Climate-focused art, writing exhibition features works from Arctic expedition | Penn State University
Climate-focused art, writing exhibition features works from Arctic expedition Penn State
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Climate-Focused Art and Writing Exhibition to Open in Brooklyn
By [Author Name]
A Penn State English professor, Hester Blum, is co-curating a climate-focused art and writing exhibition that will open in October in Brooklyn, New York. The exhibition, titled “From the Cold Edge,” will feature the work of artists, writers, and researchers who participated in the Arctic Circle expeditionary residency program in 2022.
The Role of Environmental Humanities
Hester Blum explained that the exhibition draws insights from various disciplines, including natural history, political ecology, cultural geography, anthropology, philosophy, and ecocriticism. The aim is to study the cultural and theoretical implications of environmental conditions. The multimedia and interdisciplinary works showcased in the exhibition are inspired by the participants’ experiences in the high Arctic, including flora and fauna, anthropogenic climate change, resource extraction history, the Northern Lights, and Svalbard’s glaciation and geography.
Support from the Penn State Climate Consortium
The Penn State Climate Consortium is providing support for Hester Blum’s exhibition. Erica Smithwick, the director of the consortium, emphasized the importance of incorporating arts and humanities into climate research. This interdisciplinary approach enhances the emotional and cultural resonance of the research, making it more accessible and compelling to a wider audience. Smithwick believes that integrating creative and critical thinking can lead to new insights and solutions in addressing the climate crisis.
New Ways of Communication and Collective Action
Hester Blum stated that the current climate emergency requires innovative methods of communication to inspire collective action. The multidisciplinary projects showcased in the exhibition include sound, painting, sculpture, data collection, poetry, fiction, nonfiction, public art, calligraphy, dance, performance, and game design. These projects encourage reflection on the past, present, and future, and explore ways to adapt and regenerate in the face of environmental change.
Contributions from Hester Blum
Hester Blum has also contributed an essay titled “‘The World Is Here Too’: Out of Place in Svalbard” for the journal “Regeneration: Environment, Art, Culture.” An excerpt of this essay will be featured in the gallery show. Blum’s essay is part of her upcoming book, “Polar Erratics,” which delves into her research travels in the polar regions. The book explores the impact of large-scale environmental changes and the need to account for the ideas, people, remnants, and resources that are out of place in the new landscape shaped by climate disturbance.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
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SDG 13: Climate Action
- Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning
- Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising, and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning
- Indicator: Incorporating the arts and humanities into climate research to deepen understanding and engagement
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SDG 4: Quality Education
- Target 4.7: Ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development
- Indicator: Using interdisciplinary and creative approaches to education to address climate change
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SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
- Target 9.5: Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors, and encourage innovation
- Indicator: Pushing the boundaries of climate research through the intersection of art, culture, and science
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 13: Climate Action | Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning | Incorporating the arts and humanities into climate research to deepen understanding and engagement |
| SDG 13: Climate Action | Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising, and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning | Incorporating the arts and humanities into climate research to deepen understanding and engagement |
| SDG 4: Quality Education | Target 4.7: Ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development | Using interdisciplinary and creative approaches to education to address climate change |
| SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure | Target 9.5: Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors, and encourage innovation | Pushing the boundaries of climate research through the intersection of art, culture, and science |
Analysis
The article highlights the work of a Penn State English professor, Hester Blum, who is co-curating a climate-focused art and writing exhibition. The issues discussed in the article are connected to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
SDG 13: Climate Action
The exhibition and the work of the professor aim to address the climate crisis and the need for collective action. This aligns with SDG 13, which focuses on taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
SDG 4: Quality Education
The article mentions the incorporation of arts and humanities into climate research, which deepens the understanding of both the human and environmental aspects of the climate crisis. This relates to SDG 4, which emphasizes the importance of quality education and acquiring the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development.
SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
The article also highlights the intersection of art, culture, and science in pushing the boundaries of climate research. This aligns with SDG 9, which focuses on enhancing scientific research, upgrading technological capabilities, and encouraging innovation.
Based on the article’s content, specific targets can be identified:
Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning
The incorporation of arts and humanities into climate research can contribute to integrating climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning. It helps deepen the understanding of the cultural and theoretical implications of environmental conditions.
Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising, and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning
The interdisciplinary and creative approaches used in the exhibition and research contribute to improving education, awareness-raising, and human and institutional capacity on climate change. They provide new ways to communicate and inspire collective action.
Target 4.7: Ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development
The incorporation of arts and humanities into climate research enhances education by providing learners with interdisciplinary and creative approaches to address climate change. It helps them acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development.
Target 9.5: Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors, and encourage innovation
The intersection of art, culture, and science in pushing the boundaries of climate research contributes to enhancing scientific research, upgrading technological capabilities, and encouraging innovation. It brings new insights and solutions to the climate crisis.
Source: psu.edu
