National Institute for Experimental Arts presents HotHouse

Cultural ecology and sustainable urban environments

Symposium
27-28 July 2010

Sydney Opera House
Utzon Room

http://www.hothouse.unsw.edu.au

http://www.hothouse.unsw.edu.au

HotHouse brings together a diverse group of creative thinkers, each with visionary ideas for transforming urban environments and communities in the interests of a sustainable future.

Presented in association with Object: Australian Centre for Craft and Design with support from the City of Sydney, Australian Research Council, Australia Council for the Arts, Sydney Opera House and Kinesis.

PROGRAM: HotHouse at the Opera House
Day One: 27 July

Introduction
Jill Bennett (Director, NIEA, UNSW)
Curating space: new models of collaboration…towards a new cultural ecology

Problems and Responses
Tony Fry (Griffith University; DirectorTeam D/E/S; founder EcoDesign Foundation) on “sustainment”, design as problem defining/problem solving, why we need artists and creative thinkers to address environmental problems.

Projects: Transforming Data/Diagnostics into Art/Action
Natalie Jeremijenko (Environmental Health Clinic, NYU) (recorded presentation)
Bruce Taper (Life Cycle Analyst, Kinesis)
Mathieu Gallois (Artist and Architect, McMansion Project)

Transforming Urban Spaces
Hou Hanru (Director, Exhibitions and Public Programs, San Francisco Art Institute) on transforming local urban environments through curatorial initiatives.

Sustainable Sydney 2030
How do artists, designers and curators envisage and meet the challenges of the City of Sydney’s 2030 Vision?
Shivaun Weybury (NIEA, UNSW)
Tessa Zettel and Karl Khoe (Makeshift)

The Connected City: Urban informatics and the use of technology in the
public sphere
Dan Hill (Arup)
Mark Pesce (FutureSt Consulting)

Information Sharing presentation of interactive installation ReDesign.
Digital Eskimo (Design Agency)

COCKTAIL PARTY/ LAUNCH OF PROJECT

Day Two: 28 July

Design Innovation
Bruce Mau (Author, Chief Creative Officer, Bruce Mau Design) live from Chicago.
Skype discussion with Bruce Mau led by Kate Rhodes (Object: Australian Centre for Craft and Design) and Stephen Goddard (Independent graphic
and exhibition designer) focussing on path-breaking projects for transforming cities/countries, including Massive Change (Toronto) and !Guatemala!.

Resources and Future Design
Adrian Parr (Associate Professor, University of Cincinnati, College of Design, Architecture, Art)
To be or not to be…thirsty
Considering the world’s looming water crisis, design alternatives and political strategies for equitable distribution.

Allan Giddy (Environmental Research in Art Initiative, COFA)
Wind turbine, energy-efficient public art for Sydney
Janet Laurence (Public environmental artist)
Water and site specificity
Jodi Newcombe (Founder, Carbon Arts)
David Trubridge (Designer)
Cultural design and human resources

Curating public art in city spaces
Jennifer Turpin (Jennifer Turpin Studio)

Towards a New Cultural Ecology
Michaela Crimmin (Independent Curator, London, specialising in art for the public domain)
Engaging local communities and sustainable curating beyond the gallery context
Douglas Kahn (Professor of Media and Innovation, NIEA, UNSW)

Panel, Summary and Concluding Discussion
Michaela Crimmin (Independent Curator, London)
Felicity Fenner (Chief Curator, NIEA, UNSW)
Richard Goodwin (Professor, Porosity Studio, COFA, UNSW)
Bridget Smyth (Director Design, City of Sydney)
And others…