ART & THE CANARY SYNDROME
Earth Day 2020
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LIFE IN THE TIME OF COVID Today, on Earth Day’s 50th Anniversary, while hunkered down in our pods, we are viewing a live stream of powerful images illustrating issues related to the environment and COVID-19. These images are delivered 24/7 via the internet, video, on our phones and the most powerful ones are imprinted permanently in our minds as we try to wrap our heads around this moment. We appreciate, more than ever, the importance of creative work done by artists, photographers, writers, musicians, filmmakers and performers as they fill our days in isolation with beauty and eloquence, and provide truly necessary, brilliant cultural entertainment. While we cannot physically “see” art in person, we are enjoying creative activity of our own and the opportunity to explore culture delivered virtually. It is amazing to watch this lifeline emerge with lectures, classes, and exhibitions – all of it illustrated, scripted and conceived of by creative artists – our “canaries in the mines.” On Earth Day in 2020, we revisit our 2018 exhibition Canary Syndrome, featuring recent works by international artists from US, AU and UK. Inspired by the saying “canary in the coal mine”, we hypothesized that artists, much like caged canaries once used by coal miners to warn of dangerous gases, are hypersensitive to the adverse conditions and forces that jeopardize human existence. At the time, the exhibition and the works in it focused on climate change and environmentalism. Now, two years later, as a result of COVID-19, we are seeing the shut down of travel delivering clean air to polluted cities and allowing animal migration to resume to their ancestral habitats. This week in FC News & Stories, we look back at Canary Syndrome and feature works by artists who are considering the environment and man’s impact on the planet we all call home. Be Safe – Be Well – Stay in Touch Leslie Ferrin, director Ferrin Contemporary Life in the Time of Covid |
Above: Mara Superior, Only One Planet Earth, 16″d, featured in “Nature/Nurture”, Ferrin Contemporary, North Adams, MA
“The very act of creating provides artists with an outlet for the anxiety caused by relentless exposure to contemporary conflicts. They are compelled to address environmental and societal issues through their practice and are sounding the alarm in the form of beautiful and compelling pieces of art.”
View online exhibition HERE.
The urgency has never been greater, and the stakes have never been higher – we are now in an environmental emergency and a climate breakdown. We have two crises: One is the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. The other is a slowly building disaster for our climate.
- On Earth Day 2020, we say enough is enough.
- We say we believe in science. We say that everyone can make a difference.
- We say that the protection of our planet and the wellbeing of the people who live upon it are the top priorities.
- On Earth Day 2020, we say that we’re committing to vote, we’re registering to vote and we’re showing up to vote.
FERRIN CONTEMPORARY presents contemporary ceramic art for exhibition and sale at 1315 MASS MoCA Way in North Adams, MA; at ProjectArt at 54 Main Street in Cummington, MA and at galleries and museums around the world.
COVID-19 | Closed until MASS MoCA reopens regular hours.
GALLERY HOURS: Wednesday – Saturday 11 – 5:00
+ by appointment
+ by chance
PROJECT ART supports and promotes local and international ceramic art and artists through artist residencies, internships, workshops, studio rentals, events and exhibitions at 54 Main Street in Cummington, MA.
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Leslie Ferrin photo John Polak
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