Hybrid: 495 Hodson Hall and Zoom (Zoom link; registration not required)
This hybrid event is part of the Natural Resources Science and Practice Seminar Series hosted by the Department of Forest Resources.
Join us for a social starting at 4 p.m. The talk begins at 4:15 p.m. (Zoom link for remote participants.)
Title: Interdisciplinary Art & Ecology Residency at the Acreage: A Retrospective Conversation
Abstract: The Interdisciplinary Program for Art and Ecology at the Acreage offers a platform to bring a selected group of graduate art and science students from the University of Minnesota’s Twin Cities campus together for discussions and collaborative projects that focus on current environmental conditions and challenges. The program is an opportunity to showcase how the arts and sciences can be engaged with a site to address social and ecological concerns.
In August 2024, six graduate students from the University of Minnesota spent two weeks in residency in the inaugural Interdisciplinary Program for Art and Ecology at the Acreage, exploring the intersection of art and science. The Acreage at Osceola is a non-profit organization located on 360 acres of land in the St. Croix River Valley, whose mission is to “empower communities through creativity, education, and environmental stewardship to foster a sustainable and vibrant future.”
In this seminar, we will learn about the origin and vision of the residency program and hear directly from participants about their work and experiences in it.
Speaker Bios:
Namir Fearce holds a BFA in Studio Art with a concentration in film and sculpture from the University of Illinois Chicago and an MFA from University of Minnesota. His work has been featured in Dazed, Paper, Them, and Office Magazine, in addition to The New York Times. He is a 2020 Walker Arts Fellow and a Black Harvest Film Festival nominated director. Fearce most recently curated, directed, and produced a multimedia performance and storytelling festival, Hi Cotton, which has been shown in Minneapolis, Rio De Janeiro, and Berlin.
Emma Smoll is a Master's candidate in Natural Resources Science and Management at the University of Minnesota and holds a B.A. in Biology from Willamette University. Her current work investigates factors affecting forest regeneration along the upper Mississippi River. Emma’s research explores abiotic factors like soil oxygen and flooding duration that may influence tree seedling growth and survival. Emma spends much of her free time processing local wool, spinning, and creating hand-knitted garments and woven pieces.
Calvin Stalvig creates sculpture, installation, works on paper, digital collage, video, and performance. Calvin has exhibited at The Invisible Dog Art Center, Brooklyn, NY; Governors Island, New York, NY; Electronic + Textiles Institute Berlin; and Regis Center for Art, Minneapolis, MN. He is the former Director of Youth Programs at Beam Center in Brooklyn and holds an M.A. in Youth Development from City University of New York. He holds an MFA from the University of Minnesota
Sashi White was shaped by the hills, rivers, and people of Idaho where he was raised. He is a Master's student in Natural Resources Science and Management at the University of Minnesota. He holds a B.A. in Sociology, Anthropology, and Psychology from the University of Idaho. Sashi is passionate about empowering communities to adapt to climate change by telling stories about the past, present, and future; investing in the social, cultural, and ecological capacity of communities; and engaging in activities to enrich people's connection to place.