THE FUTURE IS PRESENT: ART AND GLOBAL CHANGE

February 6–May 8, 2021 / Aronson Fine Arts Center

The Future is Present: Art and Global Change examined the intersections between art and some of the world’s most pressing issues: climate change, environmental crisis and the related global repercussions. The exhibition explored the innovation of artists and their commitment to understanding humankind’s material impact on nature and technology’s role in understanding this global emergency.

The Future is Present emphasized the urgency of topics ranging from deforestation and astronomical phenomena to tech waste. The artists assembled brought perspectives from across the planet, and used video, sound, virtual/augmented reality and upcycled materials to address this theme.

Exhibition artists:

• Daniel Canogar (Los Angeles/Madrid)

• Hannah Chalew (New Orleans)

• Jake Chapman (London)

• Pete Froslie (Norman, OK)

• Jenny Kendler (Chicago)

• Van McElwee (St. Louis)

• Elias Sime (Addis Ababa)

• Calum Stirling (Glasgow) and Daniel Fishkin (Charlottesville)

• Marina Zurkow (New York)

According to Curator Dana Turkovic, the exhibition’s title is inspired by a quote from Bertrand Picard, a co-pilot of the first solar powered balloon to attempt to circle the world non-stop. Turkovic says, “Describing his experience, Picard explained ‘when landing, it was like going back to the past’ realizing his ability to push the boundary of existing knowledge in his field of study.”

She adds, “In the spirit of this ground-breaking exploration, the exhibition will examine the insights of artists, highlighting how the visual culture sector is not only reflecting our world back to us, but doing so through the lens of technology, taking charge on our environment and reminding us that our future is the present.”

ARTIST INTERVIEWS

Laumeier Sculpture Park’s ongoing operations and programs are generously supported by St. Louis County Parks; Regional Arts Commission; Missouri Arts Council; Arts and Education Council; among other corporations, foundations, individual donors and members. 

Additional funding related to  COVID-19 relief has been provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Windgate Foundation, the U.S. Small Business Administration, and the St. Louis County Small Business Relief Program.

2020 Exhibitions are supported by Ellen and Durb Curlee, Alison and John Ferring, Jan and Ronnie Greenberg, Nancy and Ken Kranzberg, Joan and Mitchell Markow and Two Sister’s Foundation, Emily Rauh Pulitzer, Mary Ann and Andy Srenco. 

The Future is Present is also supported by the Windgate Foundation and the Whitaker Foundation. Van McElwee: Time Fork is supported by the Windgate Foundation; the Whitaker Foundation; and Mid-America Arts Alliance, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the state arts agencies of Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas. Van McElwee is Laumeier’s 2020 Kranzberg Artist. This fund, generously provided by Ken and Nancy Kranzberg, supports the presentation of new work by one St. Louis area artist per year.