As a kickoff to the Northern Rockies Bioneers Conference held in Bozeman, Montana this week, a TERRA crew spent an afternoon with musician and filmmaker Michael Franti of Spearhead. Franti’s “consciousness-raising” resonates on both the political and environmental front and he combines improvisation and activism to spread his message across the globe. Later that same evening, Franti brought the house down when he played the Wilson Auditorium in Bozeman and reminded us that inclusion, not exclusion is the only way to bring about political change. The Northern Rockies Bioneers Conference is one of over twenty Bioneers groups nation wide, which meet every year to bring together progressive communities and provide resources, tools, and inspiration to build sustainable, culturally-rich, active, and well-networked communities. Stay tuned to TERRA for a closer look at the Bioneers conference here in Bozeman, as we podcast all the action over the next few days.
All posts in Art
This is no ordinary biological field trip! Travel along with some of the world’s foremost bird and nature artists to the incredible Chappari Reserve, among the last remaining high-altitude dry forests of South America. Previously undiscovered and majestical species come alive at the tip of a paintbrush in this rapid biological inventory of this incredibly rich and diverse part of the biosphere. This film reminds us of the age-old partnership of art and science and highlights observation, expression, and inspiration in a strategic effort to preserve one of the most fantastic places on Earth. The artist Paul Klee said ?the painter should not paint what he sees, but what will be seen.” In this case, we hope such brilliant creatures remain in our sights forever.
Part Two of “TEN DAYS TO PAINT THE FOREST” continues with incredible footage of the bathing habits of Andean dry-forest hummingbirds, the difficulties of painting in the hot tropical sun, and rare footage of the endangered White-Winged Guan. What makes this region so unique? Why is this one of the world’s highest concentrations of species diversity? What is a deciduous forest doing in the tropics? The age-old partnership of art and science continues to unfold these and other mysteries before our very eyes.
Part Three of “TEN DAYS TO PAINT THE FOREST” continues with amazing images of the only remaining bear species in South America, the spectacled bear. We also learn about lama farming methods and meet an orphan pampas cat. What makes this region so unique? Why is this one of the world’s highest concentrations of species diversity? What is a deciduous forest doing in the tropics? The age-old partnership of art and science continues to unfold these and other mysteries before our very eyes.
Over the last 100 years, the American Indian Holocaust and the boarding school era nearly snuffed out the native language of Montana’s White Clay tribe. Today, less than five native speakers of the White Clay language remain. Nonetheless, kids, parents and teachers at the White Clay Language Immersion School in Harlem, Montana are fighting back to reclaim their native language. In doing so, they are blending traditional Indian ways and contemporary Euro-American culture and “two fractured worlds” are coming together to form a new whole.
