Third Coast Disrupted: Artists + Scientists on Climate

Third Coast Disrupted: Artists + Scientists on Climate is an exhibition of newly commissioned artworks culminating a yearlong conversation between artists and scientists centered on climate change impacts and solutions in the Chicago region.

Through science-inspired sculpture, painting, collage and more, the artworks examine local impacts—happening here and now—ranging from extreme heat to flooding to habitat loss, and more. They also shine light on local solutions underway, like “cool roofs,” nature-based approaches to slowing stormwater, and backyard habitat restoration. Some imagine future possibilities.  

Third Coast Disrupted is based on the notion that art can connect and engage with people on an emotional level. It can pique curiosity, be unexpected, tactile, interactive, evocative, and memorable. It can slow people down, inspire them to reflect, move them to talk to each other—and spur them to act.

Curatorial Team: Project Director & Lead Curator, Christine Esposito; Science Curator, Liam Heneghan; Art Curator, Lisa Roberts; Senior Consultant, Meg Duguid 

Participating artists: Jeremy Bolen, Barbara Cooper, Hector Duarte, Rosemary Holliday Hall, N. Masani Landfair, Meredith Leich, Andrew S. Yang

Participating scientists: Elena Grossman, MPH; Daniel Horton, PhD; Abigail Derby Lewis, PhD; Aaron Packman, PhD; Katherine Moore Powell, PhD; Desi Robertson-Thompson, PhD; Philip Willink, PhD

Programming
Note: All programming for Third Coast Disrupted will take place online 
Full program descriptions and registration here.

Wednesday, September 16, 7–8pm 
Katharine Hayhoe: Connecting Global Change to Local Impacts & Solutions
Katharine Hayhoe, climate scientist, Texas Tech University  

Thursday, September 17, 8–9am
The Art of Communicating Climate: A Conversation
Katharine Hayhoe, climate scientist, Texas Tech University
Mika Tosca, climate scientist, School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Christine Esposito, Project Director & Lead Curator of Third Coast Disrupted and Founder, Terracom—Moderator
Sponsored by Openlands

Thursday, October 1, 6:30–7:30pm 
Water, Water Everywhere: First-Person Flooding, Impact & Action 
Elena Grossman, Program Director, BRACE-Illinois, and Third Coast Disrupted scientist
Masani Landfair, Third Coast Disrupted artist
Daniella Pereira, Vice President of Community Conservation, Openlands
Debra Shore, Commissioner, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago

Thursday, October 8, 6:30–7:30pm
Avian Effects: Climate Change and Birds
Forrest Cortes, Director of Community Engagement, The Nature Conservancy in Illinois
Peggy Macnamara, artist/professor/author, Field Museum and School of the Art Institute
Doug Stotz, Senior Conservation Ecologist, Keller Science Action Center, Field Museum

Thursday, October 22, 6:30–7:30pm 
Getting Around Carbon: New looks at Transportation Options
Melody Geraci, Deputy Executive Director, Active Transportation Alliance
Daniel Horton, Lead Researcher, Climate Change Research Group, Northwestern University, and Third Coast Disrupted scientist Andrew S. Yang, Associate Professor, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and Third Coast Disrupted artist

Learn more at ThirdCoastDisrupted.org.

This program is partially supported from a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency and Illinois Science & Energy Innovation Foundation with additional support from Keith Giles and Christine Skolnik; Openlands; The Nature Conservancy; Clare Butterfield and Edward Maldonado; Greenleaf Advisors, LLC; Debra Shore; The Fogelson Family Foundation; and Keller Science Action Center, Field Museum. This program was created through a collaboration between Columbia College Chicago, DePaul University’s Institute for Nature and Culture, and Terracom.