Extension of Nature
JUNE 1 - JULY 31, 2023
An outdoor digital exhibition addressing what it means to be sustainable in a digital world.
Arts & Entertainment Atlanta presented its fourth annual digital exhibition, Extension of Nature, from June 1 - July 31. Curated by Birney Robert, work by 10 Atlanta artists was featured on four A&E Atlanta digital signs throughout Downtown Atlanta.
Artwork rotated between commercial content. On June 15th from 4:30 - 6:00 p.m., artwork appeared uninterrupted by commercial content.
Featured Artists:
Chanell Angeli, Peter Bahouth, Kevin Beasley, Bojana Ginn, Mark Leibert, Pam Longobardi, Supratim Pait, Iman Person, Daniel Phelps, and Inspired Action Design. Artwork varies by screen.
Producers:
Curated by Birney Robert. Presented by Arts & Entertainment Atlanta in partnership with the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District, Orange Barrel Media, and BIG Outdoor. Project support provided by Dashboard.
View Exhibition Map
Artists at Margaret Mitchell Square (140 Peachtree St NE) - Plants and Seeds
Iman Person
Peter Bahouth
Mark Leibert
Artists at 101 Marietta (101 Marietta St NW) - Plastics and Waste
Pam Longobardi
Bojana Ginn
Kevin Beasley
Artists at Reverb Hotel by Hard Rock (89 Centennial Olympic Park Dr NW) - Imaginary Environments
Chanell Angeli
Daniel Phelps
Inspired Action Design (IAD)
Artists at Peachtree Center (235 Peachtree St NE) - Relationships
Supratim Pait
Curator Statement:
Technological developments such as plastics, genetically modified organisms (GMO), crypto currencies, and surveillance technology have brought societal promise, while also altering natural habitats, weather patterns, bacteria, and how information is transmitted. The wellbeing of the planet depends on our collective efforts, and we must act ethically and sustainably to combat global warming.
“Art creates a space for contemplation – a space that can allow for a broader, more sensitive perception of all things” (Art in America, March 2020:53). What if we use art and technology to understand and address global warming? What if we put art on billboards to communicate the climate crisis to an urban population such as Atlanta?
This outdoor exhibit, Extension of Nature will address what it means to be sustainable in a digital and urban environment, focusing on four themes, 1) plants and seeds, 2) plastics and waste, 3) imaginary environments, and 4) relationships. This exhibit highlights artists working in environmental activism and how they communicate through art. It is ironic this exhibit uses digital billboards to discuss the natural, however it brings awareness to our technological dependence on screens for communication. What if for a moment, the primary purpose of the “digital” was to uplift the “natural” and send a collective message to Atlanta? Atlanta is a center for art, technology, and green leadership and Extension of Nature furthers this leadership.