Audio By Carbonatix
Zen master, artist and author John Daido Loori has a point to make. At a reception, film screening and gallery talk titled “Art and Environmental Activism” — which takes place tonight in conjunction with Loori’s fine-art photography exhibit, The Tao of Water — the artist says he’s going “to try to make a case for the fine arts as a vehicle that initiates environmental activism. By fine arts,” he explains, “I mean art that is made purely for its own purpose. It’s the kind of art that’s total self-expression, but yet somehow creates a raising of consciousness in people so that things happen.
“The example I’m using is the Hudson River Painters,” Loori continues. “They were the first American school of art, and they created these huge murals. These paintings caused the creation of the first forest reserve in the world, the New York State Forest Reserve. And it was all because of those paintings.”
Overall, Loori is examining how creative artists and writers can rise to the aid of the planet, and his presentation will also incorporate the unique aesthetic of Zen art. The smorgasbord runs from 6 to 9 p.m. at Nine10Arts, 910 Santa Fe Drive, and includes Loori’s short film Water Speaking Water. “Art and Environmental Activism” is free and open to the public, but please RSVP to 303-815-1779; get more information at www.thegalleryat910.com.
Jan. 18-March 22, 2008
