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ASTR Working Session Calls for Papers â€œTrans-cultural, trans-national, trans-species histories in performanceâ€

May 27, 2012Cultura21, Earth Matters on Stage, Open CallsAesthetics, Anthologies, Anticipation, Arons, Astr, Berlin Germany, Carnegie Mellon University, Chaudhuri, Copenhagen Denmark, Cozzolino, Critical Aspect, Earth Matters, Eds, Francesca, Group Session, Growing Concern, Histories, Kagan, Kajsa, Koefoed, Material Characteristics, Mexico City, November 1st, Oleg, Paris France, Rana, Rising Tide, Sacha, Storytelling, Trans National, Understandings, Valuable Research, Vitality, Working Group

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Since their first American Society for The Theatre Research (ASTR) Working Group session at the 2010 conference in Seattle, the Performance and Ecology Working Group has spawned symposia, anthologies, and publications. Foremost among those is a new volume that grew out of the 2010 session: Readings in Performance and Ecology, eds., Wendy Arons and Theresa J. May (Palgrave 2012). The Working Group has continued valuable research on numerous fronts, including â€œEarth Matters on Stageâ€ conference at Carnegie Mellon University (2012) and â€œStaging Sustainabilityâ€ at York University (2011).

â€œThe rising tide of this focused research indicate not only a growing concern and mounting artistic will in the realm of ecological sensibility, but also faith in the imagination as a critical aspect of our individual and collective ecological identities.â€

This year, as part of ASTRâ€™s â€œTheatrical Historiesâ€ focus, they turn their attention to trans-cultural, trans-national, and trans-species performance in anticipation of a second volume of ecocritical writings on theatre and performance. The questions for the upcoming 2012 Working Group session, that will take place November 1st.- 4th 2012 include:

Â How do transcultural and transnational performances re-map our understanding of what May has called â€œecodramaturgyâ€?
Â What constitutes â€œtheatre of speciesâ€ (Chaudhuri) and how might these trans-species performances rearrange or reinterpret understandings of representation?
Â How do the material characteristics of artistic sites condition the aesthetics of the work produced?
Â What kinds of geological and geographical histories emerge alongside socio-cultural storytelling?
Â How do intersecting histories â€“ indigenous, place-based, community-driven â€“ play out on stage in performance?
Â How do ecological transitions, transmigrations, transmutations, transformations and transference shape artistic practice and meaning-making in the theatre?
Â Other questions, approaches and topics that clearly address trans-national, trans-cultural, trans-species topics in performance.

Please send Abstracts as word attachments to both Working Group conveners below by May 31, 2012:

Theresa May, University of Oregon ( tmay33 [at] uoregon [dot] edu)

Nelson Gray, University of Victoria ( ncgray [at] uvic [dot] ca)

Â More info: http://www.astr.org/conference/2012-working-session-cfps

Be a gathering! The Natural Circus trainings, Spring 2012

May 24, 2012Cultura21Advaita, April 2007, Berlin Germany, Circus, Circus Website, Contact Improvisation, Copenhagen Denmark, Cozzolino, Deep Ecology, Francesca, Gatherings, Improviser, Interconnectedness, Interdependence, Kagan, Kajsa, Koefoed, Lars Schmidt, Members, Mexico City, Natural Environment, Nature Awareness, Oleg, Paris France, Perspective, Rana, Sacha, Stillness, Taoist, Visual Artist, Vitality, Zen Philosophy

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â€˜I am movement and stillness at the same timeâ€™

The Natural Circus trainings are a body and movement practice (and maybe a bit more), embedded in an understanding that â€˜nothing lasts, nothing is finished, nothing is perfectâ€™.

Situated in a powerful natural environment, they are playful gatherings beyond the human(-centered) perspective that may help realize the complete interdependence and interconnectedness of the human being with the natural world â€“ until what remains is dance only. The trainings integrate elements of Contact Improvisation, Physical Theater, Tango, Bodywork, Meditation, Deep Ecology and Nature Awareness Work, Taoist/Advaita/Zen philosophy.

This 4-days gathering will take place in Barnave/Diois, France; from May 24th to the 28th, and will feature Diethild Meier (Dancer, improviser, visual artist), Lars Schmidt (Wandering Monk, Natural Thinker, Improviser) and Romain Petit (Freeclimber and climbing teacher).

The cost of the gathering is 240â‚¬, housing on site (Le Serre) included, in two rustic apartments, food will be extra, shared and prepared together. The number of participants is limited to 12 persons

For more information, go to Natural CircusÂ´ website.

