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| News Release | For Immediate Release |
ACCLAIMED PHOTOGRAPHIC ARTIST CHRIS JORDAN BRINGS ENVIRONMENTAL FOCUS TO SAN ANTONIO
EXHIBIT HIGHLIGHTING AMERICAN CONSUMPTION TO BE DISPLAYED AT THE CENTRAL LIBRARY AND SOUTHWEST SCHOOL OF ART & CRAFT
SAN ANTONIO, July 9, 2008 – Texas Public Radio, in collaboration with the San Antonio Library, the San Antonio Library Foundation, and the Southwest School of Art & Craft kicks off its yearly “Focus on the Environment” with Chris Jordan’s acclaimed photographic exhibit, Running the Numbers: An American Self Portrait. The series, to be displayed August 3 through 29 at the Central Library, 600 Soledad, and at the Southwest School’s Navarro Campus, 1201 Navarro at Augusta, casts light on the staggering levels of mass-consumption in America. Jordan will also give a free lecture on August 6 at Municipal Auditorium at 7 p.m.
Focusing on blinding white walls made from millions of sheets of office paper, a giant whirlpool of discarded cell phones or dense forests made of stacks supermarket paper bags, Chris Jordan’s massive digital photographs provide a startling perspective on the enormity of America’s waste stream. Zooming from the enormous to the detailed, from the collective to the individual, his commentary inspires reflection on the complex roles we all play, and the responsibilities we all hold, in the stewardship of our planet and each other.
In April 2008, Jordan traveled around the world as National Geographic’s Eco-Ambassador for Earth Day 2008, displaying his pieces and giving lectures on the incomprehensible amount of waste we, as a society, produce. He is also a recent guest on several national television programs, including The Colbert Report, The Rachael Ray Show and Bill Moyers Journal. In 2007, Jordan was the recipient of the Green Leaf Award, given by the Natural World Museum and United Nations Environment Programme.
Jordan’s lecture at Municipal Auditorium, 100 Auditorium Circle, will incorporate slides of his internationally acclaimed images, as he walks unabashedly into the maw of consumerism, illuminating this frightening dark side of the American dream. Beginning with colorful scenes of shipping ports and container yards, his slideshow covers issues such as e-waste, the environment and global warming, among many others. Along the way, he shares a wealth of stunning facts about the subjects he depicts: 426,000 cell phones discarded every day; 15 million sheets of office paper used every 5 minutes; 1.14 million paper grocery bags used in the U.S. every hour, and so on. He examines consumer culture in a vulnerable and self-reflective style, sharing his personal journey from detached corporate lawyer to passionately engaged artist and cultural activist.
More information on Running the Numbers and Chris Jordan’s corresponding lecture is available at www.tpr.org. Running the Numbers is made possible by The Smothers Foundation, Allegra Print & Imaging, and Monterrey Iron & Metal. Chris Jordan’s lecture is made possible by the San Antonio River Authority.
About Texas Public Radio
Texas Public Radio (TPR) is a community of listener-supported, non-commercial radio stations in South Central Texas and the Hill Country. KSTX 89.1 FM is a regional source for in-depth news, information and entertainment programs, and the only local source for National Public Radio’s flagship newsmagazines, Morning Edition and All Things Considered. KPAC 88.3 FM is the only source for 24/7 classical music in San Antonio. KTXI 90.1 FM offers a blend of classical music, news and information programming in the Hill Country. More at www.tpr.org.
For more information, contact:
Alberto E. Salazar
Communications Specialist
Texas Public Radio
albert@tpr.org
210.614.8977 ext. 123
About The San Antonio Library
For more than 100 years, the award-winning San Antonio Public Library has been a vital center for free learning, knowledge, communication, culture and enjoyment for all San Antonians. With a world-class Central Library, branch libraries throughout the city, and outstanding online resources, the San Antonio Public Library is as close as around the corner or the nearest computer.
For more information contact:
Beth Graham
Public Relations Manager
San Antonio Public Library
elizabeth.graham@sanantonio.gov
210.207.2638
About The Southwest School of Art & Craft
The Southwest School of Art & Craft is one of the largest and most comprehensive art schools in the nation, hosting more than 220,000 visitors and students annually at its historically significant Ursuline Campus, as well as at its Navarro Campus, site of its contemporary exhibition galleries and high-tech classrooms.
For more information, contact:
Catherine Brilson
Director of Marking and PR
Southwest School of ARt & Craft
cbrillson@swschool.org
210.224.1848
Posted/Updated: 07/21/2008
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