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Art Project Overview
SWERVE DRIVERS is a projection dance performance work that explores new ways of existing. How can we swerve away from climate-catastrophe and socio-ecological fracture? We’re inviting contributions for this new art work that will premiere at Glow Festival, Malvern Vic in July 2025. Contributions will inform the development of our characters and will be morphed and mixed into the projection art.
The projection show will have characters called SWERVE DRIVERS - they are here to hold and guide us away from climate catastrophe. The characters are humans morphed with wildlife and technology - creating new transcendent environmental leaders. They guide us to a climate safe future, where nature is our kin and innovation is revered.
Instructions
Create a character of your ideal environmental leader/environmental superhero combining human, wildlife and technological features. You can use a technique of your choice (eg. drawing, painting, collage, digital design, sculpture, animation, video)
Your work can also be a written description, spoken word or soundscape.
Imagine your environmental leader as a caricature with exaggerated or imaginary features that represent attributes that make them effective environmental leaders. e.g they might have big ears for listening well.
What are some wildlife creatures that reflect some of the attributes of your ideal environmental leader? e.g a powerful owl is strong, independent and can fly high.
What are some examples of technology that can amplify the power of environmental leaders? e.g. computers, the internet, robotics, machinery.
Discussion questions
How can we take better care of our environment?
What do you think are some of the core problems blocking climate action?
What are some of your ideas to speed up climate action and go fossil fuel free?
Who are some environmental leaders that you admire?
What are some of their skills, qualifications and characteristics that make them good environmental leaders?
What are some of the challenges they face?
Share your work
You can share your work with us by email, by sharing a Google Drive/DropBox etc. folder, or by posting your work.
Please include a return address if you would like your work to be returned.
Email:
cpcollaborations@gmail.com
Post:
Minna and Caroline / Eastmint Studios
25 Eastment Street
Northcote 3070 VIC
Support materials
Climate Change Explained - for kids
https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/resources/climate-change-for-kids-animation/
Climate Change Explainers for senior students and adults
https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/resources-explainers/
Examples of Environmental Leaders
Australian Youth Climate Coalition https://www.aycc.org.au/team
Professor Anne Poelina - a Nyikina Warrwa woman from the Kimberley region - an active community leader, human and earth rights advocate, film maker and respected academic researcher http://annepoelina.com/
Michael-Shawn Fletcher - Indigenous Fire practice leader and NITV’s Science and Technology reporter Rae Johnston
Uncle Badger Bates - Traditional Owner of the Barkandji people, by the Barka/Darling river at Wilcannia
https://youtu.be/6IjPyh3QudE?si=BV3TMacvJV9LQSHJ
https://youtu.be/-EAmaHkf4vY?si=iQz0FOZhIWGB7bWQ
Ilissa Ocko - Atmospheric Scientist https://www.ted.com/talks/ilissa_ocko_the_fastest_way_to_slow_climate_change_now
Michelle Maloney - Earth Lawyer and advocate https://michellemaloney.au/
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - American politician https://youtu.be/yDxbTNl4AVI?si=qET2CNGdroZREUOL
Saul Griffith - inventor, author and scientist https://www.saulgriffith.com/
Amelia Young - Wildness Society Campaigns Director https://youtu.be/lTPTZp6U2uk?si=EV_ozqCjTX8aKYD1
Murrawah member of Wangan and Jagalingou Traditional Owners Group https://youtu.be/xIN8b1MAwvs?si=LRWt8YN1rQwHMz8l
more about the project
Created by Minna Lappalainen this participation activity is designed to be self guided. Creative contributions will inform the development of our Swerve Driver characters. They represent an imagined new form of environmental leader - with human, wildlife and technological features. Our motivation for this idea is to imagine different ways of leading environmental change - ways that consider nature deeply and utilise technology - so as to amplify the power of the individual. We embrace the notion that imagining the future - helps shape the future. We also cherish creativity as a powerful way to think anew, connect with nature, connect with each other, process emotion and inspire hope and creative thinking. We wanted to invite community contributions to capture different ideas and voices - morphing and mixing these into the work as we create it - generating connection along the way.
The work - a projection dance performance - will premiere at Glow Festival, Malvern Vic in July 2025. A costumed dancer representing our Swerve Driver character will be bathed in projected imagery. If you can’t make the live performance, we’ll be posting highlights on this webpage in August 2025.
If you’d like more information or guidance, please do contact us:
Email: cpcollaborations@gmail.com
When Glow Festival performance dates and times are announced, we will post them on this webpage. You’ll also be able to check the Glow Festival program when it’s released.
Credits
Community Participation by Minna Lappalainen
Artwork by Caroline Packham
Choreography and Dance by Emma Riches
