Eco Urgency: Now or Never
By Eudy Castro
Artwork in Eco-Urgency: Now or Never illuminate current ecological problems such as climate change, pollution, competition for natural resources and food insecurity. The exhibition is co-organized by Wave Hill Public Garden & Cultural Center and the Lehman College Art Gallery. Wave Hill, located on 4900 Independence Avenue, hosted a free public gallery tour on October 7.
Tatiana Arocha’s “Alba,” produced in 2019, is a handmade and digitally processed piece illustrating the lush plant life in Colombia. These plants are sacred to indigenous people. The color palette references coal mining, coca plantations and burning acres of forest.
Hannah Chalew’s “Embodied Emissions,” 2020, showcases the impact of oil and gas industries on the environment in southern Louisiana. The factory pipes are connected with tree roots and branches which lead to pollution in the environment.
Alison Moritsugu’s “Talisman,” 2015, is a sculpture that the artist created with a salvaged log. Moritsugu compares sailors’ travails to ecological and natural disasters. The artwork on the sculpture is inspired by sailor tattoos depicting natural disasters at sea.
Alexis Rockman’s portraits are animals and plants made out of soil, dirt, pebbles, trash and other materials that shows the connection between humanity and nature. The resources used to create the portrait are supposed to be a reflection of how New York’s ecosystem has changed.
Candace Thompson’s “Food Web Mind Map,” 2019, is an illustration which aims to help people understand their relationship to food and ecology. The map is a result of Thompson’s research in biodiversity and economics, dating back to the central point of the problems in the ecosystem.
Natalie Collette Wood’s “Swallowed By Nature,” 2018, is a sculptured piece made of different resources that blend with nature. It illustrates the relationship between nature and everyday resources. The resources being scattered throughout nature are hurting the environment. The pieces consist of chairs, car wheels, dining room tables with different plants and grass.
This is one of two parts of the exhibit, lasting from August 28 to December 5. The second part of the exhibit will be hosted at the Lehman College Art Gallery on December 4. Wave Hill will continue to host this in the Gylndor Gallery until December 5.