Presenter Affiliation(s): TexasView | UtahView | IowaView | AmericaView | LouisianaView | AmericaView
Session: BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN ART AND SCIENCE WITH EARTH AS ART EXHIBITS
Satellite images offer remarkable opportunities to capture the public interest when their inherent elements of texture, color, and form combine to produce balance, contrast, and composition. Turning imagery into art engages the public and bridges the gap between Science and Art. The U.S. Geological Survey recognized this with the release of an ongoing series of Earth as Art collections, exhibited in diverse venues around the U.S over the past two decades. LousianaView, a member of the national AmericaView consortium, took the initiative nine years ago to develop its own traveling exhibit of Earth as Art canvases for educational outreach in Louisiana. This exhibit has had over 20 showings in 10 states and one international locale. It has been hosted in museums, Universities, and conferences, accompanied games, puzzles, posters, and hands-on activities designed to engage teachers, students, and the public. Inspired by the success of LouisianaView’s efforts, multiple StateViews have developed or are planning their own exhibits, adding local activities and outreach resources to connect with their own constituencies. Our panel comprises StateView leaders from LouisianaView, IowaView, UtahView, and TexasView, as well as the AmericaView national program. We will introduce historical, current, and future perspectives on our efforts to bring Art into our Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics outreach efforts.
In February 2017, IowaView hosted an exhibit of selected images from LouisianaView’s collection. IowaView’s panelist will cover exhibit planning, developing educational materials for K-12 age groups, attracting audiences through outreach, and lessons learned. Planning is under way to develop Iowa-centric art scenes that will engage teachers, students, and the public with imagery as art and as applied science. This will also offer opportunities for undergraduate students to participate in selection and artwork development. TexasView and the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife use Landsat imagery of State Parks for teacher training and public outreach on landform recognition. They have developed the Texas as Art exhibit, currently on display at the Sibley Nature Center in Midland, Texas. TexasView is working to develop exhibit-related outreach materials for K-12 educators and their students. The exhibit will travel among TexasView partner institutions over the next several years. UtahView has created a learning program focused on Utah landscapes. Utah is an ideal canvas for engaging learners of all ages in the science of Utah’s landscapes through the lens of satellite imagery. Views of unique landscapes found in Utah are paired with easily understood information about the sensor, and about Earth’s processes recorded by the sensor. Displayed at statewide conferences and other venues, these are also provided to teachers and schools for display and discussion. The AmericaView program has recognized Earth as Art as an unique and interactive educational tool. Developing the AmericaView Earth As Art program will provide a low-cost tool that can be used in many different formats including posters, stand-alone prints, book activities, printed canvases, large and small puzzles, or as digital displays. Our AmericaView panelist will describe AmericaView’s intent to broaden the impact of its program through mini-grants, webinars, mutual regional exhibit development.
Abhinav Galodha