Coinciding with the 01SJ Biennial this upcoming September 16–19, ZER01, the 01SJ Biennial producers will present GLOBAL WARNING: Artists, Scientists and Environmental Activism, a two-day symposium that will examine the interconnectedness of ideas and actions, and the current relationships between art, science and ecology. Over the two full days of the symposium, a group of select artists, scientists and policy-makers, including noted author Dr. Kathleen Dean Moore and internationally renowned environmental artists Gail Wright and Buster Simpson, will present and examine case studies of scientific solutions to environmental issues and collaborative environmental art projects.
Public policy, urban planning, sustainable design and civic cultural development strategies serve as platforms for stimulating community dialogue. Symposium participants will be invited to help advance this cross-disciplinary enterprise through their active involvement in the dialogue.
Leading day one of the symposium, LEONARDO/The International Society for the Arts, Sciences and Technology will confront the critical challenges of the 21st century. Morning symposium sessions, highlighting environmental policy, will provide a context for the afternoon’s focus on artistic and scientific environmental practice. The day will start with a high-profile keynote speaker, Dr. Kathleen Dean Moore, (Editor/Author; Professor, Oregon State University: Why It’s Wrong to Wreck the World), followed by Gail Wright, providing an overview of the field of activist environmental art. Afternoon sessions include a discussion of science and public outreach by Dr. Peter Roopnarine of the California Academy of Sciences and a panel discussion moderated by Meredith Tromble (Artist/Author; SFAI Faculty) that places scientists and artists in conversation with one another and encourages open dialogue with the audience.
Day two of GLOBAL WARNING, co-hosted by the City of San Jose Public Art Program and the CADRE Laboratory for New Media, brings to light the role public art and artists can play in environmental activism, informed by urban planning, sustainable design issues and public policy.
Day two begins with feature presentations by three teams selected to develop designs for the Climate Clock, a landmark public art project that incorporates Silicon Valley’s measurement, data management, and communications technologies to help people understand climate change while encouraging them to continue reducing their carbon footprint. Realized as a site-specific iconic installation, the Climate Clock will be integrated into the expansion of the San José Diridon Station designated as the California High-Speed Rail Hub. An overview of the Climate Clock Initiative will be presented and complemented by artist team presentations of their design strategies prior to the beginning of their residencies in fall 2010.
Wrapping up the second and final day of the symposium, afternoon sessions will investigate how issues of public policy, urban planning, sustainable design, and civic cultural/economic development strategies can serve as a platform for public art and how public art can stimulate community dialogue about these issues of critical importance.
Can’t be there in person? No problem. The 01SJ Biennial will be broadcasting the GLOBAL WARNING symposium live via Ustream along with a facilitated discussion using Ustream’s Social Media capabilities. Login with your Twitter of Facebook accounts to join the conversation.
For a full list of participants and daily schedules please visit: http://01sj.org/programs/symposium/
GLOBAL WARNING is organized by ZER01: The Art and Technology Network, City of San Jose Public Art Program, CADRE Laboratory for New Media at San Jose State University and LEONARDO/The International Society for the Arts, Sciences and Technology, with additional support from Montalvo Arts Center.
