Hi Pall, > Being stuck on an island in the middle of the North Atlantic makes > this one a bit tough for me too.
Yes, of course - things probably need to be measured out in a conscious way, it is a matter of balance rather than an absolute. Some of the furtherfield crew disagreed with us, and suggested that we did not make it a furtherfield project, and we respectfully honoured this request; and decided to make it a project set up by Ruth and myself instead, which is fair enough. In response to this, we have received many questions. Which are all relevant, highlighting how difficult such a request is. In an interview with Art is Open Source, discussing about the economic crisis, climate change and neoliberalism. I said " I was impressed by Gustav Metzger’s recent project ‘Reduce Art Flights’. A campaign challenging the art world to stop contributing to global warming by reducing their air flights all over the world, “following a reaction to Art Basel in 2006. RAF / Reduce Art Flights which deliberately resonates with both the Royal Air force and Red Army Faction acronyms comprises of a series of leaflets distributed at significant art events and exhibitions in an attempt to awaken the art world into considering alternative travel options.”[15] Reduce Art Flights (RAF) is a simple project asking us head-on to change and be more effective in our everyday lives in respect of our use of air flights. Questioning the systematic behaviour of the art world and its reliance on travelling to conferences and art fairs. “Two decades of procrastination ensure that only emergency measures now have a chance of preventing a climate disaster." http://www.artsblog.it/post/2803/intervistando-la-crisi-con-marc-garrett-part-2 So, perhaps it is more about 'reducing' art flights - not ever going on an 'art' flight. Ruth and I have both made personal sacrifices 'our decision', no one else's to not go on flights for six months and see how we approach different ways in travelling, instead of choosing the easy option of flying. As you know, we are pretty busy and so it will be ard for us, but we wish to see what happens. Like Gustav Metzger, we feel that each practice has its own set of circumstances. By sharing this 'personal' challenge in an art context, with the (media) art world and others - a realisation hits you, how varied everyone else's perspectives and concerns really are, around this complicated issue. Which I think is great, because the discuourse itself can teach myself and Ruth, and anyone else who is interested, what it means for others and how it relates relationally, especially in respect of social relationships with the real world, and how it all connects locally, personally and internationally when using infrastures to support our art activities. The other thing is, already we know that many have been reliant on flight to further their, ahem - careers. One of the main problems I see here is that, there are some who thrive by travelling the world to conferences and having exhibitions everywhere, whilst there are those who rarely travel in contrast to this. Perhaps, such a process of re-evalution will allow the smaller groups or individuals to be seen as equal in the future, if things change, doubt it ;-) marc Pall Thayer wrote: > Being stuck on an island in the middle of the North Atlantic makes > this one a bit tough for me too. I will however promise never to sail > for art as I've never found the ocean's sense of balance particularly > appealing. > > best r. > Pall Thayer > > On Tue, Apr 14, 2009 at 11:01 PM, Michael Szpakowski <szp...@yahoo.com> wrote: >> Hi Ruth >> pretty much my every breath is dedicated to trying to blag an art related trip outside Europe so I don't think I can do this one, or at least not until I've pulled that off. However I am happy to promise *never, ever* to drive anywhere in pursuit of my art... >> warmest wishes >> michael >> >> >> --- On Sun, 4/12/09, Ruth Catlow <ruth.cat...@furtherfield.org> wrote: >> >> >> From: Ruth Catlow <ruth.cat...@furtherfield.org> >> Subject: Re: [NetBehaviour] We won't fly for art : Take the Pledge >> To: "NetBehaviour for networked distributed creativity" <netbehaviour@netbehaviour.org> >> Date: Sunday, April 12, 2009, 6:07 PM >> >> >> Thanks Karen and Dimos for joining us so quickly and for setting longer pledge deadlines; ) >> >> For those who'd like to join us but have tickets already booked for art-flights before 26th April, check out the comments:- >> - Karen's pledge has a 10th May as its deadline http://www.pledgebank.com/wewontflyforart2 >> - Dimos Dimitriou has 15th May http://www.pledgebank.com/wewontflyforart3 >> >> Cheers >> Ruth >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Ruth Catlow <ruth.cat...