Exploring Eco-Social Art Strategies in Qualitative Research and EcoArt – Scandinavia

The artist Georges Braque once declared that "art is meant to disturb. Science reassures". My ideal is that art and science together should disturb, not as disillusion, but as a way to strengthen social reflections and the ethical ethos in qualitative research – in order to propose paradigms which are sustainable and congruent with the…Read more Exploring Eco-Social Art Strategies in Qualitative Research and EcoArt – Scandinavia

The Hollywood Forest Story—Eco-Social Art Practice for the Symbiocene: a new article for US Minding Nature journal

I was thrilled and a little bit nervous to be asked to write an article about Hollywood Forest and my creative practice for the US Minding Nature journal over the summer. MINDING NATURE is a journal exploring conservation values and the practice of ecological democratic citizenship I have been following this fantastic multidisciplinary journal for…Read more The Hollywood Forest Story—Eco-Social Art Practice for the Symbiocene: a new article for US Minding Nature journal

Dara and his mother in Hollywood Forest (2016) Photo: Cathy Fitzgerald

Good-Bye Anthropocene – Hello Symbiocene!

The first Irish signatory to #CultureDeclaresEmergency and eco-social artist, researcher and educator, Dr Cathy Fitzgerald, discusses the new era, the Symbiocene. The Symbiocene is the new epoch in human history, beyond the ecocide of the Anthropocene, in which emergent humanity celebrates and respects all life's diversity and develops new Earth-aligned intellectual and emotional features. Cathy's talk identifies that the Symbiocene can help cultural workers and others frame their work, especially ecological art practices situated in communities that help people envision new ideas, practices and values for a better, more just and beautiful world. Cathy uses the Symbiocene to help deepen understanding of her ongoing eco-social art practice: The Hollywood Forest Story - 'the little wood that could'. See hollywoodforest.com/portfolio/ongoi…d-forest-story/ Cathy was invited by Dr. Nessa Cronin, Irish Studies, National University of Galway and Professors Karen Till and Gerry Kearns, Maynooth University, Ireland to speak for the Art & Geography: Art, Activism and Social Engagement in the Age of the Capitalocene panel at the 7th EU Geo Congress in Galway, recorded 16 May 2019. Cathy wishes to acknowledge Dr Frances Fahy and Dr. Kathy Reilly (EUGEO Conference Co-Chairs and organisers for the bursary that she was awarded that enable her to attend the congress).