Registration: contact [at] passiveactivism [dot] net

Science Inspires Art 2012: VITAL SIGNS

May 22, 2012Cultura21, Open CallsArt Co, Asci, Berlin Germany, Biological World, Collaborations, Copenhagen Denmark, Cozzolino, Francesca, Harvard Medical School, Illustration Collection, Inquisitive Mind, International Art, Joe Davis, Kagan, Kajsa, Koefoed, Mexico City, Microbiologist, Nature Exhibits, New York Hall Of Science, New York State Museum, Oleg, Paris France, Patricia Kernan, Rana, Sacha, Signs Of Life, Time Collaborator, Vital Signs, Vitality

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Open Call for Artists: What vital signs of life pull at your inquisitive mind and imagination?

The Art & Science Collaborations, Inc. (ASCI) announces an Open Call for their annual,Â international, art-sci competition. The exhibition will be held at the New York Hall of Science, September 1, 2012 â€“ February 3, 2013.

For this yearâ€™s competition they are seeking original art inspired by our biological world with a special interest in what lies beneath its surface, and/or reflects upon scientific research questions, processes, ethics, and the stunning discoveries being made in biology and the biosciences today.

This time, the Art Co-Juror will be Patricia Kernan, curator of the New York State Museumâ€™s illustration collection; and curator of the museumâ€™s international, biennial, â€œFocus on Natureâ€ exhibits; and the Science Co-Juror will be Dr. Dana Boyd, microbiologist and Lecturer in the Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology at Harvard Medical School; long-time collaborator of Joe Davis, the â€œfatherâ€ of bio-art.

The Deadline is June 17, 2012.

For more details, click here.

International Conference:â€œPopular Culture and Social Transformationâ€

May 18, 2012Cultura21, Open CallsAim, Berlin Germany, Call For Papers, Copenhagen Denmark, Cozzolino, Dittmer, Francesca, Kagan, Kajsa, Keynote Speakers, Koefoed, Lindgren, Mexico City, Mirror, Oleg, Oslo, Paris France, Popular Culture, Rana, Sacha, Sessions, Social Transformation, Social Transformations, Vitality

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What can we learn about social transformations from popular culture?

The two- day conference, entitled â€œPopular Culture and Social Transformationâ€,Â will be held in Oslo on 4-5 October 2012.

The aim of the conference is through a variety of sessions and topics to address how popular culture is not only a mirror of society, but also a crucial element of power; the keynote speakers are Simon Lindgren and Jason Dittmer.

For those interested in joining the conference, the deadline for abstracts is May 15th, 2012.

The call for papers is available here.

For more information about the conference, please visit:

http://www.uio.no/kultrans/aktuelt/konferanser/popular/

Key Issues Guide on Indigenous knowledge and climate change

May 17, 2012Cultura21Berlin Germany, Close Connection, Copenhagen Denmark, Cozzolino, Environmental Change, Francesca, Impacts Of Climate Change, Indigenous Communities, Indigenous Knowledge, Indigenous Peoples, Kagan, Kajsa, Koefoed, Mexico City, Natural Environment, Oleg, Paris France, Rana, Sacha, Spirituality, United Nations University, University Of Sussex, University Of Sussex Uk, Vitality

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Indigenous communities have long been recognised as being particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change due to the close connection between their livelihoods, culture, spirituality and social systems and their environment. At the same time, however, this deep and long-established relationship with the natural environment affords many indigenous peoples with knowledge that they have long used to adapt to environmental change, and are now using to respond to the impacts of climate change.

The potential of indigenous knowledge for informing observations of, and responses to climate change is an area of growing interest. The United Nations University published a compendium, available online, which presents a wide-ranging overview of more than 400 projects, case studies and research activities specifically related to climate change and Indigenous Peoples (IP).

ThatÂ publication, as well as other resources, can beÂ found on the website of the Institute of Development Studies at University of Sussex (UK): Click here

Opportunity to make work at Teaneck Creek

May 16, 2012Cultura21, Open CallsAcre, Bergen County, Berlin Germany, Brownfields, Community Students, Copenhagen Denmark, Cozzolino, Devery, Ecoart, Environmental Resources, Forested Wetland, Francesca, Interested Artists, Kagan, Kajsa, Koefoed, Larger Community, Mexico City, Oleg, Opportunity, Overpeck Park, Paris France, Partnership With Local Government, Passive Recreation, Practicioner, Profit Partnership, Proposals, Public Outreach, Rana, Representative Works, Residency Period, Sacha, Statement Of Interest, Teaneck Creek, Teaneck Nj, Vitality, Wetlands Research

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The Ecoart Committee of the Teaneck Creek Conservancy in Teaneck, NJ seeks proposals from ecoartists or ecoartist teams to create an ecoartwork in 2012-13.

