A collaborative exhibition that brings together Colorado artists, scientists and communities
The exhibition tells the story of how Coloradans are experiencing interrelated challenges of fire, drought, and water and air quality in their communities. The artwork reflects a dialogue between
the perspectives of the artists, scientists and communities. The narrative moves beyond debates about climate change to make visible the connection all Coloradans have to the natural landscape and, through connection to place, to one another.The Colorado Art Science Environment (CASE) Fellows are teams of artists from across Colorado and CU Boulder scientists. Artist-led teams produced artworks that are exhibited through the Colorado Creative Industries Creative Capital program at the Colorado State Capitol, May 19 – Nov 23, 2023, Mon. – Fri. 9am -5pm, and will then tour to Breck Create in December. See the exhibitions and events page for upcoming activities.
CASE fellow artists explore tensions between the visible and invisible aspects of climate change in landscapes, from the insidious encroachment of beetle kill under bark to the shifting shape of groundwater flows beneath the earth’s surface, to the complexities of air quality.
CASE Fellows aim to build a sense of connection around Colorado environmental issues by co-ideating artwork with input from communities. The resulting works depict the story of a Colorado that is changing, due to interconnected and cascading contexts such as longer fire seasons, earlier snow melt, dwindling groundwater supplies, and human impacts of industry and mining.
Through discussions and interactions with community, and creating the reflexive space of the artwork, the narrative created moves beyond debates about climate change to confront, amplify and make visible the connection all Coloradans have to our state’s natural landscape and, through our connection to place, to one other.
The program is led by the CU Boulder Office for Public and Community-Engaged Scholarship (formerly the Office for Outreach and Engagement) in partnership with the CU Boulder Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR) and Boulder County Arts Alliance. Learn more about the program here. Contact program lead, Lisa Schwartz, PhD at Lisa.H.Schwartz@colorado.edu with any questions or your interest in hosting or supporting the program and exhibition. You can also fill out this feedback and interest form.