Capital City Arts Initiative's neighbors video segment highlights 'Forest Fire' exhibit
The Capital City Art Initiative’s online series of Nevada Neighbors public talks includes interviews with artists or curators. Viewers are invited to watch this online presentation in the video below.
The "FOREST FIRE" Project “invites the people of the Truckee Tahoe region into the captivating story of the Sierra Nevada Forest’s 13,000-year relationship with fire and the surprising and essential role humans play within it, affecting forest, watershed, and our own well-being, from the past into the future.”
Inspired by recently completed work by the Sagehen Forest Project at UC Berkeley’s Sagehen Creek Field Station, Heather and Michael Llewellyn launched a project known as "FOREST FIRE". They focused on bringing together disparate forest stakeholders including forestry, timber, and environmental, into consensus about how to reduce the threat of catastrophic fire in the forest through restoration practices. This project was founded on the continuous, 70-year scientific data set recorded by the scientists at Sagehen.
The Llewellyn’s "FOREST FIRE" exhibition project reframed the Tahoe Truckee region’s economic history to an ecological history, inclusive of various cultures. The project aimed to create community understanding about the causes of catastrophic fire, community empowerment in implementing solutions to it and climate change, and featured Washoe tribal voices and perspectives. This work serves as a bridge between art and activism, inspiring individuals to collectively address critical issues and create a more equitable and compassionate society. See forestandfire.org here.
Michael and Heather Llewellyn, collaborative and multidisciplinary artists, are based in Grass Valley, California. Their artistic practice spans various disciplines, including photography and arts-based community and public engagement projects. The Llewellyns have expanded their interests to include designing and creating interpretive public art exhibits, working with non-profit organizations to engage the public in complicated issues facing communities. Projects include: "The Future Forest Cycle, 2017 - Present" (which encompasses FOREST⇌FIRE, "The Sagehen Forest Project Portraiture Series & the Future Forest Cultural Trail)"; "Renegade Literati, 2019 - Present"; "Picture This, 2017-2019"; and "Image Nation, 2015-2018".
The University of California's Natural Reserve System awarded the Llewellyns its Reserve Artist Naturalist Award in 2018.
The Llewellyn's artistic practice is characterized by a deep commitment to addressing pressing societal concerns. Recent projects have a strong focus on issues that require collective community action. Notably delving into topics such as catastrophic wildfires in California’s Sierra Nevada forests, post-traumatic stress disorder within the veteran community, and the risk of foster children becoming entangled in the justice system. The Llewellyn’s work serves as a catalyst for meaningful dialogue and engagement, encouraging individuals to confront these complex issues from a place of shared responsibility.
CCAI is an artist-centered nonprofit organization committed to community engagement in contemporary visual arts through exhibitions, illustrated talks, arts education programs, artist residencies, and online activities.
The Initiative is funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, John Ben Snow Memorial Trust, Nevada Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities, Nevada Arts Council, Nevada Governor’s Office of Federal Assistance, John and Grace Nauman Foundation, Kaplan Family Charitable Fund, Southwest Gas Corporation Foundation, Steele & Associates LLC, and CCAI sponsors and members.
For additional information, please visit CCAI’s website at www.ccainv.org.