The Teaneck Creek Conservancy is a 46-acre eco-park within Bergen Countyâ€™s 1,200-acre Overpeck Park, this property is being reclaimed and rehabilitated as wetland habitat and for positive public use through a unique â€œBrownfields to Greenfieldsâ€ project. Community-based plans for the Conservancy are developed by artists, activists, scientists, historians, educators in a non profit partnership with local government over the past ten years. These plans have created a park with a 1.5 mile trail system for passive recreation, eco art, wetlands research and rehabilitation, and public outreach and education that is focused on the propertyâ€™s environmental resources, land use, and history.

For this project, they are seeking an experienced ecoart practicioner, whoÂ´s capable of responding imaginatively to a recovering urban forested wetland, and will work collaboratively with community students and volunteers, and mentor a local artist in the creation of the piece.The work should build support among the larger community for an understanding and definition of ecoart that is inclusive yet underscores the notion of ecology and our impact on this recovering environment. The process will be video documented throughout the residency period.

The Anticipated total budget including artist(s) fee is a range of USD$15000. â€“ 20000.

To apply, you can submit via email by June 1, 2012 to devery [at] teaneckcreek [dot] org :

1) A brief artists statement of interest outlining a preliminary proposal for this site project. (Interested artists are strongly encouraged to visit the Conservancy prior to making a submission.)

2) Up to 5 images of representative works that address the requirements of this RFP. Images should be smaller than 1MB. A website address can be substituted. They are interested in viewing your work as an ecoart practitioner.

3) C.V. , either via e-mail or associated with a website.

4) Contact information including daytime phone number.

You can check the proposal form atÂ Teaneck CreekÂ´s website and you can also check www.PuffinFoundation.orgÂ for further information and directions.

White Mountain National Forest & Arts Alliance of Northern NH Invite Applications for 2012 WMNF Artist-in-Residence Program

May 12, 2012Cultura21, Open CallsAmp, Application Materials, Artist In Residence, Arts Alliance, Berlin Germany, Choreographers, Copenhagen Denmark, Cozzolino, Emerging Artists, Forest Environment, Francesca, Kagan, Kajsa, Koefoed, Least Three Weeks, Media Artists, Mexico City, Mountain National Forest, Oleg, Paris France, Performing Artists, Rana, Sacha, Vitality, White Mountain National Forest, Wmnf

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Artists in all media are invited to apply for the 2012 White Mountain National Forest (WMNF) Artist-in-Residence program

The program, a collaboration between the WMNF and the Arts Alliance of Northern New Hampshire, seeks to highlight the ways the arts can be used to explore and interpret the forest environment and forest-related issues.

The residency offers professional and emerging artists from around the country (visual and performing artists, craftspeople, writers, composers and choreographers, eco artists and media artists) an opportunity to pursue their particular art form while being inspired by the surrounding forest and, on several occasions, sharing their work and their artistic process with members of the public.

Deadline for applications is May 18; the artist selected will choose a period of at least three weeks between July and September to be in residence.

Click here for more information and to download application materials.

An Ecology of Ideas Conference â€“ July 9-13, 2012 (USA)

May 8, 2012Conferences, Cultura21Acceptable Manner, Asc, Berlin Germany, Conversations, Copenhagen Denmark, Cozzolino, Cybernetics, Ecology, Evening Performances, Francesca, Gregory Bateson, Kagan, Kajsa, Keynote Speakers, Koefoed, Members, Mexico City, New Organization, Oleg, Organizing, Paradigm, Paradigms, Paradox, Paris France, Perspectives, Plenary Presentations, Praxis, Rana, Reference And Reflexivity, Resonance, Sacha, Self Reference, Vitality, Weather, Works Of Art

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The American Society for Cybernetics (ASC) and the Bateson Idea Group (BIG),Â a new organization exploring Gregory Batesonâ€™s â€œpattern that connects,â€ have joinedÂ to hold a conference on the relations among ideas as seen from multiple perspectives.Â In organizing this conference they seek to find a balance between the spontaneous and theÂ planned. They intend to seed conversations with various forms of presentation, ranging fromÂ keynote speakers to workshops and performances; all of which can be considered works ofÂ art in the domain of ideas. They will provide many spaces for conversation and innovation.

The three themes of this conference are:

Paradigm

What do our current paradigms determine or enable, and what would changes to these imply? How could we guess what other things would change along with the changes we desire? How would we implement a shift in an ethical and socially acceptable manner?

Recursion

Recursion (like its fellow concepts, self-reference and reflexivity) is open to many interpretations depending on who you are, and the context you are in. We are interested in both what is held in common between these different interpretations, and what is particular to each. We wish to explore not only the implications of acting based on how we understand these ideas, but also what happens when we proceed unaware of the differences.

