In 2019, I invited photographer Gabrielle Russomagno, sculptor Darlene Farris-Labar, anthropologist Britt Dahlberg, and poet Nancy Campbell to begin a conversation around our shared environmental concerns and the idea of creating a collaborative artwork together. To initiate this creative exchange, we circulated six six-page folios among the group over the course of six months, working in a call-and-response fashion.

The project, Living with Worlds as They End, explores the interconnections between art, science, and ecology, and fosters dialogue between the creative processes of each participant. The folios served as both a shared sketchbook and a guide for developing the larger collaborative project over the following year.

Deanna Day joined the collaboration as a writer and observer, reflecting on the process and conversations generated by the folios. In her words:

“In the process we created folios that are as much a form (and record) of multimodal communication as they are finished artistic creations in themselves. These folios became the basis for further works, as we reflected on the process, our relationships with each other, and our living with the world during these years”.” — Deanna Day, from project publications

The project culminated in a virtual exhibition hosted by East Stroudsburg University’s Madelon Powers Gallery, viewable here:

Living with Worlds as They End – Virtual Exhibition

A public radio interview discussing the exhibition and process can be heard via WVIA Public Media.