In response to climate change, the Chicago Climate Festival seeks to use art to change the conversation about environmental destruction. (Image courtesy of iStock) CHICAGO
— Chicago artists, academics and community groups will gather at DePaul
University, Columbia College and other Chicago locations throughout October to
address issues of climate change. Inspired by the United Nations’ annual
climate talks, the Chicago Climate Festival seeks to use art to change the
conversation about global warming and environmental destruction.
"The
arts are underrepresented in conversations about climate change,” said
Christine Skolnik, DePaul faculty member and director of the Chicago Climate
Festival. “Artists help us appreciate natural beauty and create a sense of community,” said Skolnik. Dance, visual art, photography and rap are among the events slated for the monthlong
series.
Events
will be held at DePaul University’s Lincoln Park Campus, Columbia College
Chicago and other locations throughout the city. All events are open to the
public and most have free admission. Events at DePaul include:
Alisa Singer: Environmental Graphiti
Oct. 1 - 31
McGowan South, 1110 W. Belden Ave.
John T. Richardson Library, 2350 N. Kenmore Ave.
Lincoln Park Student Center, 2250 N. Sheffield Ave.
Arts and Letters Hall, 2315 N. Kenmore Ave.
Pop-up exhibits showcasing artist Alisa Singer’s work will be displayed at several
DePaul University locations. Singer uses elements of scientific charts and
graphs to dramatic effect and created Environmental Graphiti to draw public
attention to the critical science of climate change.
Raptivate!
Oct. 5, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
McGowan South, 1110 W. Belden Ave., Room 105
Melissa Brice, founder of environmental activist group Chicago 350, will
present on the topic of fossil fuel divestment. Rap activist Joey FineRhyme
will perform his climate rap and host an open mic session on environmental
issues.
Judy Natal: Another Storm is Coming
Oct. 11, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
McGowan South, 1110 W. Belden Ave., Room 108
Acclaimed photographer Judy Natal showcases her recent work, “Another Storm is
Coming,” which highlights the devastating effects of extreme weather on
residents living along the Gulf Coast. She will also screen two new videos, “Breathed
on the Waters” and “Storm Redux,” which were commissioned by the Center for
Energy and Environmental Research in the Human Sciences at Rice University.
Soham Dance and Randall Honold
Oct. 12, 6-7:30 p.m.
Arts and Letters Hall, 2315 N. Kenmore Ave., Room 413
Young students from Soham Dance Space will perform children’s classical
Indian dance on an environmental theme. The evening will include student essays
on climate change and photography by Randall Honold, a faculty member and India
study abroad instructor at DePaul.
Values Project
Oct. 19, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
McGowan South, 1110 W. Belden Ave., Room 104
Widely recognized ecological restoration leader Bill Jordan will give a
presentation on ecology, ritual, and the arts. He will discuss the theory of
values for environmental thinking and practice for the future of our planet.
The event will also feature a short performance.
'GROUNDSWELL' reading
Oct. 25, 6:30-9:30 p.m.
The Theatre School at DePaul University, 2350 N. Racine Ave., Room 442
The festival will host a staged reading and discussion of the play “GROUNDSWELL”
by Karen Fort. The play tells the story of a farming family struggling through
a heat wave and emphasizes how climate change can dramatically impact relationships
and lifestyles.
The Warp Zone/Fieldworks Studios
Oct. 26, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
McGowan South, 1110 W. Belden Ave., Room 104
Artists Amanda Speer from The Warp Zone and Joshua Mason from Fieldworks
Studios will showcase their immersive art which includes paintings, sculptures,
photography and sounds in natural environments.
For a
complete list of events, visit http://chicagoclimate.org.
###
Source:
Christine Skolnik
cskolnik@depaul.edu
Media Contact:
Kristin Mathews
kristin.mathews@depaul.edu
312-241-9856