Media release     www.climarte.org 8 December 2010

It’s time for the arts to take a stand on climate change

As political leaders continue to negotiate small steps for action on climate change in Cancun in Mexico, a new non partisan and not for profit group has formed to represent the deep running climate concerns of people working in all sectors of the Australian Arts industry.

The new initiative launched in Melbourne today calls for all those involved in the arts sector— including arts organisations, practitioners, administrators, patrons and academics from the visual arts, music, theatre, dance, literature, design, architecture, and cinema—to form a broad alliance to advocate for urgent action to address the critical threat of climate change.

CLIMARTE co-founder and convenor Guy Abrahams said: “We have heard the scientists. We have watched and waited for our politicians to act. We have watched them argue amongst themselves and then do almost nothing. We have witnessed a failure of leadership, a failure of nerve, a failure of creativity, and a failure of morality. Perhaps the Federal Government’s new Climate Change Committee marks a move in the right direction; but let’s not wait to see.”

Launched during the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Cancun, Mexico, CLIMARTE hopes to attract a strong following in the arts sector to help create a growing influence from civil society for action on climate change.

“By joining CLIMARTE members will acknowledge the enormous risks that human induced climate change poses to our world,” Mr Abrahams said.

“Our aim is to create a strong arts voice to join with other concerned citizens in calling for immediate, effective action to be taken to restore a safe climate.”

The arts have a unique role in communicating the risk of climate change in ways that scientists cannot, Mr Abrahams said.

“The arts can not only show but indeed they can make us feel the very problems that we are facing. They can inspire us to acknowledge that we are part of nature and not separate from it.”

For more information contact Guy Abrahams at guy.abrahams@climarte.org or 0409 428 600

In this Australian first, following short and sharp provocations from our guest speakers including Dick Robertson (TippingPoint UK), Natasha Mitchell (Science Broadcaster and Presenter All in the Mind, ABC Radio National), Marcus Westbury (Arts and culture journalist and TV presenter), will facilitate a different kind of extended conversation, in which you decide what should be discussed. What follows is a night of vibrant and creative conversation that will have you engaged, connected and with a personal climate change action plan. The Malthouse Kitchen and Bar will be open for your enjoyment throughout!

Following this Open Space event 120 artists, scientists and others will be participating in a two day Melbourne gathering of TippingPointAustralia with the objective to develop ideas and commission new works before it moves to Sydney and then Brisbane.

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT WWW.TIPPINGPOINTAUSTRALIA.COM

21 AUGUST – 31 OCTOBER 2010

In the Balance: Art for a Changing World features works by Australian and international contemporary artists that respond to ecological concerns. The exhibition reflects the diversity of environmental debates and concerns within and beyond Australia today, and features works that address a spectrum of issues including sustainability and recycling.

Check out these blogs by artists in the exhibition about their works:
Environmental Audit by Lucas Ihlein
Food Forest by the Artist as Family
Weedbook and weedy connection by Diego Bonetto
Urban Wildlife Safari by Joni Taylor

Rosemary LAING weather #9 2006 from the weather series 2006 type C photograph (109.9 x 184.6 cm) (image) ed. 4/8

Stormy Weather: Contemporary Landscape Photography

The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia

Federation Square, Melbourne

To be opened by Guy Abrahams on 22 September at 6.00pm. Bookings essential.

Stormy Weather charts some contemporary approaches to the landscape through the work of eleven Australian photographers.

Photographers’ interest in the landscape has increased in the last few years. Perhaps as a result of heightened environmental awareness, or an evolution in our engagement with Australian history, practitioners are again turning to the natural world as a site for critical practice and inspiration.

Drawn from the permanent collection the National Gallery of Victoria, the selected photographers in this exhibition have a particular focus that comes from their active relationship to various environments. The artists displayed here reveal history in a landscape; provoke ecological concerns; use the landscape as a site of performance; or reveal the distinctive beauty of a place.

Frequently underpinning these works of quiet intensity and considerable beauty is an undercurrent of disruption and contradiction that suggests all is not as it may first appear

Photographers include Rosemary Laing; Harry Nankin; David Stephenson; Richard Woldendorp; Nici Cumpston, Anne Ferran and Jill Orr.

© Jill Orr

Symposium: Stormy Weather: Contemporary Landscape Photography
Sat 25 Sep, 10am–1.30pm

A stimulating and informative symposium to mark the opening of Stormy Weather. Several of the artists included in the exhibition will present talks in which they discuss their working methods and how the Australian environment has influenced their practice.
Introduction Dr Isobel Crombie, Curator, Photography, NGV
Speakers Anne Ferran, Jill Orr, Harry Nankin, Siri Hayes, exhibiting artists
Cost $42 Adult / $40 NGV Member / $39 Concession & Student (includes morning tea, bookings essential)
Venue Theatre, Ground Level, NGV Australia

McClelland Gallery + Sculpture Park 390 McClelland Drive Langwarrin VIC 3910 Mel Ref. 103 E3

For more information call 03 62335083 or email Program Coordinator Kylie Johnson at kylie@castgallery.org.