April 22 - June 5, 2016
Participating Artists: Kate Aitchison, Andrew Bannar, Lyza Baum, Rocío Delaloye, Sam Galison, Stephanie E. Hanes, Emilie Jehng, Julianna Johnston, Judy Kim, Raghda Maaliki, Connor Phillips, Lee Pivnik, Skye Ray, Edek Sher, Lisa Su, Lauren Thomas, Lucas Vasilko, Aaron Whitman, Anna Williams, Julia Wright, Elise Wunderlich, Emma Wunrow, Moon Hye Yu, Cecilia Zhu
Curatorial Statement:
Once there were parking lots
Now it's a peaceful oasis
You got it, you got it
This was a Pizza Hut
Now its all covered with daisies
You got it, you got it
And as things fell apart
Nobody paid much attention
You got it, you got it
-The Talking Heads, (Nothing but) Flowers
The consequences of comfort and consumerism are becoming impossible to ignore. We know that our planet is rapidly changing from the accumulation of waste and pollution, yet the systems we live with have yet to be redesigned. However, if we are aiming for a sustainable global society, it will require more than eco-efficiency or the minimizing of energy, resources, and waste- it will also require a fundamental personal, social, and institutional transformation. At a pivotal moment where we are addressing racism, sexism, and colonialism, we cannot ignore the interconnected nature of environmental and social justice issues. Utilizing systems of power and privilege to exploit human and natural resources is incompatible with sustainability in the long term. We currently live in a society where lower socio-economic tiers are predisposed to pollution and environmental degradation such as flooding, oil spills, lead poisoning and more. Even those privileged enough to buy into "sustainable" lifestyles cannot reverse the damages that have already been done on our environment. As artists of the millennial generation, we have grown up indoctrinated with the knowledge that it is our responsibility to clean up the mess, and establish positive alternatives. While there is no one solution, Better Again seeks to reckon with damages already done in the hope of better understanding our seeks to reckon with damages already done in the hope of better understanding our collective responsibility as we move forward.
Curated by Julia Wright, BFA Textiles 2016
