TAPPED IN

TAPPED IN: Moving Hearts and Minds Through Art and Science

April 11 - June 8, 2024

The artists are the prophets. They say what can't be said in ways that can be heard. – Barbara Holmes

“TAPPED IN” is an innovative art installation at the intersection of art and science that combines outdoor public art with an indoor educational gallery display. Inspired by the concept of 'edges' in ecosystems, “TAPPED IN” celebrates the dynamic intersections where diverse influences meet, bringing together ten artist-scientist pairs to offer fresh perspectives on climate change, CO2 mitigation and action. Participants include:

Adria Arch (artist) and Sara Seager, O.C., Professor of Astrophysics and Planetary Science at MIT

Freedom Baird (artist) and Daniella Malin, Senior Program Director, Agriculture & Climate, Sustainable Food Lab

Lisa Barthelson (artist) and Juliana Birnbaum, Senior Editor and Program Director, Project Regeneration

Casey Figueroa (artist) and Terrius Harris, Obama Scholar, Artist, Advocate, Educator and Strategist on Indigenous, Climate and Economic Issues

Raquel Fornasaro (artist) and John Sterman, Director MIT Sloan Sustainability Initiative

Mags Harries (artist) and Nadia Szeinbaum, Senior Scientist, Beyond Meat

Michelle Lougee (artist) and William Moomaw, Emeritus Professor of International Environmental Policy, Tufts University

Ilana Manolson (artist) and Janine Benyus, Co-Founder, Biomimicry Institute

Victor Pacheco (artist) and Paul Kirshen, Professor, School for the Environment Research Director, Stone Living Lab, UMass Boston

Nancy Selvage (artist) and Josh Goldman, Project Leader, Greener Grazing

PLUS, "With/out Deprivation" art installation by Elevated Thought Writers, in collaboration with Marquis Victor and Terrius Harris.

[Read the Full Team Bios and Artwork Statements]

The exhibit aims to touch hearts and minds, fostering change through art that visualizes the impact and implications of the scientists’ work. Central to the inspiration for this exhibit is the Climate Bathtub analogy—a powerful metaphor that makes the complex concepts of greenhouse gas pollutants (faucet outflow), and atmospheric CO2 concentration (tub), and climate change mitigation (drain) accessible to individuals of all ages. Outdoors in front of The Umbrella (4/10-6/8), interpretative sculptures reflecting the bathtub metaphor’s systems dynamics will express an art/science collaborative vision for our climate future. Indoors in the Allie Kussin Main Gallery (4/10-5/4), an educational gallery display will showcase both the scientist’s research and the artist’s process along with practical actions to address climate change.

Reviews

“‘TAPPED IN’ stands as a pioneering exhibition that bridges the worlds of art and science…This groundbreaking showcase…seamlessly integrates large outdoor public art installations with an informative indoor gallery experience.” Claudia Fiks, Artscope
“Fostering collaboration between artists and scientists is a wonderful educational and creative endeavor. Kudos to The Umbrella Arts Center for taking on such a complex and ambitious project.” - Lisa Reindorf, Artsfuse
“Turning up the Heat: How sculptor Victor Pacheco and climate scientist Paul Kirshen track past, present, and future temperatures in The Umbrella Arts Center's "Tapped In." - Cate McQuaid, Ocean in a Drop
Take time to take in ‘Tapped In – Moving Hearts and Minds Through Art and Science’…an innovative art installation” – Deb Lee, Art Outdoors

Press

A Creative Search for Answers: Freedom Baird Nurtures AI & Ecological Consciousness
By Marjorie Kaye, Artscope Magazine
A pairing of eight scientists in the field of global warming, with eight artists (including Freedom Baird) promotes a systemic understanding of climate change mitigation commonly expressed through the Bathtub metaphor.
Art + Activism: Art and Science Join Forces at The Umbrella Arts Center
By Pam Ellertson, Art New England
Go in depth into the artist-scientist pairings that make for such powerful and well researched pieces in TAPPED IN.

