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Date: Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Time: 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. ET
Target Audience: High School Students, Higher Education Institutions/Students, Public/Cultural Institutions
How to Participate:
- Interactive Videoconference Site: In order to be an interactive videoconference site for this event, your site must have H.323 videoconferencing capabilities. Your site must also be connected to your national high speed research and education network (i.e. Internet2 in the United States).
- Watch the webstream! See the webstream instructions on the right! (Registration is NOT required for this option)
Description:
Celebrated artist Mark Dion began a historic journey last November to retrace the trips of noted 18 th century Philadelphia botanists John Bartram and his son William. Dion’s trip is in preparation for a site specific art exhibition at Bartram’s Garden, America’s oldest living botanic garden. Join us for an inspiring conversation with him about his project and travels!
The exhibition Travels of William Bartram – Reconsidered will examine the history and culture of the Bartrams. Using their travel journals, drawings, and maps, Dion is retracing their exploratory journeys including, specifically, William’s expedition to northern Florida. The artist and his companion “explorers” are often traveling in the same ways the Bartrams did: by horseback, boat, and on foot.
Dion is collecting specimens and man-made artifacts found in the landscape, which has clearly changed a great deal since the Bartrams’ travels 200 years ago. In keeping with Dion’s longstanding interest in “mail art,” he will send his findings back to Bartram’s Garden. The artifacts and specimens will be installed in souvenir cabinets that Dion is designing and building for the exhibit in John Bartram’s historic house.
“This is an exciting opportunity to combine the physical beauty of history and science,” said Dion. “To me, this is the quintessential exploratory road trip: part Lewis and Clark, part Jack Kerouac, part Pee Wee’s Big Adventure, and part Borat.”
Preparing for the Videoconference Event:
- Before and after the April 1 session with Mark, visit his website (www.MarkDionsBartramsTravels.com) for monthly video chats, video of daily travels, city stops, photo galleries, and audio along with blogs, his handwritten journals, and maps that pinpoint where he is will provide you with a totally unique experience with the artist.
- Read more about the exhibit! Download the JPEG advertisement
About Mark Dion :
A resident of Pennsylvania and New York City, Dion has recently been artist-in-residence at the Museum of Natural History in London, which houses the largest collection of the Bartrams’ memorabilia. His international connection to Bartram makes this is a particularly appropriate project for Dion. After his send off, the exhibition at Bartram’s Garden will develop and grow. His collection process, mailing of artifacts, and artful arrangement of them, will culminate on June 20, 2008 , with a public unveiling of the cabinets and garden. Dion’s deep respect and knowledge about the Bartram legacy in natural science and art, combined with his quirky perspective, make this project thoughtful and amusing in turn. Other collaborative partners with this project include The Wagner Free Institute of Science, The Academy of Natural Sciences and Tyler School of Art.
Project Support
This project has been supported by a grant from the Philadelphia Exhibitions Initiative and the Marketing Innovation Program, both programs of the Philadelphia Center for Arts and Heritage, funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts, and administered by The University of the Arts, Philadelphia.