Climate change action is focus of Human/Nature art exhibition

Standing in the middle of the Weinberg/Newton Gallery in Chicago is a sweeping, lush sculpture made of moss, orchids, and plastic. Monument, created by Regan Rosburg is meant to symbolize regeneration and beauty. 

It’s one of several works in the Human/Nature exhibition that captures the urgency needed to act on climate change and imagines a dystopian world where no action has been taken. 

The three-month exhibition opens Jan. 14 and represents a unique partnership between the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists and the Weinberg/Newton Gallery. Human/Nature is guest curated by Cyndi Conn, a member of the Bulletin’s Governing Board. 

“In works that are as beautiful as they are commanding, this show addresses issues of drought, pollution, natural disasters, environmental racism, and extinctions happening across the globe,” Conn said. “Beyond simply emphasizing the urgency of his moment, however, this show offers hope, outlines tangible solutions, and encourages audiences to understand that by acting now we can create a sustainable and resilient future. It is not too late.”

Human/Nature includes paintings, textiles, and AI-generated videos from international artists including Matthew Ritchie, Laura Ball, Stas Bartnikas, Donovan Quintero, Obvious, and Karen Reimer. The exhibition also includes video interviews from climate scientists and experts who offer actionable ideas on how to contribute to a sustainable future. 

“By working together with leading contemporary artists, designers, and creative communicators, the Bulletin seeks to broaden the conversation, generating innovative ways of framing crucial issues around peace and security,” says Rachel Bronson, the Bulletin’s president and CEO. “In recognition of the 75th anniversary of the Doomsday Clock and our commitment to engaging the public around the urgency of climate change, the Bulletin is delighted to partner with Weinberg/Newton Gallery for Human/Nature.” 

The exhibition marks the latest collaboration in the Bulletin’s arts science initiative to feature works that capture the public’s imagination, spark citizen engagement, and encourage creative solutions to humanity’s greatest risks.  

Human/Nature runs Jan. 14 to March 19 at the Weinberg/Newton Gallery at 688 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago. Learn more at http://www.weinbergnewtongallery.com/exhibitions-31-human-nature/. 

About the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
Founded in 1945 by Manhattan Project scientists, the Bulletin equips the public, policymakers, and scientists with the information needed to reduce man-made threats to human existence. At its core, it is a media organization, posting free articles on its website and publishing a premium digital magazine. The Bulletin focuses on three main areas: nuclear risk, climate change, and disruptive technologies.  Learn more at TheBulletin.org.

About Weinberg/Newton Gallery
Weinberg/Newton Gallery is a non-commercial gallery with a mission to collaborate with nonprofit organizations and artists to educate and engage the public on social justice issues. Through artwork and programming, the gallery provides a vital space for open discourse on critical contemporary issues facing our communities. Connecting artists with social justice organizations, we work to drive change and cultivate a culture of consciousness. 

About Guest Curator Cyndi Conn
Cyndi Conn is founder and president of LaunchProjects LLC, a creative consulting firm that engages and inspires organizations, influencers, and leaders. Conn serves on the Governing Board of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists and on advisory boards of The Black Mountain Institute, the National Parks Arts Foundation, the N Square Innovators Network, and is a member of the International Women’s Forum. She was previously the executive director of Creative Santa Fe, a non-profit dedicated to leveraging collaboration and the power of the arts to reframe critical issues and drive positive change, and prior to that was the visual arts director and curator of the Center for Contemporary Arts, Santa Fe. She holds a master’s degree in Curatorial Studies and Arts Administration from Skidmore College, a bachelor’s degree in Latin American studies from Tulane University and studied at the Universidad Ibero Americana in Mexico City.