Ecology and Environment.
The underlying theme of all A-Maze Artists Collective projects is ecology and concern for the environment. This concern is shared by many communities. As artists who live on the planet we want to use its resources carefully and sustainably so that future generations can live and thrive in our world. We think seriously about issues of social justice, restitution and how the migration of peoples and global trade need to be carried out ethically.
Our Projects reflect frequently competing environmental interests:
- Greening the environment
- Transportation of people and goods to support work and leisure
-Land for residential and industrial use, sometimes these are intertwined and we want our work to reflect these lived experiences to support communities to articulate the complexity, cohesion and competition of these issues..
Our individual artworks, our curatorial approach and our commitment to participatory & cocreated exhibitions are inspired and shaped by this thinking. The environment is not something apart from humanity, we are part of it.
Material factors
We use recycled and environmentally friendly materials to create our artworks where possible and use a Scrap scheme (https://www.workandplayscrapstore.org.uk/) to source our workshops materials. All unused materials are returned at the end of each project. Our practices also encompass digital creation and interactive LED devices. We investigate the least wasteful ways to create meaningful and impactful artworks which highlight our concerns.
When transportation of work is required we gather all the artworks at one studio, to minimise transport journeys. Protecting artworks in transit is always an important consideration so we reuse all our packaging materials and try to create artworks where packaging can be minimal.
Our current policies make specific reference to our forthcoming project in Deptford, London this Autumn.
We are committed to putting our ideas into practice for blended projects/exhibitions in a range of ways including:
-Experimenting and exploring electronic monitors to show pollution levels in the surrounding area - we are currently testing this technology which would allow us to display results in gallery/exhibition spaces to illustrate how pollution levels change throughout the day and on different days of the week.
- Interactive exhibits which highlight potential local, site specific energy saving projects. In the case of Deptford on the bank of the Thames river, the possibilities of tidal energy generation and other alternate forms of energy production are being tested. The Port of London Authority has made a small area available for testing tidal energy technology. http://www.pla.co.uk/Green-light-for-Thames-tidal-energy-trial ).
Publicity for the Boundless: Transitions exhibition will include links to this initiative to build greater awareness in the wider community.
An important part of how we work is reaching out to local communities and organisations wherever our projects take place, eliciting their ideas, inviting cocreation and participation. We will create local ‘trails’ (games using What3Words geocode) which include arts, educational, ecological and business communities and organisations -our aim is to create greater connectivity wherever our projects happen literally, to join the dots.
Research
As a collective we collate existing research on the natural environment surrounding the project/exhibition venues - links to these resources will be featured on our website.
We will carry out research into our themes and follow up with partners.
Themes - migrations of people, flora & fauna across the globe and specifically the Deptford environment in this case
as well as a detailed (anonymous) survey of our audiences to ensure accurate measurements and evaluation.
Who are the audiences - the audiences are community groups, schools & universities in the local area as well as other boroughs in London and Liverpool.
to ensure the best possible user experience so that we can improve our practices and levels of meaningful engagement.
In the case of Deptford this includes:
Target Aims for Boundless: Transitions @ APT Gallery, Deptford 5-29 October 2023
To improve visitors' awareness of renewable energy and local tidal initiatives
To experiment with measuring and recording pollution levels locally To improve visitors' awareness of local pollution levels
To enable audiences to understand that we are part of the environment, we are not separate entities
To expand people’s awareness of Deptford’s historic role in the slave trade and as a first port of call for many other migrations
To assess the effectiveness of using sensors and interactive exhibits in the exhibition.
The underlying theme of all A-Maze Artists Collective projects is ecology and concern for the environment. This concern is shared by many communities. As artists who live on the planet we want to use its resources carefully and sustainably so that future generations can live and thrive in our world. We think seriously about issues of social justice, restitution and how the migration of peoples and global trade need to be carried out ethically.
Our Projects reflect frequently competing environmental interests:
- Greening the environment
- Transportation of people and goods to support work and leisure
-Land for residential and industrial use, sometimes these are intertwined and we want our work to reflect these lived experiences to support communities to articulate the complexity, cohesion and competition of these issues..
Our individual artworks, our curatorial approach and our commitment to participatory & cocreated exhibitions are inspired and shaped by this thinking. The environment is not something apart from humanity, we are part of it.
Material factors
We use recycled and environmentally friendly materials to create our artworks where possible and use a Scrap scheme (https://www.workandplayscrapstore.org.uk/) to source our workshops materials. All unused materials are returned at the end of each project. Our practices also encompass digital creation and interactive LED devices. We investigate the least wasteful ways to create meaningful and impactful artworks which highlight our concerns.
When transportation of work is required we gather all the artworks at one studio, to minimise transport journeys. Protecting artworks in transit is always an important consideration so we reuse all our packaging materials and try to create artworks where packaging can be minimal.
Our current policies make specific reference to our forthcoming project in Deptford, London this Autumn.
We are committed to putting our ideas into practice for blended projects/exhibitions in a range of ways including:
-Experimenting and exploring electronic monitors to show pollution levels in the surrounding area - we are currently testing this technology which would allow us to display results in gallery/exhibition spaces to illustrate how pollution levels change throughout the day and on different days of the week.
