James Prosek is visiting campus as a guest of the Wildlife Program and Stone Center for Large Landscape Conservation on February 8th and 9th. Prosek is an artist, writer, and naturalist whose work combines art and natural sciences to explore contemporary environmental issues. He creates paintings, drawings, and sculptures that highlight Earth's biodiversity and address themes of interconnectedness, boundary crossing, and the loss of diversity. Prosek's work emphasizes the concept of boundaries drawn by humans in nature and how nature trespasses those lines.
During his visit, Prosek will discuss how his early childhood obsession with trout and char evolved into a career exploring the consequences of naming nature, as well as his ideas about connections between animal tracks, drawing, and the beginnings of written language. Finally, he will discuss his current exhibit at the Amon Carter Museum of American Art in Fort Worth, Texas, which focuses on remnant prairies and showcases the memory held within these ancient landscapes.
Prosek will deliver a public lecture on Friday 2/9 @ 10am in 36 Mulford Hall, and meet with students and faculty in ESPM, the Graduate School of Journalism, as well as local artists with connections to the Berkeley campus during his visit. Please contact Sean McMahon (seanmc@berkeley.edu) if you are interested in meeting with Prosek during his visit.