Panel Discussion, "Climate Change: Optimism and Action" with the University of Rhode Island

Exhibition Programming, Planet Earth, The Environment and Our Future

Monday, April 18
Panel discussion starting at 6:30 PM

Climate change is not a distant issue, and now is the time for creative solutions. Hear a panel discussion with experts from the University of Rhode Island on local and global progress made on climate change, how we can channel despair into action, and the power of individuals to fuel collective change.

Featuring:

Dr. Paula Bontempi, Dean,
Graduate School of Oceanography, The University of Rhode Island

Dr. Anthony Marchese, Dean, College of Engineering, The University of
Rhode Island

Dr. Karl Aspelund, Chair, Department of Textiles, Fashion Merchandising and Design, College of Business, The University of
Rhode Island

Dr. Martha McConnell, Lecturer, Graduate School of Oceanography, The University of Rhode Island

About Planet Earth, the Environment and Our Future

WaterFire Providence presents Planet Earth, The Environment and Our Future at the WaterFire Arts Center (WFAC) an exhibition of art and science looking at the beauty and fragility of our world. This exhibition will be at the WFAC from Saturday, March 19 through Sunday, May 1, 2022.

Entry is free for all, donations are encouraged. The WaterFire Arts Center’s hours are Wednesday – Sunday, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m; open late until 9:00 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays. (The addition of Friday nights is unique to this exhibit.)

The exhibition is made possible through the generous support of the NASA Rhode Island Space Grant Consortium; Kathleen and Barry Hittner; the University of Rhode Island, Graduate School of Oceanography; Brown University; and the Roger Williams Park Zoo.

The Earth in its beauty and majesty has long fascinated artists and scientists of all cultures, inspiring their work. Both use vision to understand the empirical facts of the real world – and use imagery again to convey their ideas and conclusions. This exhibition of art and science presents over thirty spectacular artworks by contemporary artists that expand upon the interconnected nature of the world – the exhibition also includes historical art, photographs, and objects from several cultures stretching across the continents and spanning two centuries; tracing some of the Rhode Island connections to this larger story of discovery and exploration. 

Planet Earth, the Environment and Our Future includes works by William Bradford, David Burdeny, Judy Chicago, Richard Friedberg, Joan Hall, Martin Johnson Heade, Katsushika Hokusai, Dennis Hlynsky, Duane Isaac, Luke Jerram, Young Joon Kwak, Sarah Jane Lapp, Janice Lardey, Haley MacKeil, Qing Liu, Joseph E. Yoakum, David Whyte, and Faith Wilding

With special thanks to the many Rhode Island institutions who have helped us create this exhibition including the Providence Public Library Special Collections, RISD Museum of Art, New Bedford Whaling Museum, Rustigian Rugs, Providence Marriott Downtown, Dassault Systèmes, Providence Fire Fighters IAFF local 799, Providence Fire Department, The Providence Journal, The Providence Parks Department, and the Roger Williams Park Museum of Natural History.