Curatorial Initiatives

Future Flows, a group exhibition presented at the Marin Museum of Contemporary Art (MarinMOCA) in San Rafael, CA that critically explores the San Francisco Bay Estuary as both a vital local ecosystem and a key indicator of global climate change. The project features local and international artists, including Amelia Winger-Bearskin, Pete Belkin, Lauren Bon & Metabolic Studio, Carolina Caycedo, Patty Chang, Cheryl E. Leonard, Amor Muñoz, Lordy Rodriguez, Debra Scacco, Studio for Urban Projects, and Su Yu Hsin. Co-curated by A+CA co-founders Devon Bella and Jodi Roberts, the exhibition collaborated with vital Bay Area partners including: Youth in Arts, Canal Alliance, Marin School of the Arts, Marin Theater Company, Agricultural Institute of Marin, the City of San Rafael, and various Marin County agencies.

Featured Future Flows artwork. Image: Documentation of Studio for Urban Projects' Living Shorelines, 2021–Present.

Diffracted Waves, a film program curated by artist Su Yu Hsin and presented as part of the Future Flows exhibition, examines the intricate relationships between water, digital infrastructure, and colonial histories. Featuring works by Giorgi Gago Gagoshidze, Clemens von Wedemeyer, Sonia Levy, Geocinema, Su Yu Hsin, and Angela Goh, the program draws from the diffractive methodologies of Karen Barad and Donna Haraway. This screening invites audiences to observe how the movements of water generate new futures along dynamic lines, exploring how these infrastructures shape our world and where possibilities for disruption might emerge in our contemporary "new dark age."

Image: © Su Yu Hsin and Angela Goh, Tidal Variations, 2021, video installation (still).

Guided Tours

Sustainability tours are dedicated to showcasing and teaching best practices in environmental and climate resilience. These targeted events connect Bay Area community members directly with leading cultural institutions to observe successful initiatives, review climate planning in progress, share knowledge on achieving carbon-neutral operations, and inspire new approaches for integrating resilience throughout the cultural sector. Tours are organized in close collaboration with museum and science partners by A+CA members Danielle Siembieda, Senior Art Manager for the City of San José, and Devon Bella, A+CA Director.

Museum Tour of Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum and Open Discussion with Director Julie Scott and Operations Manager Caleb Gross. Image: Group members visit the future site of the Rosicrucian Alchemy Museum, an LEED Platinum certified project.

Museum Tour of the San José Museum of Art with Senior Curator Lauren Dickens and Director of Design and Operations Rich Karson & Group Discussion in the Wendel Education Center. Image: Group member meeting outside of the SJMA.

Exhibition Tour of Beta Space: Patty Chang and David Kelley at the San José Museum of Art (SJMA) with Assistant Curator Juan Omar Rodriguez and Studio Arts Educator Shelby Hendricks. Image: Rodriguez with title wall at SJMA.

Visit to the California Indian Museum & Cultural Center (CIMCC) with Executive Director Nicole Myers-Lim and Youth Program Specialist Jayden Lim. Image: Lim during presentation on the CIMCC’s programs.

Guided Tour and Discussion of Children’s Discovery Museum Nature, Bill's Backyard, and the Exploration Portal, with Executive Director Marilee Jennings and Director of Exhibits & Facilities Rich Turner. Image: Jennings and Turner lead group outside to view solar and water installations.

Presentation at the Institute of Contemporary Art San José (ICA San José) with Sam Marks, Facilities and Operations Manager. Image: Marks during presentation on the ICA’s sustainability initiatives.

Guided Tour of Palo Alto Art Center with Director, Karen Kienzle, Director of Education Lucy Larson, and Studio Programs Director Fanny Retsek. Image: Barrels of recycled clay outside at of the Palo Alto Art Center.

Guided visit to Point Blue Conservation Science Palomarin Field Station in Bolinas, CA with Principal Ecologist Dr. Kristen Dybala, Communications Manager Lishka Arata, Palomarin Banding Supervisor Michael Mahoney. Images: Group conversation and checking Point Blue’s mist nets for birds.

Tour of Recology AIR Program Tour Hosted by Recology Artist in Residence Program, Environmental Learning Center Manager Deborah Munk and Education Specialist Karina Hammoud. Image: Studio visits with artists Sahar Khoury, Andrew Ingersoll, Nunca No (Charles Lee and Claire Dunn).

