Communication
Document 1
Describe what you plan to do
I am planning to have an art installation in public. I will choose a tree that does not have any leaves on it in a public place (like a park). There, I will ask anybody who is throwing trash (just cans of soda/beer) to instead put it on the tree (I will make it look like leaves that have grown on the branch of the tree). After there are enough cans, the tree will look like an aluminium tree. Below it will be an educative literature on how beverage industry in US is creating massive carbon footprint (and how recycling is not the complete answer as far as greenhouse gas emissions are concerned). The whole ensemble is targeted at creating environmental awareness.
The installation should look something on the similar lines (plastic bags will be replaced by aluminium cans) as the following work by artist Miha Artnak entitled The Rise of The Fall (1).
Image source: www.mymodernmet.com
b(i) How will it address issue of global concern?
This aluminium tree will bring to people’s attention, how much carbon footprint is created in the simple process of having a cold soda or a chilled pack of beer. For example the carbon footprint of a single beer includes, a myriad variety of inputs and processes. These include ingredients such as malt, hops, water, etc; packaging materials (aluminum cans, glass bottles, labels, fiberboard cases, adhesives, corrugated trays, shrink wrap, wood pallets etc.); production and warehousing (electricity used for brewing process, refrigerated warehousing, waste disposal manufacturing, etc.); distribution and transportation (through road, rail, ocean, etc.); retail and consumption (refrigeration used in-store and lighting, refrigeration used by consumer, etc.); and so on (Justmeans.com). Beverage industry roundtable has conducted the research, but only a few pioneering companies like Coca Cola have taken interest in the problem. If the problem is not solved it will lead to a worsening global warming situation.
b.(ii) How it will use art to make a positive difference
After the issue comes to light and people appreciate how much they contribute to global warming at a personal level, we would like people to join us in asking beverage companies (an open letter will be written to the companies) to be more responsible and manage their operations so as to produce less carbon footprint. Those people who do agree with our proposal will sign the open letter.
b. (iii) Engage the issue in a public way
The open letter mentioned above will be a public engagement device, but further, we would like people to suggest ways to reduce carbon footprint. Ideas like alternative fuel usage in transportation of beverages and alternative refrigeration methods would be welcome. We believe that suggesting solutions rather than just blaming corporations is the correct way to mitigate the imminent crisis.
c. include a creative statement describing how you expect the symbols, images and/or forms of the project to meaningfully engage the people and ideas relevant to your project.
My art installation belongs to the ‘Art for ecosystem’ genre. The symbolism intended as follows:
(i) the dead branches of the tree signify the ecosystem that bears the burden of emissions and thus have now died. (ii) the overabundance of aluminium cans (or random color) on these branches signifies (iii) the overall imagery is meant to make people think about what the world might be like with trash literally ‘growing’ at a rate faster than we can control, with the climate changed so drastically(due to global warming) that new life(read green leaves) cannot grow anymore. Is ‘aluminium trees’ the legacy that we want to leave for the generations to come?
Document 2
2a. A summary of what you did and how you met requirements of the assignment.
I started with going to public park in the morning and selected a tree (I got permission from park authorities to use the tree temporarily. They graciously agreed as long as I promised to clean up after my project). There were a lot of morning joggers and some of them were having cans of energy drinks and diet sodas. So i asked them to put it in my project collection bin instead of trash bin. Then I went on to put the cans on branches of the tree. By the time there were say 50 cans on the tree, people started becoming curious (and clicking pictures). After two days there, I finally collected enough cans to cover the tree and color coordinate the cans. The ensemble was aesthetically pleasing to the passers by, and attracted attention, so as to create awareness about increasing carbon footprint of beverage industry.
2b. A brief evaluation
1. How the project went
The final ensemble looked great, but the work was not without glitches. Some people did not want to give time to get educated about the issue, others did not want to sign the pledge even when they agreed the issue should be resolved. Many people however did give us an ear and were open to the idea of being carbon footprint conscious at an individual level too (like switching off the refrigeration when going on long holidays so as to save electricity, and release less hydro fluoro carbons into the ecosystem.)
2. It's artistic value
The ‘aluminum tree’ did look colorful and aesthetically pleasing. But the real value that the ensemble created was in the form of providing platform to discuss an issue of global concern (vis a vis increasing carbon footprint). We thought that our ensemble was one more addition to the growing field of ‘Art for ecosystem’ genre.
3. It's impact
There were approximately 2000-3000 people who passed by the park on the weekend, and at least 70% of them were receptive of the issue in concern. We got approximately 1500 people to sign the pledge and the letter to the beverage industry that urged big beverage producers to streamline their process so as to produce the least amount of carbon footprint.
c. Documentation
d. What way did project meet requirements:
1. Using art: Using and installation attracted attention and people were curious about the ‘aluminum tree’. Art definitely contributed to creating ecological awareness.
2. Publically engage: People (most of them) actually did listen to the concern. Some of them personally pledged to consume beverages more responsibly (for example, one lady pledged to look into the brand she was consuming, and make sure it was say coca cola or a brand that has already started making an effort to create less carbon footprint in the process of manufacturing their product).
3. A significant global issue: Increasing carbon footprint in mass production techniques is a leading cause of global warming, and the pace is now unsustainable. Our project succeeded in creating awareness about the this issue.
e. What is most effective about the project: The public location created maximum public reach, and I think we did influence people to be more carbon footprint conscious.
f. Recommendations for improving the project: The project would have had more impact if we had arranged for media to highlight our installation or a local magazine to run an article featuring our ensemble.
Works Cited
[1] Artnak, Miha. The Rise of The Fall. 2011. Slovenia. Mymodernmet. 27 Dec. 2011. Web.
[2] "Justmeans." New Research Models Carbon Footprint of Beverage Products. Web. 24 Feb. 2016.
