Revolving Sky: artists and scientists exploring human experiences of earth and sky

Today’s big environmental challenges cross disciplinary boundaries, requiring academics to collaborate outside their sphere and translate research language to the general population. Contemporary performance artists who address these broad audiences frequently incorporate scientific and indigenous knowledge about environmental issues within their work. Yet, opportunities to work together from the outset of a project are rare. No existing national program directly places environmental performance makers and scientists together to create new knowledge and imagine new futures.

This pilot project brings together native performance artist Ty Defoe and the collective All My Relations with a cohort of U of U faculty and students to exchange and develop knowledge linked to our dark skies and earth science surroundings. As they develop and complete their performance piece “Revolving Sky”, All My Relations will be in residence at the University of Utah over multiple visits. The cohort will participate in a variety of workshops and experiences, including site specific field experiences, and connect into existing courses/seminars. Participation in the cohort will culminate in transformative new research, knowledge, and modes of communication across discipline, e.g. publications, presentations, new courses, and performances.

In addition to the faculty listed, this project is supported by the Global Change & Sustainability Center, UtahPresents, and the Consortium for Dark Sky Studies.

Current Status

2021-09-14
Abstract:
Today’s environmental challenges cross disciplinary boundaries, requiring academics to collaborate outside their sphere and translate research language to the general population. Contemporary performance artists who address broad audiences frequently incorporate science about environmental issues within their work. Yet, opportunities to work together from the outset of a project are rare. This pilot project brought together native performance collective All My Relations with University of Utah faculty and students to exchange and develop knowledge linked to dark skies, earth, and justice. As they create their performance piece “Revolving Sky”, AMR has been in virtual residence at the university. Some examples of the various residency activities include; participating in the Minor in Dark Sky Studies “Lightscapes” and Capstone courses, working with graduate students associated with the Global Change and Sustainability Center, supporting BIPOC Theatre students by hosting a private session about working as theatre artists of color and seeking representation and equity in their professional lives, and hosting community Constellation Bingo events. Based on the Revolving Sky pilot, UtahPresents, the Global Change and Sustainability Center, and the Sustainability Office have created Cairns, a multi-year initiative which brings artists with justice-based perspectives on sustainability and embeds them across campus and throughout Utah.