Praxis

Why are praxis and theory often separated; and how can they better be brought together? In what ways are the ideas of cybernetics and systems inherently concerned with practice? Does the phrase â€œthe paradox of praxisâ€ evoke a resonance?

Program

The program will offer a compelling network of ideas to inspire participants in creating their own ideas, insights and thoughts. There will be a mix of meeting types: plenary presentations, workshops, conversations, and evening performances taking place in the wonderful spaces (and, weather permitting, grounds) of the Asilomar Conference Facility.

The following invited speakers will be making plenary presentations:
Graham Barnes
Eric Bateson
Nora Bateson
Fritjof Capra
Humberto Maturana
Ximena DÃ¡vila
Terrence Deacon
Debora Hammond
Klaus Krippendorff
Rex Weyler
Carol Wilder

Nora Bateson will show her award-winning film, An Ecology of Mind, about her fatherâ€™s lifeâ€™s work. Other performances will include film, multimedia, theatre, and music. The workshops for this conference will be designed as participatory experiences that in some manner generate or demonstrate ideas and concepts. They will have theme based conversations and also provide many convivial spaces for spontaneous conversations. A full program will be published on the organizers website by early May.

Venue

Asilomar is a National Historic Landmark is located on 107 acres of beautiful and ecologically diverse beachfront land. Asilomar offers a unique and desirable conference experience in its natural setting, its conference facilities, and its suitability for conversational spaces. http://www.visitasilomar.com/
Conference participants must book with the Asilomar site for accommodation and meals.

Important Dates

Apr-30 Proposals for Abstracts (papers and workshops) due
Apr-30 Early Bird Registration closes
May-10 Referees respond to proposals
May-20 Any Revisions to Abstracts due
May-30 Abstracts published online
May-30 Program details published online
July-09 Conference starts

The Cultural History of Climate Change

May 7, 2012Cultura21, Open Calls28 August, Berlin Germany, Call For Papers, Canberra Australia, Carbon Cycle, Climates, Conceptual Challenges, Copenhagen Denmark, Cozzolino, Cultural History, Dot Edu, Evolutionary Time, Francesca, Global Society, Herodotus, Historians, Historical Period, Historical Understanding, Historiography, History Of Climate Change, Human Knowledge, Humanities Research Centre, Individual Agency, Kagan, Kajsa, Koefoed, Literary Reflections, Mexico City, Oleg, Paris France, Political Debates, Rana, Sacha, Speculative Survey, Technological History, Traditional Notions

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Humanities Research Centre, Australian National University, 27 â€“ 28 August, 2012

Historians since Herodotus have argued that climates shape cultures. We can no longer ignore the fact that cultures also shape climates. Todayâ€™s climate is increasingly a material effect of the history of industrialisation. The climate of the coming centuries will be an effect of contemporary global society. Recognition of these interactions opens a significant new field to historical inquiry. It brings the economic, political and technological history of the carbon cycle together with cultural, aesthetic and literary reflections of climate, and links the emergence of ecological thinking to broader transformations in the organization of knowledge. Acknowledging that the climate is cultural compels us to rethink many existing forms of historical understanding. It challenges traditional notions of the historical period, of collective and individual agency, of the narrative forms of historiography, and of the basic distinction between natural and human history. It demands new ways of relating the existential and historical moments of human knowledge and action to the dimensions of geological and evolutionary time.

The cultural history of climate change will be of central importance to social, cultural and political debates of the Twenty-First Century. To provide a speculative survey of this field, the Humanities Research Centre will hold a special conference on this theme on 27 and 28 August, 2012, in Canberra, Australia.

Proposals are invited for papers that either:
â€¢ examine episodes, works or themes that fall within the cultural history of climate change; or
â€¢ address the conceptual challenges posed to historical inquiry by anthropogenic climate change.

Please submit proposals of up to 300 words to tom [dot] ford [at] anu [dot] edu [dot] au by 18 May 2012

Sustainability as a minor at US art schools

April 22, 2012Cultura21American Art, Art Schools, Berlin Germany, Copenhagen Denmark, Cozzolino, Francesca, Huffington Post, Kagan, Kajsa, Koefoed, Maryland Institute College, Maryland Institute College Of Art, Mexico City, Oleg, Paris France, Rana, Recent Article, Sacha, sustainability, Vitality

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Article in the Huffington Post: â€œSustainability Has Become a Growing Focus of Artistsâ€™ (and Art Schoolsâ€™) Attentionâ€

A recent article in the Huffington Post notices the growing interest in sustainability and eco-art at some US American art schools (such as e.g. the Maryland Institute College of Art). To read the article: click here