reception will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Jan. 10 at the museum, located at 935 W. Fullerton Ave., just east of the CTA’s Fullerton “L” stop.
“One of the greatest challenges that society will likely face in the coming decades and century is how to strategically plan for and adapt to the uncertain effects of climate change,” Fatemi said. “It’s unusual for an art museum to take on a subject that is so technical, but the premise of this exhibition is that artists, whose tools for communicating are visual, emotional, visceral and intuitive, can help build a public movement and engage audiences using a fresh vocabulary.”
Works in the exhibition reveal ways that individuals, industries and governments have exploited, abused or depleted natural resources and explore alternative approaches to environmental issues by challenging the viewer to imagine a more hopeful future.
“Climate of Uncertainty” features 12 artists engaged in long-term projects that address the human role in environmental degradation. Seven photographers document issues ranging from the destructive effects of extractive industry to the effect of careless waste disposal on animal populations. Several artists use installations to provide audiences with a participatory and immersive experience around deforestation and the enormous consequences of large-scale damming. Other media included in the project include sculpture, printmaking, and mixed media.
In conjunction with the exhibition, a number of programs featuring leading scholars, environmental activists and artists will be held at the museum to encourage a dialogue on the topics. Programs include:
● Sustainability Conference, Jan. 18, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; curator’s tour, 5 p.m. A conference on sustainable business organized by the Driehaus College of Business’ Finance Department is designed to introduce the concept of sustainability to the value creation process of for-profit firms. Keynoters, panelists and presenters from industry, policy-making organizations, and think tanks will discuss the many avenues through which ideas may be developed for profitable projects that are mindful of the environment and social challenges of our time. The conference will include speakers from Northern Trust, Manulife Insurance, New America Foundation, PriceWaterHouseCoopers, Chicago Metropolis 2020, Interface, Haworth, Boeing, Eli Lilly, Biohabitats, and E2.
● The Art and Science of Climate Change, Jan. 30, 6 to 8 p.m. A panel of speakers will discuss climate change through the lenses of several academic disciplines. Mark Potosnak, assistant professor, environmental science and studies at DePaul, will introduce the science of climate change. Barbara Willard, associate professor in the College of Communication, will focus on how the public perceives climate change and outline {propose, suggest] methods for more effective communication. The economic implications of climate change and potential policy responses will be covered by the third speaker, Christie Klimas, a lecturer in environmental science and studies at DePaul. Chicago photographer Terry Evans will discuss her project, A Greenland Glacier: The Scale of Climate Change.
