The Umbrella Arts Center, 40 Stow Street, Concord, MA, front lawn, April 11 – June 8, 2024
This second post about “TAPPED IN” opens with an update about important connections between the outdoor installation and the indoor gallery space. The indoor gallery presented images, materials and explanatory text for each outdoor artwork and the whole exhibit theme.
In early May, all indoor elements for “TAPPED IN” gave way to a different exhibit in the gallery space. All outdoor art remains up through June 8. Key resources* for “TAPPED IN” continue on the Umbrella Arts website. However, one of the ten artist-scientist pairs’ work was only represented in the indoor space. That was the compelling wall display by Ilana Manolson with Janine Benyus. I wish I’d taken more than the few photos below.
OPERATING SYSTEMS: Nature as Mentor by artist Ilana Manolson with scientist Janine Benyus:
“As an artist whose work draws its inspiration from natural systems and cycles, I have been so grateful to work with Janine Benyus, the co-founder of the Biomimicry Institute. Benyus has described biomimicry as “the bridge between biology and design, advancing the adoption of nature-inspired strategies to help solve the most pressing problems of our time. My paintings and Janine’s research look to nature with awe and questions, allowing a multitude of non-human actors including milkweed, mangrove, and fungi, to provide answers. These paintings examine plants found in our environment, whose unique capabilities can help us design a better world. These hanging tributes invite viewers to come closer and learn.” (quote from Umbrella Arts Tapped In Statements )
PROFORESTATION – Why One Equals Many by artist Michelle Lougee with scientist William Moomaw:
“Essential components of any climate solutions, forests have already saved us from climate disaster by annually removing an amount of carbon dioxide equivalent to nearly 30% of annual fossil fuel emissions. Proforestation- Why One Equals Many represents the relationship between the carbon capture of a mature tree and the number (and space) of young trees it would take to replenish that loss from deforestation. A large central cylinder represents a hewn mature tree. Pine cones, as representations of planted younger trees, are arranged in concentric rings around this core. Solar lights serve to emphasize the carbon contrast in the evenings. ” (quote from Umbrella Arts Tapped In Statements )
CONNECTION, CURIOSITY, HOPE by artist Adria Arch with scientist Sara Seager:
“Inspired by Dr. Seager’s research, my installation features a grouping of celestial-inspired, all-white sculptures made with Styrofoam and acrylic paint, including a piece that is suspended overhead from a pole. A tower made of lattice-like bars stands pointing upwards. It is fragile- yet it stands, inviting reflection on our stability and place in the cosmos. Tiny shards of mirror placed within the sculptures stand in for the rarest glimpses of a planet like our own.” (quote from Umbrella Arts Tapped In Statements )
TILL by artist Freedom Baird with scientist Daniella Malin:
“Till is where we keep the money. Till is how we work the soil. Till marks time as we anticipate change. Dip in the Till and take a single piece of money. Follow the money clue to be incentivized to promote regenerative agricultural practices. These yield lower farming costs, less tilling, and more carbon retained in the soil.” (quote from Umbrella Arts Tapped In Statements )
*KEY RESOURCES
TAPPED IN, THE UMBRELLA ARTS CENTER contains enriching resources about the exhibit’s concepts, goals, artist-scientist pairings, curators, and events, with a valuable video of the opening panel discussion!
writer, educator, museum volunteer;
My camera and I are reflected in the blue globe within the sculpture installation,"The Sky is the Limit" by Geoff Nelson. From slideshow in post: HISTORIC AND CURRENT ART AT CHESTERWOOD
Art Outdoors 
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