Showing posts with label Art Advocacy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Art Advocacy. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Join NSAA for "Art Exhibition of the Seas and Science" & Dr. Ian Kerr of Ocean Alliance "Why Whales?" Lecture Sunday, June 26, 12:30- 4:00!

"Genesis", David Kapetanopoulos
This Sunday, June 26 at 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., CEO Dr. Ian Kerr of Ocean Alliance presents the first lecture "Why Whales?" in a series of thought provoking lectures and performances that will be presented this season at the North Shore Arts Association. The lectures, presented by Dr. Ian Kerr and Dr. Roger Payne of Ocean Alliance, and Karen Ristuben of Rocky Neck Art Colony will be the scientific component in a groundbreaking collaboration between Ocean Alliance, who's mission to protect and preserve our oceans and marine life will be allied with North Shore Arts Association and Rocky Neck Art Colony's missions of advancing the appreciation and support of the Arts. The first lecture, "Why Whales?' by CEO Dr. Ian Kerr of Ocean Alliance to be held this Sunday, June 26th, is free and open to the public and will be followed by a reception from 2 to 4 p.m., with the artists and scientists from all three non-profits on hand to meet, answer questions, and mingle with members of the community. A donation of $5. is suggested for entrance to both events.

The North Shore Arts Association's "Art Exhibition of the Sea and Science" is currently on display throughout the NSAA galleries. Although the exhibition includes painting, prints and sculpture of all genres and media, the exhibition has a special emphasis on man's relationship with the sea, and seeks to celebrate the ocean's vast beauty and to illuminate the progress being made and the  challenges remaining as we examine the health of the earth's oceans.

A very unique component of the "Art Exhibition of the Sea and Science" will be a show and silent auction of works by NSAA artists painted on original roofing slates removed from the historic Paint Factory building. These historic slates were donated to NSAA by non-profit Ocean Alliance and they provide the substrate used by Artist Members to create original works, each approximately 12" x 24" depicting a wide range of images inspired by Gloucester, the sea, and its inhabitants. Bids for the silent auction may be place June 17 through July 30 by visiting or contacting NSAA. One hundred per cent of the silent auction proceeds will go to fund the ongoing restoration the NSAA's gallery building and Ocean Alliance's Paint Factory headquarters. Click here:  http://nsarts.org/2016_Slate_Auction.html to see all of the slates available for bid from now until July 30th at 5pm. Visit or  call the gallery to place your bid!  978-283-1857

A short introduction to lecturer, Dr. Ian Kerr, CEO Ocean Alliance:"I think of our planet as Planet Ocean, not Planet Earth because almost three quarters of the planet is ocean." A self described adventurer who loves ocean science, Kerr was granted a Doctor of Humane Letters degree from the University of Southern Maine in honor of his 20 years of ocean research in over 21 countries.
On a trip out of Gloucester harbor in 1993 on a whale watch boat he saw the Paint Factory. Recognizing that such an iconic building, with its long maritime history, might capture the hearts and minds of people thereby stimulating their interest and involvement in ocean and whale conservation, he realized it would be a valuable place to headquarter Ocean Alliance. As a result, the organization contact the Annenberg Foundation which ultimately provided all the funds necessary to purchase the Paint Factory. Kerr emphasizes that, since the building is mortgage free, all donations go to the ongoing restoration of the Paint Factory buildings.
The OA organization is a pioneer in developing benign research tools for studying our oceans, the most recent iteration being drones-which they have dubbed "Snotbots"-which gather specimens from the spray spouted through the blow holes of whales. Award winning actor Patrick Stewart has long been a friend to Ocean Alliance and was instrumental in garnering funds for the "Snotbot" research program. This research method is hailed for its non-invasive approach to studying the health of whale populations.
When asked what is meant by "Alliance" in the OA title, Kerr said it "reflects the idea that, along with collaboration from many other scientific organizations, all of humanity needs to allied to preserve our oceans."
Finding Gloucester reminiscent of the small fishing village in South West England where he grew up, Dr. Kerr and his wife chose to make their home in East Gloucester.





Thursday, June 2, 2016

Groundbreaking Collaboration by NSAA, Ocean Alliance, and Rocky Neck Art Colony "Art Exhibition of the Sea and Science" June 17-July 30

