"Gulf to Gulf," is a multi year, cross media ecological art work in progress. The project began in 2009 and is sponsored as a 501.C3 by the New York Foundation for the Arts*. The goal is to observe the impact of global warming on the Gulf of Maine and the Gulf of Mexico with a focus on New Orleans. The end product will include several annual public performance presentations, stills and publications.

“SOS, Science Outreach Society, an Art Project,” is the research support for “Gulf to Gulf,” studying and comparing gulf regions internationally. SOS is a collaboration with Dr. Jim White, Director of the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Studies at the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado. We are working with Dr. Michele Dionne, Director of Research at the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve, Wells, Maine, Dr. Don Krug in the Education Department of the University of British Columbia at Vancouver, Canada and others, using desktop sharing and video conferencing. Guests have included artist Peter Buotte, working on Iraq, Tuku Ahmed, a taxi driver from Bangladesh and Dr. Gene Turner, one of the world’s authorities on global dead zones. SOS builds on the Virtual Concerts format of free-flowing discussions, adds live and pre-recorded visuals and culminates in multi-media and still visual representations of the on-line research.

INSTAAR (Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research)

The ideas for "Gulf to Gulf," can be traced back to 2005, after Katrina. They were developed further after a round trip train journey between New Orleans and New York City in 2008. As part of this project, I hope to reprise that trip. The project goal is to discover new insights into climate change and impact public policy.

The following clip from the completed film, SOS to the World, was created for the 2009 conference on global warming: The 2009 United Nations Summit on Global Warming in Copenhagen, Denmark, where the artist will present with formal observer status.

To make a tax-deductible donation to this project, you may do so on line:
Online Contributions by Credit Card

• NYFA uses NYCharities.org for online donations.
• When you make a donation to NYFA for a project or organization online, your credit
  card statement will read "NewYorkCharities.org."
• To donate to the “Gulf to Gulf” project, please go to : www.nyfa.org/donateartist
  and fill in the name: Aviva Rahmani, Gulf to Gulf.

Or you may send a check made out to the New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA), with “for Gulf to Gulf” in the memo line. Address your envelope to:

New York Foundation for the Arts,
20 Jay Street, 7th Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11201

You may obtain a copy of NYFA’s Biennal Report and audited financial statement upon request at 212.366.6900, 212.366.1778 (fax), nyfa.org.

A full project prospectus and budget for Gulf to Gulf” is available on request to donors by emailing ghostnets@ghostnets.com

A purchase of, What the World Needs Now is a Good Housekeeper, a new book by Aviva Rahmani will also support this work. What the World Needs Now is a Good Housekeeper, is a 24 page 8” x 8.5” spiral bound field guide for students of ecological art and those interested in an introduction to the artist’s work. It was designed as a guide for considered relationships to site and includes 10 full-color illustrations. A signed copy of this book may be obtained for $26, which includes tax, shipping and handling. Use Pay Pal
or send check or money order to: Ghost Nets, P.O. Bx 484, VH, Me. 04863 Bulk rate inquiries: ghostnets@ghostnets.com.

Sunday, Dec 6, 2009

I registered in Copenhagen, at the Bella Center to commence work inside and outside the COP15 United Nations Conference on global warming. At COP15, I will be an observer for the University of Colorado at Boulder, thanks to my continued virtual collaboration with Dr. Jim White, director of the Institute for Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR), comparing the impact of global warming on gulf regions internationally.

• I will be blogging from inside and outside the conference as the "official High Tide
  COP15 envoy" in association with FACT. Join in at www.high-tide-cop15.blogspot.com.
• An audio account of COP15 will be posted on eartotheearth.org after the conference.
• I will be writing an article for the January issue of Working Waterfront from COP15,
  which will discuss new findings about islands and global warming.
• I will hold a performance workshop, "Trigger Point Theory as Aesthetic Activism," at
  the invitation of Oleg Koefoed, Cultura 21 Nordic in Copenhagen. For more
  information go to http://survivalacademy.ning.com/events/trigger-point-theory-as.
• I'm also pleased to take this occasion to let you know my new website,
  avivarahmani.com is up and running.
  
  

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NYFA is a 501.(c)(3), tax exempt organization founded in 1971 to work with the arts community throughout New York State and the United States to develop and facilitate programs in all disciplines. NYFA will receive grants on behalf of "Gulf to Gulf," ensure the use of grant funds in accordance with grant agreements and provide program or financial reports as required. NYFA recognizes that time and resources are necessary for the creative mind and artistic spirit to flourish. Your generous contribution will make it possible to realize this artistic project. Further details upon request.