@furtherfield.org> >> Reply-To: ruth.cat...@furtherfield.org, NetBehaviour for networked distributed creativity <netbehaviour@netbehaviour.org> >> To: NetBehaviour for networked distributed creativity <netbehaviour@netbehaviour.org> >> Subject: [NetBehaviour] We won't fly for art : Take the Pledge >> Date: Sun, 12 Apr 2009 14:16:35 +0100 >> >> We won't fly for art for six months >> but only if 6 others will do the same AND replicate this pledge by 26th April 2009 >> http://www.pledgebank.com/wewontflyforart >> - Marc and Ruth >> >> >> We will not take an aeroplane for the sake of art. For the next 6 months we will find other ways to visit and participate in exhibitions, fairs, conferences, meetings, residencies. We will not fly for inspiration, nor to appreciate, buy or sell art. >> >> But only if 6 others will do the same AND replicate this pledge. >> >> This pledge is designed for exponential growth so if you persuade another 6 people to do the same, within a year you could be one of millions of people changing the way the artworld works. So sign up, create a replica pledge and share your own experiences, observations and arguments towards reducing art flights. Post a link to it in the comment box so others can find their way to it. >> >> This is a public art experiment in the de-escalation of carbon-fuelled, high altitude, high-velocity, global art careering. For six months we choose to cover less physical distance, move more slowly between destinations, to look futureward with more attention to the view from the ground and the network, for ways to connect with others around the world. >> >> Who can sign up to this pledge? Any individual involved in the arts: artist (in the broadest sense), curator, art administrator, art appreciator, gallerist, art critic, art historian, art academic, art technician, art security, art transporter etc. Whether you currently fly for art 50 times a year or never, your engagement will change things by making your position in the artworld visible and by offering an alternative perspective. If you work with others you may need to completely revise your schedules and budgets and lobby for the right not to fly. >> >> This is to light the blue touch paper of Gustave Metzger's Reduce Art Flights campaign using the generative and viral capabilities of social networks. We want to know more about the impact of air-flight on the artworld (and beyond). We intuit that abstaining from air flight will motivate and enable people (with more time, money, energy and attention) to relate differently to their own local cultures and to connect more imaginatively to other cultures. >> >> Inspirations and Observations >> >> Artwork- 'Reduce Art Flights' by Gustave Metzger, reviewed here http://tinyurl.com/cnv44r >> >> Sustainable Development- Social science on the environmental impact of economic growth >> 'Why Politicians Dare Not Limit Economic Growth' by Tim Jackson http://tinyurl.com/6784zw >> >> Investigative Journalism - What can we do to stop climate change? >> Heat (2006) by George Monbiot, summarised and reviewed here http://tinyurl.com/devyax >> Monbiot's Guardian blog http://tinyurl.com/dcew6o >> >> Plane Stupid Campaign- 'bringing the aviation industry down to earth' >> http://www.planestupid.com/ >> >> More Art and Ecology Links- http://delicious.com/ruthc/ecology+art >> >> DIWOlogue- http://diwologue.net/blog/?p=38 >> >> _______________________________________________ >> NetBehaviour mailing list >> NetBehaviour@netbehaviour.org >> http://www.netbehaviour.org/mailman/listinfo/netbehaviour >> >> -----Inline Attachment Follows----- >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> NetBehaviour mailing list >> NetBehaviour@netbehaviour.org >> http://www.netbehaviour.org/mailman/listinfo/netbehaviour >> >> _______________________________________________ >> NetBehaviour mailing list >> NetBehaviour@netbehaviour.org >> http://www.netbehaviour.org/mailman/listinfo/netbehaviour >> > > > _______________________________________________ NetBehaviour mailing list NetBehaviour@netbehaviour.org http://www.netbehaviour.org/mailman/listinfo/netbehaviour
