In a Time of Change: Boreal Forest Stories

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Embark on a foray into the forest with over 44 cross-disciplinary creators of Boreal Forest Stories. For more than 1.5 years, artists, writers, environmental educators, humanities scholars, and scientists exchanged knowledge and perspectives on the boreal forest and explored narrative as it applies across the disciplines. Through their original works, participants tell stories rooted in the boreal forest, including its ecology, its inhabitants, and their interactions. Their creative works appear in the Boreal Forest Stories multimedia gallery exhibit, literary reading, live performances, booklet, website, and a forthcoming book.

ITOC: Boreal Forest Stories was directed by UAF professor Mary Beth Leigh. Artists Margo Klass, Ree Nancarrow, and Susan Campbell curated the visual art exhibit and Jennifer Moss contributed graphic and web design. Writers Carolyn Kremers and Daryl Farmer led the writers’ cohort and musician Susan Grace directed the live performance. Geographer Elizabeth Alexander provided organizational assistance and artist Klara Maisch coordinated social media outreach. Lissy Goralnik (Michigan State University) performed research and evaluation of the collaborative process and its impacts. Boreal Forest Stories was funded by the National Science Foundation through the Bonanza Creek Long Term Ecological Research Program with additional support from the UAF Institute of Arctic Biology and other sponsors. Special thanks to the Fairbanks Arts Association for hosting the premiere exhibit.

In a Time of Change: Boreal Forest Stories

Premiere Exhibition • September 2-30, 2022

In coordination with ARCTIC FEST

Exhibit: Sept. 2-30, 2022, Mon-Sat, 12-6 pm, Bear Gallery, Alaska Centennial Center for the Arts, Pioneer Park, Fairbanks, Alaska

  • Exhibit Opening Day: Sept. 2, 2022, 12-8 pm, Bear Gallery
  • Reception with ITOC participants: Sept. 2, 2022, 4-6 pm, Bear Gallery
  • Literary Reading: Sept. 3, 2022, 1:00 pm, Centennial Center Theater 
  • Live Performance: Sept. 3, 2022, 7:30 p.m., Centennial Center Theater
  • Additional ITOC activities:
    • Outdoor Mindful Movement Workshops: Sept. 2, 10-11:30 am, 12-1:30 pm. With Molissa Udevitz. Co-hosted by OneTree Alaska. Meet at the University of Alaska Ski Hut. Register in advance (free).
    • Puppet-Making Workshop and Puppet Parade: Aug. 27, 2022-Sept. 3, 2022. With Maite Agopian and Marianne Stolz. Co-hosted by The Folk School. Cabin 66, Pioneer Park. Register in advance (pay what you can).

Learn more at itoc.alaska.edu

Arctic Fest

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Arctic Fest

Arctic Fest is an annual festival that features the arts, sciences, and Indigenous cultural and knowledge systems, all focused on our changing environment.

The inaugural Arctic Fest will be held Aug. 28-Sept. 3, 2022, in Fairbanks Alaska.

I’m honored to be working with co-organizers Anne Biberman (Fairbanks Concert Association) and Elisabeth Dabney (Northern Alaska Environmental Center) to make our shared dream a reality!

Learn more at https://arcticfest.org/

Talks on arts-humanities-science integration

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Talks on arts-humanities-science integration

Watch videos of my presentations on arts-humanities-science integration at the links below:

In a Time of Change: Trophic Cascades

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In a Time of Change: Trophic Cascades

In a Time of Change: Trophic Cascades (2012-2013).

Eight competitively selected artists and writers, hosted organized field workshops for artists with scientists in Denali National Park and Bonanza Creek LTER, and produced and mounted a visual art and literary exhibit, plus literary readings, in Fairbanks. The month-long exhibit, with literary readings, was held at the Bear Gallery in Fairbanks, hosted by the Fairbanks Arts Association. The exhibit drew 1,820 visitors and 280 on opening night, which approached the record high attendance for a First Friday in the Bear Gallery. The exhibit then toured to Alaska Pacific University in Anchorage.

Learn more about the exhibit and view artworks at the Trophic Cascades website.

Press

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Press

Links to recent press and videos featuring our work.

In a Time of Change: Microbial Worlds

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In a Time of Change: Microbial Worlds

In a Time of Change: Microbial Worlds (2015-present).

Thirteen Alaskan artists were competitively selected to participate in monthly lectures, labs, and field trips, including to Bonanza Creek LTER and Toolik Field Station, with the Leigh lab and other microbiologists and ecologists from within and beyond Alaska. Additionally, an artist-in-residence from New York worked at Kevo Subarctic Research Station with our research team in Finland for three field seasons on costume design, dance, videography, and photography. The theme focuses on the many roles of microorganisms in human and environmental health. This exhibit premiered in Fairbanks at Well Street Art Co. in Feb., 2017, toured to Juneau, Anchorage, and Finland in 2017-18, and is scheduled for The Lightwell Gallery at the University of Oklahoma in Nov-Dec 2019 and the Pratt Museum in Homer, AK, in summer 2020.

Learn more about “Microbial Worlds” and explore the artwork at our website.