“Energy”: A Fine Art Photography Interdisciplinary Proposal

If I could summarize this project in three words it would be: environmental interdisciplinary collaborations. I aim to use a range of tools– photography, music, writing performances, talks, teaching, exhibitions and new technology–to show the deep intersection between environment and communities. My goal is to look at dramatic changes in the land due to energy development and sustainable initiatives. For the work and commissions, I want to convey a feeling of loss and mystery focused on the tragic changing environment and the isolated but beautiful, immense Aboriginal landscapes. 

For example, I can completely envision a giant wind turbine blurred due to a long exposure with strange light illuminating the background–a town thirty miles glowing in the background. 

The project has many moving parts allowing for multiple touch points. This is deliberate and crucial, because each event, talk, or interaction is a way to drive awareness–AND press.  Maybe I can highlight a few. As I said, interdisciplinary community engagement is key. 

A main focus is on inhabitants and communities. These are mostly Native Americans and First Nation, where I aim to partner and commission musical commissions; they and other locals will guide me to sites where I’ll photograph. An American composer and writer will be commissioned too. On the educational front, further collaborations will be made with students at the Alberta College of Art and Design who will help with research. There I’ll offer workshops/discussions in different departments and at other community and arts groups. Work-print photographs, printed locally, as well as slideshows projections to be shared in various local communities as the work is made. Later, “Salons,”or interdisciplinary performances of the musical compositions, short story reading, and projection and/or display of the photos, will be presented at Circle members. Social media will be used to reach new local, national and international audiences and additional awareness about Native land. Once the project is finished, there will be additional work. Photographic prints will be exhibited in galleries and museums and hopefully, a book will be made. Finally, and importantly, a portion of any print sales will be donated back to the community or Nations. 

This is an exciting, ambitious expansion of my work. I see it coming full circle, representing a continuation of several recently funded environmentally-related projects, from Wyoming in Ucross; to France, documenting changes near the Pyrenees, sponsored by the French Government; to Greenland capturing melting ice–where I’ll return this summer, thanks for a second grant–to being a Fulbright Alternate for Canada. I see this project as a multidisciplinary and engaging continuation. After researching and planning my arctic Greenland and other trips, feel confident in pulling this off. Finally, one thing that I didn’t mention in my proposal was my aunt, who lived a regular life in suburban Long Island but made trips to help First Nations–and it just reminded me that anyone can make a change.