Part of the Gila River Festival.

Location: Seedboat Center for the Arts, 214 West Yankie Street

The Gila River Project investigates one of America’s most expansive ecosystems. Named as America’s most endangered river in 2019, it persists despite the severe threats of climate change, the demands of ranching, agriculture and mining, and the impacts of recreational and residential development. Exploratory expeditions took place via an Airstream trailer that served as a mobile laboratory/studio. Location-based research considered the politics, history, culture, and resource management in 9 regions along the river, from its origin in the Gila Wilderness to its junction with the Colorado River. A custom designed medallion was installed at significant site-specific locations that represented the focus in each region. The Gila River Project aspires to illuminate the relationships that define what can be referred to as ‘eco-plasticity,’ the inherent characteristics that enable continuous change in response to physical, cultural, and biologic elements.

The L&J Ranch is an art + research venture that explores the relationship between ‘place’ and the life it enables. Joel Slayton is an artist with expertise using media technology to explore complex systems and networks. Lisa Johanson is a clinical research scientist studying motor control and neural plasticity. Through their collaboration, Joel and Lisa are developing a series of artworks that probe the relationship between land-use and sense-of-place.