Ocean Alliance research vessel "Odyssey"
American writer, artist and philosopher E. Hubbard said " Art is not a thing, it is a way." The historic North Shore Arts Association of Gloucester, celebrating its 94th year, reflects this philosophy with its "Art in Action-Connecting Communities" focus this season, by hosting a groundbreaking collaboration with Gloucester's marine conservation/research group Ocean Alliance, now headquartered in Gloucester's iconic Paint Factory, and historic Rocky Neck Art Colony.
Supporting the Ocean Alliance mission to protect and preserve our oceans and marine life and North Shore Arts Association and Rocky Neck Art Colony's mission of supporting the arts, an "Art Exhibition of the Sea And Science" will be on display June 17 through July 30 in the galleries of NSAA.
Although works of all genres will be on display, the main focus will be works depicting the sea and Cape Ann. A very unique component of the exhibition will be a show and silent auction of works painted on old roofing slates removed from the historic Paint Factory building. These historic slates donated to NSAA by non profit Ocean Alliance provide the substrate used by NSAA Artist Members to create original paintings, each approximately 12' x 24" depicting a myriad images. Bids for the silent auction may be placed June 17 through July 30 by visiting or contacting NSAA. One hundred percent of silent auction proceeds will go to fund the ongoing restoration of the NSAA's gallery building and Ocean Alliance's Paint Factory headquarters.
"Underwater Whales", Donald Doyle
The collaboration also offers an extraordinary series of Ocean Alliance and Rocky Neck Art Colony lectures and performances. This special programming was made possible through partial funding by the Massachusetts Cultural Council. The first of the series will be marine conservation/research group Ocean Alliance presenting a lecture "Why Whales?" by CEO Dr. Ian Kerr on Sunday, June 26th, 12:30-1:30 p.m. followed by a reception, open free to the public 2-4 p.m. A dynamic performance/poetry reading, "Sea Change: Reversing the Tide" will be presented by President of Ocean Alliance Dr. Roger Payne - whose profound discovery of whale songs has been a major force in their protection - and his wife, noted British actress Lisa Harrow on Thursday, July 7th at 7 p.m. Rocky Neck Art Colony President and arts and marine conservation advocate Karen Ristuben will present a lecture "Intersection of Marine Science, Conservation, Activism and Art" on Saturday, July 23rd at 3 p.m. All lectures and performances are free with a suggested donation of $5.
To learn more about these three iconic  non-profits visit  www.nsarts.org, www.whale.org, www.rockyneckartcolony.org

NSAA EVENTS SUMMARY:


June 17 through July 30 NSAA "Art of the Sea and Science" Exhibition

June 17 through July 30 Original artwork on Paint Factory slates Silent Auction

June 26 (12:30 - 1:30 p.m.) "Why Whales?" lecture with Dr. Ian Kerr

June 26 (2:00 - 4:00 p.m.) Reception open free to the general public

July 7 (7:00 p.m.) "Sea Change-Reversing the Tide" performance with Dr. Roger Payne and Lisa Harrow, noted British actress

July 23 (3:00 p.m.) "The Intersection of Marine Science, Conservation, Activism and Art" lecture with Karen Ristuben

-Susan Britt, NSAA staff writer

"Single Whale", photo courtesy of Ocean Alliance





Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Art, Science, and Advocacy: An Invitation to Engage!



"For most of history, man has had to fight nature to survive; in this century he is beginning to realize that, in order to survive, he must protect it." -  Jacques-Yves Cousteau

"The Gloucester community has a long relationship with the sea. It is the garden in which its people have labored and through its bounty, have thrived for generations. Artists, writers, and lovers of the natural world have celebrated the eternal presence and symbolic power of the granite cliffs and churning seas that surround this special place. We are being called to protect what we love.

Mankind and the environment are at a critical impasse. Human activity is subjecting the natural world to stresses that threaten to bring it to a tipping point. Our relationship with the natural world is out of balance. Individuals engaging and interacting, working together, and even disagreeing with each other are the human activities which can provide answers to this challenge and which, with concerted global implementation, can bring about change.

Where do you stand on the complex issue of the health of the environment? Are the problems real or are we misled by environmental alarmists? Is it enough to leave the debate and difficult search for answers in the hands of others? Is there an interest in our community in contributing to the dialogue or making an impact on the issue? As artists, do we choose to use the power of our creativity to give voice to those who cannot speak for themselves?

This year the NSAA enters a bold partnership with Ocean Alliance and Rocky Neck Art Colony to examine the health of our immediate environment; the ocean and its inhabitants.

North Shore Art Association's "Art Exhibition of the Sea and Science", scheduled for June 17 through July 20, 2016, promises to be a groundbreaking alliance between Cape Ann's art and science communities. Among the speakers will be Dr. Roger Payne, Founder and President of Ocean Alliance; Mrs. Roger Payne; Dr. Ian Kerr, D.H.L.,Chief Executive Officer of Ocean Alliance; and Karen Ristuben, artist and President of Rocky Neck Art Colony. This timely and newsworthy art exhibition, performance art, and scientific speaker series will seek to harness the energies of our community using the power of art, scientific inquiry, and advocacy to generate awareness, stimulate dialogue, change perception, and inspire positive change around the pressing ocean environment issues.

Less than 4% of the ocean is protected in any way, but as much as the forests are the lungs of the planet, the ocean is its blue heart. Marine protected areas maintain healthy biodiversity, provide a carbon sink, generate life giving oxygen, and preserve critical habitat. Earth's atmosphere and its oceans are entwined in a  co-dependent bond and we, the inhabitants of the land, will experience the results of their health for good or for ill.

Please join in our efforts to use the power of art to highlight the issues endangering the Earth's beautiful blue heart. Advocate for the voiceless."

-NSAA artist member and guest contributor, Christine Whalen-Waller

"
It is a curious situation that the sea, from which life first arose should now be threatened by the activities of one form of that life. But the sea, though changed in a sinister way, will continue to exist; the threat is rather to life itself." - Rachel Carson, The Sea Around Us

North Shore Arts Association of Gloucester


Ocean Alliance
Rocky Neck Art Colony