Tales of the Landscape and Dire Warnings
My Photographic Odyssey on Climate Change
with David Freese
Friday, April 7 at 2pm Pacific - Virtual Event
In this artist talk, I will present an intersection of technological, scientific, and environmental timelines and connect a very brief history of landscape photography with humankind’s observations of adverse effects on the environment. As societies have progressed, the amount of carbon dioxide has risen dramatically over the last 100 years as a harmful by-product of the exhaust from automobiles, oil refineries, and natural gas production. This rapid increase has created a warming climate with dire consequences happening more and more frequently. Political as well as corporate denial of compelling scientific evidence has delayed the needed actions and response.
Over the last dozen years, I have been fortunate to have four photobooks published. Climate change and environmental awareness are the underlying themes. Ironically, in my research endeavors, I discovered that photography and the internal combustion engine have the same father, Joseph Niepce. It seems quite appropriate that “the image world” – a term used for photography by Susan Sontag – could bear witness to “the engine world” – my own term that I feel is appropriate for comparison.
In the end, through a selection of my photographs, I hope to show how my passion for photography provided the drive and energy to undertake a twenty-year odyssey and create a series of books in which art and scientific knowledge go hand in hand to make a statement. Might I have changed minds? Or, was I just preaching to the choir? We will get into that too.
This is a FREE event. Registration is required to reserve your spot and receive event reminders.
About David Freese
Freese is the photographer/author of four photo books: West Coast: Bering to Baja (2012), East Coast: Arctic to Tropic (2016), and Mississippi River: Headwaters and Heartland to Delta and Gulf (2020), which comprise the Trilogy of North American Waters in a time of rapid climate change. Iceland Wintertide (2021) is a fitting coda to the trilogy.
His work has been published in aPhotoEditor, Communication Arts, Hyperallergic, Lenscratch, PDN, Polaroid International, Slate Behold the Photo Blog, Smithsonian Air and Space, and View Camera. David has exhibited internationally, and his photographs are in the collections of over twenty five art museums.
Discover David’s work on Instagram: @dfreesephoto
Location and Event Info
This event takes place virtually on Zoom.
Access is free and open to the public.