Future Pacific

Future Pacific (2020-2021) is a project supported by a broader outreach grant from the National Science Foundation. The grant was awarded to marine ecologist Dr. Nyssa Silbiger for research on how human-driven stressors, including climate change, affect coastal marine ecosystems in the Pacific Ocean. Together, Shapiro and Silbiger cast silicone molds of coral specimens to recreate them as textures in an immersive installation. Shapiro uses unfired clay to illustrate the fragility of coral reefs in response to human activity. The material gives visual form to the importance of Dr. Silbiger’s research: as the clay dries, cracks and tears apart, it mimics the degradation of the corals.

The artistic interventions facilitated by Future Pacific are a testament to the power inherent in collaboration. Over the course of a month, Shapiro worked with the local community to layer the clay over subverted architectural forms. Through these experiences, she aims to cultivate environmental stewardship and recognize the researchers who work to protect coral reefs. As participants touched the clay, they contributed to Shapiro’s interpretation of a vanishing underwater world.

To view the 360 virtual tour of the exhibition at the Bakehouse Art Complex click this link.

The Future Pacific catalog was designed by Exile Books, with essay contributions from Curator Laura Novoa, Marine Ecologist Dr. Nyssa Silbiger, and artist Lauren Shapiro. View and download a free digital copy here.

A virtual presentation with visual artist Lauren Shapiro, marine ecologist Dr. Nyssa Silbiger, and filmmaker and marine anthropologist Dr. Shireen Rahimi, as they discuss the making of the exhibition Future Pacific currently on view at the Bakehouse Art Complex.

To watch the recorded webinar on YouTube, click this link.

Community Collaboration + Impact

To build the exhibition, Shapiro engaged the local community through a series of hands-on, physically-distanced workshops at the Bakehouse. Participants pressed clay into silicone molds of coral reef textures, actively contributing to the installation by applying the forms to foundational structures installed in the gallery. Eventually, the unfired clay dried and cracked, creating the visual effect of a fossilized coral reef. Once the exhibition comes to an end, the clay will be deconstructed, reclaimed with water and recycled.

“Future Pacific” combines art, community engagement, science to make this project revelatory. The very existence of the installation relies on collectivity through participation, creating personal connections to nature while simultaneously sharing important information about coral reefs and our relationship to the environment. Through this project, we hope to advocate for marine researchers by elevating their continuous investigation of changes in reef architecture and how it may affect the world we live in.