Panels & Workshops

Across environmental venues like the City of San José Environmental Innovation Center (EIC) and cultural institutions such as the San José Museum of Art (SJMA), A+CA convenes panels and workshops accelerating environmental resilience within the creative sector. Key discussions feature grantmakers outlining funding pathways and arts leaders sharing experiences in reducing operational footprints, alongside artists detailing their climate action practices. Complementary practical workshops offer hands-on training in areas such as sustainable art production, effective solid and hazardous waste management for studios, innovative use of alternative materials, and organizing mutual aid to keep materials in circulation. Discussions and workshops organized by multiple A+CA members.

The Power of Resource Creation Panel at SJMA with Esailama G. Artry-Diouf, San Francisco Foundation; James Merle Thomas, Helen Frankenthaler Foundation; and Larissa Harris, Teiger Foundation; moderated by Sarah Sutton, Environment & Culture Partners. Organized by Danielle Siembieda, Senior Art Manager for the City of San José, and Devon Bella, A+CA Director. Image: Symposium documentation, photo by Frederick Liang.

San José Resilient Artists Panel at SJMA with Climate Art Program Artist Fellows Renée Hamilton-McNealy, Valentino Loyola, Steven Rubalcaba, Kaory Santillan, and Elba Martinez, moderated by Devon Bella, Art +Climate Action Co-Founder. Organized by Danielle Siembieda, Senior Art Manager for the City of San José, and Devon Bella, A+CA Director. Image: Rubalcaba speaks during panel at SJMA, photo by Frederick Liang.

From Footprint to Forefront Panel at SJMA with Karen Rapp, San José Museum of Art; Jayden Lim, California Indian Museum and Cultural Center; Karen Kienzle, Palo Alto Art Center; James G. Leventhal, Institute of Contemporary Art San José; and moderated by Ian Garrett, Centre for the Sustainable Practice in the Arts. Organized by Danielle Siembieda, Senior Art Manager for the City of San José, and Devon Bella, A+CA Director. Image: Symposium documentation, photo by Frederick Liang.

Sustainable Art Production and Impact Assessments Workshop at EIC with Ian Garrett, Director of the Centre for Sustainable Practice in the Arts (CSPA). Organized by Danielle Siembieda, Senior Art Manager for the City of San José, and Devon Bella, A+CA Director. Image: Garrett reviewing assessment process in classroom at EIC.

Solid Waste Management and Reduction Workshop at EIC with April Menes, Environmental Outreach Coordinator at Greenwaste. Organized by Danielle Siembieda, Senior Art Manager for the City of San José, and Devon Bella, A+CA Director. Image: Menes presents on solid waste in classroom at EIC.

Empowering Communities: Strategies for Art Supply Mutual Aid Workship at EIC with Claire Curley, Founder and Executive Director of Broad Room Creative Collective. Organized by Danielle Siembieda, Senior Art Manager for the City of San José, and Devon Bella, A+CA Director. Image: Curley sharing mutial aid impacts in classroom at EIC.

Hazardous Waste Management and Reduction at EIC with Billy Puk, Hazardous Materials Program Manager, Consumer and Environmental Protection Agency for the County of Santa Clara. Organized by Danielle Siembieda, Senior Art Manager for the City of San José, and Devon Bella, A+CA Director. Image: Documentation of workshop at the EIC.

Intro to MycoTechnique for Creative Use: A Demonstration of How to Grow Mushroom Materials Workshop at EIC with Open Fung Co-Founder and Principal Philip Ross and Co-Founder and Director of Science Rachel Linzer. Organized by Danielle Siembieda, Senior Art Manager for the City of San José, and Devon Bella, A+CA Director. Image: Documentation of mushroom workshop with Open Fung at EIC.

Climate Changed Art Panel at Art Market at Fort Mason Center for the Arts Featuring Artists and Arts Organizers Deborah Munk, Tahirah Rasheed, and Danielle Siembieda, with Matthew Harrison Tedford. Organized by A+CA member Svea Lin Soll. Image: Lin Soll introduces panel.

