As a Climate Justice resident artist in the 2024 Urban Field Station Collaborative Arts Program, Xavier Cortada spent time at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest in the White Mountains of New Hampshire from July 22 – Aug 2, 2024. There, he collaborated with Research Ecologist Lindsey Rustad, the Acting Director of the USDA Northeast Climate Hub, to present an “Arts for Climate Equity” talk to researchers at the station. At the conclusion of the Science Night presentation, Cortada invited attendees to participate in his “DO NOT OPEN” performance piece. The letters they wrote were sealed and are being archived by the forest service until 2124, when they will be opened and read by researchers at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest. During his residency, Cortada also explored the forest, engaged in creative writing, and launched his Substack writing platform.
Cortada is part of the 2024 UFS Arts cohort, marking the program’s 8th year. This cohort includes twelve artists from across the U.S., working in diverse media like sound art, music, murals, visual art, and community practice. The artists will collaborate with scientists and practitioners to explore themes such as climate justice, social justice muraling, forest conservation, and community engagement, aiming to interpret and communicate urban social-ecological systems. The UFS Arts residency, in partnership with the USDA Forest Service and The Nature of Cities, fosters trans-disciplinary collaboration, public engagement, and understanding of urban ecological systems.
