Rising Tide: The Arts and Ecological Ethics Conference

April 17, 18, and 19, 2009
presented by California College of the Arts and Stanford University

Alicia Escott (CCA MFA 2009), California brown pelican reintroduced into its natural habitat having achieved couture status via Barneys New York, 2008

« Rising Tide: The Arts and Ecological Ethics Conference » is a collaboration between California College of the Arts and Stanford University and takes place on both campuses. The speakers and panelists are internationally prominent artists, designers, architects, scientists, and environmental activists.

Government environmental policies around the world are deeply influenced by culture. The urgent issues surrounding climate change can actually be catalysts for creative thinking. This event provides a forum for an examination of our rapidly evolving culture(s) and rapidly deteriorating environment. It brings together creative professionals, scholars, and students from a wide range of disciplines—stimulating dialogue across institutions, cultures, and creative communities—to articulate the connections between aesthetics and environmentalism, and to provide leadership in picturing the future.

Friday, April 17
CCA San Francisco campus

Keynote Speaker
David Buckland, Cape Farewell

Backstory
A deep analysis of history is necessary in this moment of wide-spectrum green « reframing. » Speakers explore California history, African American histories, and 17th-century architecture.
Josef Chytry, CCA, moderator
Amanda Williams, CCA
David Gissen, CCA
Julia Parker, Pomo master basket weaver

Geopolitics
A macro-level look at world politics and its relationship to art and design in light of the changing climate.
Rhonda Holberton, artist, moderator
John Zarobell, SFMOMA
Ignacio Valero, CCA

Mobility
The fuel and energy required to move people around are central to discussions of sustainability. These speakers look at youth, urban aesthetics, and the sustaining of world cultures.
Lauren Marsden, CCA, moderator
Kristien Alieri, The Crucible
Iain Boal, Critical Mass, UC Santa Cruz
John Jota Leanos, CCA

Saturday, April 18
Stanford University campus

Remaking/Reconceiving
A look at the remaking, reconceptualizing, and reforming of: cities (including New Orleans); systems (both planning and regulatory); art and objects; transportation vehicles; and behaviors of designers and artists. Local reconstruction initiatives can have a global impact in terms of urban stress reduction.
North Pitney, CCA, moderator
Ila Berman, Rebuilding New Orleans
Mona El-Khafif, Rebuilding New Orleans
Dan Parolek and Karen Parolek, Opticos Design
John Rapko, San Francisco Art Institute

Material/Culture Sustainability
What new materials are artists, designers, and architects experimenting with? What materials have impacts on which industries? What research remains to be done? What is sustainable business, and sustainable culture?
Bonnie Sherk, artist, moderator
Stephanie Syjuco, CCA
Lynda Grose, CCA
Banny Banerjee, Stanford University
Amy Franceschini, Futurefarmers

Green Capitalism
What is the green gold rush? Greenwashing? The landscape of green capital?
Eric Martin, CCA, moderator
Amy Berk, artist
Andy Cox, artist
Simon Sadler, UC Davis
F. Noel Perry, Next 10, CCA

Futures
A deep investigation into the future of culture(s) in an environmentally challenged world.
Lynn Kirby, CCA, moderator
Amy Balkin, artist
Joyce Burstein, Epitaph Project
Alexander Rose, The Long Now Foundation

Eco-Aesthetics
What is the relationship between environmentalism and aesthetics? How can we rethink our « cultural habits » in the face of global catastrophe? How does this new field of philosophy affect industries, academies, and the mainstream?
Tirza True Latimer, CCA, moderator
David Buuck, BARGE
Sheila Lintott, Bucknell University
Glen Helfand, CCA
Sam Bower, The Green Museum

Evening Keynote Speaker
Sheila Kennedy, Kennedy & Violich Ltd., Portalite

Sunday morning, April 19
CCA San Francisco campus

Oceans/Water/Rivers Roundtable
What projects are most and first affected by environmental collapse? What does today’s science tell us about the spectrum of the changes? What can artists and designers do, particularly with respect to our water systems?
Shana Holberton, Mills College, moderator
Bob Dawson, Stanford University
Alberto Mellado Moreno, Ocean Revolution, Comcáac Fishery
Judith Selby Lang and Richard Lang, artists

Related Programs
CCA will present an experimental environmental film program in Timken Lecture Hall on its San Francisco campus (1111 Eighth Street):
Sunday, April 12, 1–4 p.m.
Monday, April 13, 3–6 p.m.

Throughout April, Bioanthrophony, an exhibition featuring installation works by Jeremiah Moore and the Greenhorns, will be on view at PLAySPACE, CCA’s graduate gallery.
Visit http://www.cca.edu/playspace for hours and more info.
CCA San Francisco campus
1111 Eighth Street (at 16th and Wisconsin)
Stanford University campus:
450 Serra Mall, Stanford

Free and open to the public
More info: http://www.risingtideconference.org