Seeds of Creation amid Destruction - "That Which Will Save us Also Grows" 

This exhibit consists of 2 themes that describe the intrinsic connection between creation and destruction 

Living, Losing, and Loving in the Capitalocene

We are living in the here and now, experiencing this era of conflict and collapse. Times are hard, our lands are parched (or flooded). But there is also beauty and joy in the cracks, where light flows in and hope beams out. Some people tend towards “sunshining,” pretending away the bad and trying to stay positive. Others lean into “catastrophic thinking,” where only the worst is possible. But both are part of a journey that involves decay, conflict and vulnerability. We will all have to dive into deep valleys before climbing the slope towards bright futures as we move towards whatever we will build After Capitalism. These works remind us that we need to let ourselves feel the losses and hold on to whatever fills us as we move towards the new worlds on the horizon.

Emergence through Erosion

All life grows from death. “Decomposers” - like fungi and bacteria - break down dead and decaying matter to make nutrients available for new life to grow. Without decomposers - dead leaves, dead bodies, dead landscapes, dead buildings, and dead systems would build up around us, without end. Erosion and metabolism are necessary for anything good to emerge. It is not a journey toward an end, but a beginning. Nonetheless, there is grief when we realize that moving towards a better, more equitable society comes at a price. These works remind us that change is inevitable. It is only a matter of time before the environment and society as we know it will erode away. These artists raise questions about what we can do now to grow towards a more just, equitable, kind and beautiful future.