Ed Miliband’s summer reading

Ed Miliband’s summer reading from RSA Arts & Ecology on Vimeo. It was Robert Butler of the Ashden Directory who spotted what Ed Miliband had tucked under his arm as he came to announce the winners of the first TippingPoint Commision awards… Go to RSA Arts & Ecology

Wildflower Works followup

I’ve received a few emails alerting me that I had information wrong in my previous post on Chapman Kelley’s piece, Chicago Wildflower Works. Here’s a shot from 1992, taken well before the park was altered by the city of Chicago. The image was provided by the artist. And the shot I used in my previous [...]

APInews: LAND/ART Opens in New Mexico

“LAND/ART,” a massive six-month environmental art project involving more than 25 presenting organizations in New Mexico, opened last weekend with a symposium. Coordinated by 516 ARTS, events began June 27 with a guided bus tour by The Center for Land Use Interpretation through dramatic built landscapes. Continuing through December 2009, “LAND/ART” explores relationships of land, [...]

Narrative shift: telling stories about climate

Last weekend, Robert Butler of the Ashden Directory, in associaton with Charlie Kronick of Greenpeace and writer Caspar Henderson invited 15 academics, writers and activists to explore the issue of how we create narratives around climate change. RSA Arts & Ecology blogger Caleb Klaces returned enthused by the debate and … Go to RSA Arts [...]

Planet Plus Funny.

I’d like to take an opportunity to salute some minor heroes of the eco-art movement. These are people who aren’t neccessarily attending conferences or participating in exhibitions. They might not even consider themselves eco-artists: they aren’t taking it too seriously. I’m talking about funny folks. Anyone who has seen Rivers and Tides or any of [...]

Marine Bill: contact your MP

Britain’s coastline has, recent research suggests, become “a desert” from overfishing. Having passed through the Lords, the Marine Bill, designed to protect Britain’s coastline. Conservation organisations and concerned individuals tell us the bill is weak – especially in setting a long deadline of 2020 for the completion of marine reserves. … Go to RSA Arts [...]

ashdenizen: earth singer

Michael Jacksons Earth Song was his biggest-selling UK single. Leo Hickman writes: The song is a very rare thing: a hit record with a powerful message about our impact on the environment. How many others can you think of? Joni Mitchells Big Yellow Taxi? Marvin Gayes Mercy Mercy Me? The Pixies Monkey Gone to Heaven? [...]

Animal crackers: the dystopian zoo

Trouble in paradise is an exhibition by Steinbrener/Dempf at Schönbrunn zoo, Vienna, that takes a poke at our romantic idea of the unspoiled natural environment, especially the facade of the natural created for animal enclosures. Go to RSA Arts & Ecology

Radical Nature @ The Barbican reviewed

Skye Sherwin in The Guardian: Even the remotest hermit knows that the effects of climate change are the greatest threat faced by mankind. So where does that leave artists? Can they contribute anything to debates about the environment? Might the imperatives of environmentalism constrain their freedom to make interesting work? And … Go to RSA [...]

City digs up wildflowers: artist sues

Reported widely as a “but-is-it-art” case, Chapman Kelley’s decision to sue the city of Chicago for ripping up half of his wildflower artwork is a fascinating one. At first glance you might think it shows how powerless artists are in the face of bureaucracy. In fact it shows the exact … Go to RSA Arts [...]

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