Over the past two centuries, human industry has fundamentally altered the planet, threatening the tenability of life on Earth. In the third chapter of Between Life and Land, 13 artists respond to our new ecological realities, among them a rapidly changing climate, mass species extinction, toxicity, and desertification. Confronting the ways in which our relationship with the natural world has eroded over time, their work advocates for a socially just and sustainable future, and reminds us of our collective responsibility for change. 

These artists, often adding impactful narratives and emotional presence to scientific data, give immediacy to our global environmental crises. They share stories of both trauma and healing, finding hope in participatory engagement, education, and mindfulness. During this critical moment in human history, their works facilitate public reflection and dialogue and demonstrate the key role that art plays in mobilizing communities to transform our present and preserve our future. 

Between Life and Land: CRISIS is the third and final chapter in a year-long series of exhibitions exploring our relationship to land. The first chapter, MATERIAL, celebrated the legacies of land artists Robert Smithson and Nancy Holt alongside eight contemporary artists who continue to employ earthen materials as a means of exploring our connection to place, time, and the larger cosmos. The second chapter, IDENTITY, examined the bonds between people and places, asking us to consider the role that human identity plays in shaping the environments we call home.

For Immediate Release

Kimball Art Center Announces Between Life and Land: Crisis Opening Friday, July 21 

Between Life and Land: Crisis is the third and final chapter in a year-long series of exhibitions exploring our relationship to land. 

Park City, Utah, July 18, 2023 –  Kimball Art Center announces the opening of Between Life and Land: Crisis featuring the work of more than ten artists responding to pressing social and ecological realities. Utah-based artists Tiana Birrell and Wendy Wischer will attend the opening reception on July 21 at 5:00 p.m. attendees will enjoy a cash bar, complimentary light bites, and a DJ; local environmental non-profit organizations will be on-site.

The third chapter of Between Life and Land, a group exhibition that includes the work of more than ten artists and artist collectives, responds to our new ecological realities, among them a rapidly changing climate, mass species extinction, toxicity, and desertification. These artists, often adding impactful narratives and emotional presence to scientific data, give immediacy to our global environmental crises. Artists include Ackroyd & Harvey, Lani Asuncion, Tiana Birrell, Lily Brooks, Desert ArtLAB, John Grade, Beth Krensky, Meditation Ocean Constellation, Postcommodity, Gabriela Salazar, and Wendy Wischer.

“Confronting the ways in which our relationship with the natural world has eroded over time, the work displayed in this exhibition advocates for a socially just and sustainable future and reminds us of our collective responsibility for change,” explains Nancy Stoaks, Kimball Art Center Curator. 

Between Life and Land: Crisis remains on display through October 29. Exhibition programming to include Art Talks, Book Club Discussions and Art Performances are scheduled: 

• August 20, 11 a.m.: What’s So Special About Quaking Aspen? with Paul Rogers, Director of the Western Aspen Alliance
• September 28, 6 p.m.: Book discussion of Terry Tempest Williams’ Erosion: Essays of Undoing
• October 28, 6pm: Binakol Blessing | Tabi Tabi Po: A Performance and Discussion by Lani Asunción

“We’re incredibly proud of how Between Life and Land as a series has educated and connected our visitors over the last nine months,” shared Kimball Art Center Executive Director Aldy Milliken. “This show, while examining our role in history, simultaneously previews how Kimball Art Center looks to serve the community into the future; a hub for dialogue, a destination for connection, and a center for impact.

Kimball Art Center exhibitions are supported by the Utah Division of Arts & Museums, National Endowment for the Arts, Summit County RAP Tax, Summit County Restaurant Tax, Utah Office of Tourism, Tomilee Tilley Foundation and George S. and the Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation.

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About the Kimball Art Center 

Kimball Art Center (KAC) provides international quality art exhibitions and dynamic educational opportunities for the citizens of Park City, Summit County, Wasatch County, and the region’s many visitors. Through its educational programs, KAC introduces visitors to the artistic process and gives insight into the many layers of creativity with its exhibition and event programs. Art is a catalyst for growth that allows an outlet for reflection, fosters new ways of thinking, and encourages compassion and connection. Kimball Art Center is committed to the fundamental American principles of expression and open engagement. 

Art is a universal language that provides an opportunity for cross-cultural dialogue. We see our role as a vital component of civic life for residents in our area and serve as a stimulant for creativity and community dialogue aiming to energize Park City’s vibrant arts community. Founded in 1976 by Bill Kimball, the Kimball Art Center is one of the region’s oldest creative non-profit organizations.