on converting a spruce plantation into a forest & other projects that inspire, by Cathy Fitzgerald
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Part of my interest in creating films with an ecological theme is also observing how such films can travel, online and across the world. Film festivals dedicated solely to ecological concerns are a recent enough phenomena and its interesting that many are mimicking the short online film and social networked formats that you see used [...]
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My work attempts to blur the already ambiguous boundaries between environmental art and ecological research. When initiating a project I often solicit technological or theoretical information from field biologists, or zoological organizations. In other cases, I have collaborated with scientists to create a work. As an artist involved in wildlife preservation, global [...]
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Ever wondered what it might be like to live in a city that encourages people to reach their fullest creative potential? What would such a city look like? How would it feel to live in such a city? David Engwicht, artist, clown, writer and street philosopher, unpacks what [...]
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Image: Slovenian mixed species, non clear fell forest – what my Holly Wood forest in Co. Carlow will someday look like
When I went to Slovenia last Sept for the 20th anniversary of Pro Silva Europe and met with foresters from 27 member countries, I had little idea that I would be six months [...]
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Aren’t things all a bit late this year?
Still Spring at any time is pretty marvellous – I finally got a new camera, something similar in size to a camera I borrowed some years ago. So last Easter Saturday, straight out of the box, I went outside and had a little Wordsworth minute. Hope you like [...]
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One of the biggest problems in trying to engage people about climate change is that it’s a very abstract idea. Apart from all the controversy at the moment that is distracting attention and understanding from the very worrying facts gathered by thousands of the world’s leading scientists, it still remains very far removed from people’s [...]
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Above: Key cultural organisations present at the inaugural Culture|Futures Conference at COP15: National Gallery of Denmark, Copenhagen, 2009
Update: new 2010 British Council Document on Art & Climate Change : includes Cultural Policy & Regulatory Guidelines, see end of post
Finally completed this article on my visit to the first international culture and climate change [...]
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Above: Martin lighting one of the lanterns
I’ve been back a few days from Copenhagen and the Cultures | Futures symposium. It was a great experience to be in one place with so many different perspectives on how the cultural communities / practitioners / arts councils and international arts bodies from around the world are joining [...]
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The first ‘forest to fuel’ meeting organised by the Transition Town group FutureProof Kilkenny and Glas last week turned out to be a good event with much local interest. Contributions were made from Glas on German woodburners and gasifiers. I made a short presentation about how my art project is documenting our transformation of our [...]
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Just thought I would post this as it’s happening in my work place next week. Mary (Kilkenny Arts Officer) and Jean (Education Curator, Butler Gallery, Kilkenny) have been working hard on the 2nd Moot event on Art and the Environment; the first event a year ago had some very useful info, particularly Gavin Harte letting [...]
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follow me on twitter/ecoartnotes
My art & ecology notebook documents a SLOW ART project. It's an ongoing diary in images, short films; conversations between myself, foresters, our local community & beyond, detailing an example of how we are turning our small monoculture spruce plantation into an ecologically & economically, permanent real FOREST.
I am also interested in using film to convey personal stories of small backyard environmental actions in response to global ecological concerns. I am developing a personal, poetic narrative film-making style, that while documentary in certain aspects, allows a larger range of ideas and emotions to be presented, in contrast to standard nature documentaries.
My project 'the Holly Wood Diaries'has allowed me to create two experimental film sketches, 'burning bright' (08) and 'once i counted birds' (09) and builds on previous stories with beginner foresters and their young trees/new woodlands in the more traditionally styled documentary film 'the local project revisited', 2006
I also write about other eco-art works that inspire me & which may be inspire others.
rsa art & ecology blog Nils L. Elliot: Mediating Nature
