Working with the participatory culture project group, the Harrisons encouraged us to propose an ecological artwork and conduct relevant research. As many of my peers know, I am fascinated by fungi, however, in the project group, I was instructed to research the Pacific Ocean. After contemplating the garbage patch in the North Pacific Gyre, I proposed a work based on mycoremediation - launch aquatic mycelial networks to decompose loose plastics into nutrients in the upper water column.
While leading group discussions, I am interested in debating the ethics of species (re)introduction (re-introducing a native organism into the eco-system and/or introducing a foreign organism). In addition, if you would like to orient yourself with the Harrison’s body of work, check out Green’s article (starting in the middle of the first page), which helps explain why their activist, ecological works are considered to be art.
With respect to course material, this discussion can be connected to Grosz’s discussion of Architecture and the Frame - I think it would be interesting to discuss the emergence of the frame (as well as the “territorialization of the uncontrollable forces of the earth”) with regards to land/eco art. There is also some crossover with Dewey, who is mentioned several times in the Ecological Ethics reading.
In terms of readings, there are two essential and one optional.
Essential
(1) Except from Minteer & Collins’ Ecological Ethics (p. 1808-1810, section “Ethical Tools for Problem Solving)
(2)Except(s) from Paul Stamet’s Mycelium Running (find on my MobileMe account)
Optional
(3) Except from Charles Green’s Third Hand (find on my MobileMe account)