Art, activism align at SoFA Gallery

Months of planning and collaboration lead to an art exhibit with the goal of inspiring people to think about climate change and take action.

The Canary Project: Works on Climate Change 2006-2009 opened Friday at the School of Fine Arts Gallery and continues until Oct. 9.

The event began in the Radio/TV building with a lecture given by co-founders of the Canary Project Susannah Sayler and Edward Morris.

SoFA Gallery Director Betsy Stirratt introduced the founders to a diverse crowd of students, faculty and Bloomington residents.

“I’m interested in natural art and the technological aspect of art, videos and sound,” David Phelps, a graduate student, said. “It’s better than just handing people a document about climate change.”

Over the past four years, Sayler and Morris have presented lectures to schools and gallery viewers, but they started the evening by saying they would try a different format than what they usually present.

The team projected graphs, photos and videos in one-minute increments for a total of 33 minutes.

During each minute, Sayler and Morris read what they called “provocations and meditations” relating to the environment and climate change. The information included personal stories and quotes from both artists and scientists.

Some of the images displayed were pieces of work by Sayler, and some were featured in the gallery.

Parts of the Canary Project’s mission were explained and clarified by the duo, including what is called the “Increase Your Albedo” project, a campaign to help raise the albedo of the earth with ideas that range from wearing white to painting roofs white to reflect the sun’s rays.

A question-and-answer session followed, after which attendees made their way to the SoFA gallery, where beverages and food were served and the gallery doors were open.
Joshua Kit Clayton, an artist featured in the exhibit, passed out surveys and answered questions as part of his “Focus Softens Circles” performance.

“People were asking to take them,” said Daniel Weddle, a volunteer helping administer surveys. “It’s very different than typical market research.”

Among the group attending the gallery opening were students of Sayler and Morris, who are teaching an eight-week course in the School of Fine Arts titled “Engagement/Art/Activism: Response and Intervention on Climate Change.”

Students taking the class will create a piece that will become a component of the project.

“I think it’s interesting,” sophomore Lauren Wolfer said. “It makes you rethink your everyday activities and their effects on the environment. I’m not a huge global activist, but I thought it would be a cool way to get involved.”

Sayler said she is excited about the class because of the diverse group of students who signed up.

“The class is not all art students. We have a variety,” Sayler said. “We’re going to collaborate on projects that involve campus and Bloomington organizations.”

Edwards added that student projects will be a big part of how the project defines itself.
The reception of the gallery was also exciting for Sayler, who said she was happy with the turnout and feedback she was getting.

“People have more information and feel comfortable enough to come talk to us and ask us questions,” Sayler said.