Related Activities

Thursday, April 11, 5:00-7:30pm

5-6PM - Opening reception and mixer
6-7:30PM - Panel Discussion in affiliation with Catalyst Conversations [View the Video]. Program includes:
- Heartbeat Space video installation prelude by Casey Figueroa with remarks by Terrius Harris.
- Remarks by Climate Chief Melissa Hoffer, and State Senator Michael Barrett.
- Introductory Remarks by Mags Harries, participating artist and Board member, Catalyst Conversations.
- Panel discussion moderated by Co-Curators Linda Booth Sweeney and Stephanie Marlin-Curiel with panel participants John Sterman (scientist) and Raquel Fornasaro (artist) William Moomaw (scientist) and Michelle Lougee (artist) and Paul Kirshen (scientist) and Victor Pacheco (artist).

View the Opening Panel Discussion

Saturday, April 20, 1:00-5:00pm

Youth Forward Climate Action Day

1-3PM - Mend-a-thon
1-4PM - Youth-Led Guided Tours
2-4PM - Free Family Fun Activity: Eco-Toy Making
3-4PM - Heartbeat Space video installation
4-5PM - Eco Slow Fashion Show
And more!

Plant-based meat tasting generously donated by Beyond Meat (at the Cooler Concord Festival next door on the Concord Library lawn). UPDATE APRIL 20: Due to weather, the Cooler Concord activities including Beyond Meat tasting have been relocated to Concord Carlisle High School. The Umbrella indoor/outdoor program will remain at 40 Stow Street.

View Complete April 20 Schedule

About the Curators

THE UMBRELLA ARTS CENTER AND STEPHANIE MARLIN-CURIEL

The Umbrella Arts Center is a multidisciplinary arts center whose mission is to enrich lives and build a vibrant and inclusive community through the arts. We promote creativity, learning, personal growth, and cultural exchange through accessible arts education programs, performing and visual arts presentations, and community collaborations. The Umbrella has had a long history of environmental programming that has evolved as the climate crisis has deepened to present art that casts a focus on climate change from multiple perspectives. Curator Stephanie Marlin-Curiel arrived at The Umbrella as Visual Arts Manager in January of 2002. Holding a Ph.D in Performance Studies from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and having co-founded the Public Art program in Arlington, she has a strong interest on the social impact of art. She has curated two Art Ramble outdoor sculpture installations focused on the climate crisis: “In the Balance,” addressing the sensation of living in an environment that is out of balance, and “Geo-Metric”, about measuring change in the earth and identifying patterns in nature and their disruption. Last year, Stephanie invited curatorial team A La Luz (David Cass and Gonzaga Cortazar-Gomez Romero) to present The Umbrella’s most ambitious climate exhibition to date, “Points of Return”, an international multimedia exhibition featuring 27 artists facing the climate crisis by presenting scientific data in new ways and offering commentary, reflection, and creative restorative strategies.

DR. LINDA BOOTH SWEENEY

As a systems educator, author and advocate for healthier human systems, Dr. Linda Booth Sweeney is internationally recognized for her efforts to make systems thinking accessible to diverse audiences, including students, educators, policymakers, and business leaders. She has made significant contributions to promoting the use of metaphors like the bathtub model to enhance public comprehension of critical issues such as climate change. In her work, Linda uses storytelling, visualizations, mixed reality and interactive activities to engage learners and help them understand the complexities of the interconnected systems that shape our world.

While a doctoral student at Harvard’s Graduate School of education, Linda was inspired to bring the bathtub analog to younger audiences after co-authoring two papers with Professor John Sterman: “Bathtub Dynamics” and “Understanding Public Complacency About Climate Change.” In 2005, National Geographic selected the carbon bathtub as a BIG IDEA for that year. Apart, Together (Harper Collins, 2023), Linda’s next children’s book, is a gentle invitation to systems thinking for the very young.