“If engaging with climate is not a matter of winning, but more a matter of character and style, then the making of art, story, and literature also becomes part of our responses.” —Per Espen Stoknes, What We Think About When We Try Not To Think About Global Warming
How do we confront what climate strategist Jorgen Randers calls “the burden of ‘Big Grief,’” when nature is increasingly destroyed around us? The artists in Melt Down present evidence of the undeniable impact of climate change on the fragile environments of the Arctic and Antarctic. As Bruce Brown, exhibition curator states, “With increasing frequency Maine artists of all disciplines are traveling to the Arctic and Antarctic to study, observe and record the effects of climate change. Melt Down includes stunning photographs and videos by ten distinguished Maine artists whose work calls attention to one of the major ecological issues of our time.”
Through their experiences recording and responding to the visible and visceral markers of irrefutable change, they bring these physically remote places and the compelling need for action to a wider audience. Their work provides a route for inspiring awareness and response when overwhelming data and science have failed to motivate.
As photographer Peter Ralston states, “Climate change is obviously not a ‘hoax;’ the core questions we must all ask ourselves pertain to what extent are we actually culpable, as well as what we as a species can do about our contribution to it all. To do nothing is unconscionable.”
Melt Down is organized by CMCA curator emeritus Bruce Brown.
Artists included:
In the Press
Climate Change: What do Recent Dire Reports Mean for Maine? on Maine Public Radio by Cindy Han – December 17, 2018
At art museums, a season of environmental apocalypse in The Boston Globe by Murray Whyte – January 25, 2019
Melt Down in Maine Home + Design by Emma Simard – March 2019
Best Photo Picks March 2019 in What Will You Remember? by Elin Spring and Suzanne Révy – February 28, 2019
In Maine, a ‘Melt Down’ over Climate Change in Architects + Artisans by Michael Welton – March 18, 2019
Let’s Talk with Bruce Brown and Justin Levesque on WMPG with Chris White – March 18, 2019
Melt Down in L’oeil de la Photographie – March 20, 2019
Center for Maine Contemporary Art to Reopen Saturday in Maine Today by Bob Keyes – March 18, 2019
Photographs to Stop a Melt Down on PDN Photo of the Day – March 22, 2019
Rockland art center aims to create climate-change awareness through exhibit in Portland Press Herald by Bob Keyes – March 24, 2019
Melt Down curates ten artists’ vision in a visual discussion of climate change on 207 News Center Maine – April 1, 2019
Best Photo Picks April 2019 on What Will You Remember? by Elin Spring and Suzanne Révy – April 2, 2019
Water churns and melts in CMCA’s 2 major exhibits in Portland Press Herald by Daniel Kany – April 7, 2019
Blue Wrap Runway, Game of Thrones Trivia: 9 Things To Do in Maine This Weekend in MAINETODAY by Aimsel Ponti – May 13, 2019
Events
Opening Reception | Saturday, March 23, 5-7pm
Sunday Salon | Capturing Ice | Sunday, April 14, 3pm
Sunday Salon | One World | Sunday, May 5, 3pm
Sunday Salon | Arctic Residencies | Sunday, May 19, 3pm
Tuesday Talk | Arctic Observations | Tuesday, June 4, 5:30pm
Simple Things You Can Do To Save The Planet
Above Image: Justin Levesque, #0000FF I, 2018, archival pigment print from medium format negative under blue cast acrylic with blue metal frame