Growing Justice at Grateful Gardens with Julie Dominguez, Muwekma Ohlone Preservation Foundation; Julie Cardenas, Artist and San José Creative Ambassador; Derek Bryant, We Start Gardens Founder; Jayden Lim, CIMCC Youth Program Specialist; Fernando Fernandez Leiva, Veggielution Policy Director; and Jahnavi Mange, From Soil to Soul Co-Founder. Organized by Danielle Siembieda, Senior Art Manager for the City of San José, and Devon Bella, A+CA Director. Images: Documentation of event, photos: Valentino Loyola.

Healthy Paint Lab with the San José Office of Cultural Affairs Climate Art Program and Local Color at Noble Workshop & Gallery. Organized by Danielle Siembieda, Senior Art Manager for the City of San José, and Devon Bella, A+CA Director. Image: Artist Kaory Santillan at Noble Workshop & Gallery exploring paints free from environmentally harmful synthetics and toxic pollutants.

Community Meetings

Our community meetings equip the arts sector with the crucial tools and actionable steps needed for sustainability. The online gatherings emphasize effective climate action planning and frameworks for measuring impact, providing practical guidance on operational transitions, including sustainable materials, climate-conscious shipping, and reducing energy consumption. Furthermore, sessions address vital organizational topics, such as securing strategic climate funds, fostering circularity, and underscoring the role of leadership in establishing a holistic, climate-conscious culture within the creative community. Meetings organized by A+CA co-founders Devon Bella and Jodi Roberts with Laura Lupton, Galleries Commit, and Siobhan Bradley, Gallery Climate Coalition LA. Recording documentation provided on YouTube by A+CA member Linda Gass.

Climate Conscious Approaches to Materials with Russell Fortmeyer, Global Sustainability Leader for Woods Bagot, and Kim Kraczon, Director of Materials at Ki Culture, Advisor at Gallery Climate Coalition, and founding member of GCC Berlin. Image: Refuse and reduce plastic materials in your practice, photo: Kim Kraczon.

Publishing & Printing with Jeff Khonsary, Artistic Director at Fillip, Director at New Documents, and Print Consultant for die Keure printing. Image: Karel Martens: Re-Printed Matter (2020).

Exhibition Design with Siobhan Bradley, Senior Registrar and Sustainability Liaison at Roberts Projects in Los Angeles and member of Gallery Climate Coalition LA. Image: Exhibitions design coordinator works with floor models, photo: Adrian Martinez for SFMOMA.

Shipping with Jamie Harker, Chair of ICEFAT's Green Subcommittee and Project Manager at Atelier 4 in Los Angeles. Image: Art shuttle in Miami, courtesy of ICEFAT.

Support Workers with Debra Scacco, Co-Founder of the art-worker mutual aid cooperative Contemporary Art League, and Jordan Seaberry, Co-Director of the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture (@USDAC).Image: Debra Scacco, Networks of Power, 2020. Western Mojave Desert, Antelope Valley, CA.

Achieving Sustainability with Caitlin Southwick, Founder and Executive Director of Ki Culture. Image: Ki Culture publication graphic of a Roman marble figure.

Strategic Climate Funds with Halley Mellin, Artist and Founder of Art to Acres. Image: Art to Acres’ photograph of Condor Ridge in Northern California by Nikki Ritcher and Bob Wick.

Understanding Building Energy with Joyce Lee, Chair of the American Association of Museums Environment Climate Network and President of IndigoJLD Green + Health.Image: View of Grand Rapids Art Museum. Photo: Steve Hall.

Making an 8x8 Climate Action Plan with Cliodhna Murphy, Global Head of Environmental Sustainability at Hauser & Wirth and Todd Hosfelt, Founder/Principal of Hosfelt Gallery. Image: Intsalltion view of The Dump Show at Hosfelt Gallery.

Climate Impact Reports Introduction with Artists Commit Leadership Members Robin F. Williams and Deville Cohen. Image: Solo exhibition Climate Impact Report graphics for K.I.S.S. (Kinetic Independent Solar System) by Deville Cohen & Kim Kraczon.

BARDER.art with Jae Cho and Laura Lupton, Co-Founders of BARDER. Image: BARDER.art posting of used painting crates for sale.

Sustainable Exhibition Planning with Simone Paz, Associate Director of Sustainability at The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA). Image: Exterior view of MOCA.

Understanding Emissions with Danny Chivers, Adviser to Gallery Climate Coalition. Image: Shipping infographic comparing the carbon footprint of different freight options with the GCC Calculator.

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