Can you make art with squirrels? What happens when theatre exits the building? This episode discusses Ecoscenography and interspecies collaboration, ideas pushing on the boundaries of conventional theatre production and visual art. Artist and scientist Kristian Brevik challenges us to consider our relationships with the non-human creatures who share our world, and to see how art-making can contribute to a transformation in the dynamic between humans and our environment. Australian theatre designer and community artist Tanja Beer introduces us to her concept of Ecoscenography, which offers theatre designers a way to think critically about, and make practical changes to, the ecological and social impact of their work. Ian McFarlane, theatre designer and head of production for the River Clyde Pageant talks with host Jane Wells about how these material, social and ecological concepts are being realized in the annual production of the Pageant.

Featured Speakers:

Kristian Brevik - Artist, scientist, lecturer in Environmental Studies, University of Vermont

Tanja Beer - community artist, ecological designer, educator and researcher at Griffith University,  Australia

Ian McFarlane - Scenographer, puppeteer, Resident Designer in Drama Studies, Mount Allison University

Featured Music:

Aaron Collier

Corbin Murdoch

Evan Furness 

Further Information 

Our guests:

Kristian Brevik

 http://www.kristianbrevik.com/

Tanja Beer

tanjabeer.com 

Ecoscenography.com

Ian McFarlane

https://ianfmcfar.weebly.com/

https://northbarntheatre.ca/

People discussed on the episode:

Kim Tallbear https://kimtallbear.com/

Robin Wall Kimmerer https://www.robinwallkimmerer.com/

Max Liboiron https://maxliboiron.com/

Merlin Sheldrake https://www.merlinsheldrake.com/

Art Discussed on the Episode 

snæbjörnsdóttir / wilson “Vanishing Point where species meet.” https://snaebjornsdottirwilson.com/category/projects/vanishing-point-where-species-meet/)

Marcus Coates “Dawn Chorus” 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zF1uihdcZmY

Ideas Discussed on the Episode

https://www.opera-lyon.com/l-opera-de-lyon/un-opera-engage/engagement-environnemental

https://ecoscenography.com/2020/11/24/opera-production-the-circular-economy-interview-with-thierry-leonardi-lyon-opera/

https://read.dukeupress.edu/environmental-humanities/article/15/1/44/343373/Sense-and-Consent-in-Cocreating-with-Earth-Others

Why do food and performance so often go hand and hand? Examining two unique projects, MABELLEpantry in Toronto and Embrace in Whitehorse/Winnipeg, this podcast interviews artists and community advocates about the essential role of food in their communities and practices. Members of MABELLEarts speak to a food pantry program that began as a response to COVID-19 related food insecurity. Designed as an artful, inviting and playful farmer’s market, MABELLEpantry provides community connection and affordable food to vulnerable community members. Winnipeg artist Hazel Venzon of UNIT Productions is also featured describing her project Embrace which weaves together cooking lessons, karaoke and stories of immigration. Exploring her own roots as a Filipino Canadian, Venzon engaged the Filipino communities in Whitehorse to understand what brought them to the Yukon and was surprised to discover that preparing food was a means by which to learn and share those stories.

Featured Speakers:

Leah Houston - Executive Director of MABELLEarts

Elizabeth Rucker - Director of Co-creation at MABELLEarts

Ayal Dinner - Former Pantry Co-ordinator at MABELLEarts

Hazel Venzon - Co-founder of UNITogether Productions

Featured Music:

Aaron Collier

Callum Gaudet