- Interactive exhibits which highlight potential local, site specific energy saving projects. In the case of Deptford on the bank of the Thames river, the possibilities of tidal energy generation and other alternate forms of energy production are being tested. The Port of London Authority has made a small area available for testing tidal energy technology. http://www.pla.co.uk/Green-light-for-Thames-tidal-energy-trial ).
Publicity for the Boundless: Transitions exhibition will include links to this initiative to build greater awareness in the wider community.
An important part of how we work is reaching out to local communities and organisations wherever our projects take place, eliciting their ideas, inviting cocreation and participation. We will create local ‘trails’ (games using What3Words geocode) which include arts, educational, ecological and business communities and organisations -our aim is to create greater connectivity wherever our projects happen literally, to join the dots.
Research
As a collective we collate existing research on the natural environment surrounding the project/exhibition venues - links to these resources will be featured on our website.
We will carry out research into our themes and follow up with partners.
Themes - migrations of people, flora & fauna across the globe and specifically the Deptford environment in this case
as well as a detailed (anonymous) survey of our audiences to ensure accurate measurements and evaluation.
Who are the audiences - the audiences are community groups, schools & universities in the local area as well as other boroughs in London and Liverpool.
to ensure the best possible user experience so that we can improve our practices and levels of meaningful engagement.
In the case of Deptford this includes:
- Creation of a short questionnaire at our physical exhibitions which identifies visitors' awareness of alternative forms of renewable energy, how we consider our homes and public buildings and we ask questions about the personal impact of the current energy situation? if they feel the homes they live in are fit for purpose? do they have draughty windows? problems with black mould? and problems with local pollution?
- We ask if and how their awareness has widened and improved following their visit to the exhibition
- We gather visitors’ comments on their current energy situation, living conditions, pollution levels in their area will be collated (anonymously).
- Explore the competing interests around town planning in Deptford, Lewisham. Stake holders like https://goastudio.co.uk/lewisham-residential-architect/ and students and teachers at Deptford Green School as well as staff and students at Goldsmith’s University
- Devising an accurate, accessible measurement systems for visitors to the exhibition which factor in problems created by language, feelings of exclusion and other issues which inhibit people from leaving feedback.
- use of sensors in the exhibition, these will be recorded and assessed via a questionnaire at the end of audience visits. Visitor interactions with the exhibits will be recorded (anonymous or with permissions?) and will be assessed after the exhibition.
- physical ways for visitors to leave information about themselves and feedback using 2D & 3D maps, paper rolls for drawings & comments
- creating artefacts during workshops which can be added into the exhibition where visitors want to place them - numbers of objects placed gives information on participant numbers duration of engagement is measured & comments elicited (indicating quality of engagement)
- digital ways for visitors to leave info & feedback through downloading a free photogrammetry app, scanning artefacts they have made, taking screenshots (participant download numbers can be counted, duration measured
- audio comments can be left at the gallery
- an arts trail using What3Words geocode which integrates other local trails i.e. in Deptford we will reference the MoSaF (Museum of Slavery and Freedom) map for its ‘Walking Tour of Deptford’s Legacy of Slavery
Target Aims for Boundless: Transitions @ APT Gallery, Deptford 5-29 October 2023
To improve visitors' awareness of renewable energy and local tidal initiatives
To experiment with measuring and recording pollution levels locally To improve visitors' awareness of local pollution levels
To enable audiences to understand that we are part of the environment, we are not separate entities
To expand people’s awareness of Deptford’s historic role in the slave trade and as a first port of call for many other migrations
To assess the effectiveness of using sensors and interactive exhibits in the exhibition.
OTHER ARTISTS WHO EMBRACE ECO-FRIENDLY PRACTICE
www.artistsnetwork.com/artist-life/sustainable-art-practices/
artquest.org.uk/art-world/sustainable-arts-practice/
https://www.artnews.com/art-in-america/features/ecofeminism-women-in-environmental-art-1202688298/
www.creativecarbonscotland.com/gt_artform/visual-art/
USEFUL SITES
www.artscouncil.org.uk/developing-creativity-and-culture/environment
juliesbicycle.com/
https://www.sustainablepractice.org/
https://www.chrysalisarts.com/resources/greening-arts-practice-guide
https://agifineart.com/advice/going-green-environmentally-friendly-practices-for-artists/artrepreneur.com/journal/sustainable-art-guide/
ethicalunicorn.com/2021/06/23/how-to-be-a-sustainable-eco-friendly-artist/
www.artistsnetwork.com/artist-life/sustainable-art-practices/
artquest.org.uk/art-world/sustainable-arts-practice/
https://www.artnews.com/art-in-america/features/ecofeminism-women-in-environmental-art-1202688298/
www.creativecarbonscotland.com/gt_artform/visual-art/
USEFUL SITES
www.artscouncil.org.uk/developing-creativity-and-culture/environment
juliesbicycle.com/
https://www.sustainablepractice.org/
https://www.chrysalisarts.com/resources/greening-arts-practice-guide
https://agifineart.com/advice/going-green-environmentally-friendly-practices-for-artists/artrepreneur.com/journal/sustainable-art-guide/
ethicalunicorn.com/2021/06/23/how-to-be-a-sustainable-eco-friendly-artist/