Links to Arctic Videos

It's now been 5 months since I sailed the Arctic Ocean, and I have finally been able to wrap my head around the experience, somewhat :)

This trip - all around - gave me more of an appreciation of the ephemeral aspect of life. I learned that there is quite the fragile balance between darkness and light, and that embracing our vulnerabilities is risky but not nearly as dangerous as succumbing to our fears. What's that old saying, "Uncertainty is the only certainty there is?" I think it holds true. It was a great lesson about living in the moment, as no one knows the future of this vast region in years to come. One thing for sure: it's all symbiotic. The separation of me from you, from us from the glaciers, of the glaciers from the desert is all an illusion.

I created two videos from this venture. Here are the titles and the links for viewing, I hope you enjoy.

What Does Home Mean To You?

Video, Writings, Drawings, Audio, Installations

2015 (ongoing)

Spitsbergen, Norway

Arctic Circle

This video is part of a series of work created while in an artist residency program sailing on the Arctic Ocean

around Spitsbergen, Norway. A collection of interviews, written statements, and audio recordings share people’s ideas of what the word Home means to them. These were then saved in a weatherproof time capsule and buried for future generations to find.

Link to video online:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_Nuyqum8v0&feature=youtu.be

A Letter To My Sister

Video 2015

Spitsbergen, Norway

Arctic Circle

This video is part of a series of work created while in an artist residency program sailing on the Arctic Ocean

around Spitsbergen, Norway. A Letter To My Sister represents the fragility of both humans and our planet as well as reminding us that all things are temporary.

Link to video online:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nI38iqidSFE

Strength in Baguettes: Solidarity Art in Paris

A few crazy things have been happening in the world, and it effects us all.

I am feeling very lucky that I am safe and sound while others in Paris, Beirut, and additional parts of the planet are forced to endure unstable conditions.  A few days after the terrorist attacks in Paris, I was bound for the city of lights to attend an art opening for the exhibition "Gaia" - a fantastic show in conjunction with the COP21 summit on climate change. Unfortunately, it was postponed due to the turmoil at hand. I decided to fly to Paris anyway, and met up with Curator Julia Rajacic, as well as other artists in the exhibition. The more I discussed the current state of the city with the them, I learned that the people of Paris are compassionate and strong. They are determined to keep their freedom and to spread unity in their communities. 

I stayed for that whole week and immersed myself into their world as much as possible. Paris is a unique and special city, with people who are responsible for making it that way. Here is an article on a project I created while there, written in the Florentine - the English speaking newspaper here in Florence. It is called "An Ankh For Paris" and I will post more photos of the making of it soon.

http://www.theflorentine.net/articles/article-view.asp?issuetocId=10455&browse-by=News&level=Community-News

Three months after the Arctic....

Upon returning from the Arctic, I am humbled and a different person. The extreme living and environmental conditions call for hearty, unique residents. What I found were not only strong people inside and out, but some of the most caring, interesting and thought provoking humans on earth. 

I continued my quest of interviewing people on their definitions of "Home," as well as burying the time capsule containing previous ideas of "Home" that I had gathered from people throughout the United States and Italy. (See video made in Tuscany, Italy below.) Currently, two art pieces in the form of videos are being worked on and I will share them on this site in the next coming months. Until then, here is a link to a little more information as well as some photos taken on our journey.

One of the most important aspects I took back from this expedition is the constant reminder that everything on earth is fragile and everything is temporary. Change occurs in life, but we must take care of each other and our surroundings. We do have the ability.

Arctic Circle Part 2: SACI MFA student Keri Rosebraugh goes on expeditionary artist residency

Our sailing vessel "The Antigua"

Spitsbergen, Norway

The Global Seed Vault, Longyearbyen, Norway

"Stuck boat, everyone move to one side..."

"Home" Video Installation

Home Video Installation, Firenze, Italia 2015

Home presents a video created in response to a large windstorm that hit the Tuscany region of Italy on March 5, 2015. This Intense weather pattern is a mere sign of the increasing impact of climate change internationally. Both people and animals are currently being forced to relocate their homes as a result of global warming, uprooting their cultures, their traditions, and ultimately having to adapt to new environments altogether. This piece shares individual's ideas and the importance of the meaning of the word "home".  

What is Home? - Spring 2015

This series discusses the idea of what the word "Home" means.  The following sculptures are formed by utilizing materials taken from our natural world and juxtaposing them with man made / manufactured components. This is a search to examine the urgent need for humans to make peace with our planet.

Materials:

sticks, chain, steel, metal bed springs, brick, dirt, clay, rope, marble, turmeric, flowers, lemons, limes

photos courtesy of Ana Lia Orezzoli
http://analiapop.tumblr.com