Chasing Coral Written by Esmeralda Manzo
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
IMPACT: Chasing Coral Written By Esmeralda Manzo February 2019 | Issue 2 On Wednesday Feb. 6, an artists’ reception of the art exhibition “Impact” in PSC’s Christopher Art Gallery was scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. After this reception was a film viewing of “Chasing Coral” and a discussion followed shortly after in the Proven IT Conference Room in the PSC Conference Center. “Chasing Coral” is a documentary, directed by Jeff Orlowski, about coral bleaching, a phenomenon that happens when corals give up their vibrant colors before changing to a ghostly white and then dying. The cause of this death spiral is global climate change, in other words, “global warming.” The whole film follows Orlowski’s team and the process of the efforts they go through to document this devastating change in this underwater ecosystem. The beauty of this film is that after showing the shocking truth of these negative chang- es happening in our oceans, they end it by sending the message that we can restore coral life, however, only through awareness of the problem and changes in our human behavior. Helen Dannelley, one of the artists who contributed her art to the “Im- pact” exhibition, shared that what inspired her to create her piece was this same documentary. After watching this film, she came up with the idea of creating a visual representation of the corals going from very alive and colorful to slowly bleaching, to turning dark black and gray.” However, she did not want to execute this idea alone. She recounted, “I remembered a very good friend of mine and artist in California, Sandi Miot. Photography by Esmeralda Manzo By Esmeralda Manzo | Impact: Chasing Coral | Cont. She does these gorgeous colorful presentation after the film viewing. Coincidentally, in 2016, he was in sculptures of corals, and I called He’s a PhD candidate at the Hawaii doing research while the her, and I said, ‘Sandi, I have an University of Chicago and his filmmakers of “Chasing Coral” were idea for a collaborative show. I said, research focuses on questions of finishing up their film, and they you need to watch the film ‘Chasing climate change, climate action, and presented a preview of this film to Coral’ and then call me.” Once they climate science. him and the other scientists. were both on board with this idea, Helen approached Beth Shadur, the Beth Shadur and Helen Dannelley The filmmakers filmed their PSC gallery director and curator, both invited him to this event after reactions and put this clip into the about the idea. The rest is history. meeting at a previous show where film itself towards the ending, Helen also went on to name her art they discussed Helen’s work on funnily enough, Damien ended up piece “Chasing Coral.” coral. Since coral was his research being an “unintentional extra” in interest, he was invited to give a this film. Next was Damien Bryant. Damien presentation on his work. was the guest speaker who gave his While discussing this issue of coral bleaching, he said, “We know that film and the realities of the negative fears and threats that tie us together the impacts and effects of this effects we humans have left on our in ways that often are very violent phenomenon are going to be oceans, he spoke about the concept and dangerous, but they can be for uneven; it’s to say they won’t be of fear, and how it plays a different the good. felt equally, so it is, I think, a very role in different people. important question that we need to So how do we make sure that when be centering in different scales of For example, when someone asks we’re protecting ourselves we’re not human activity.” “What you most afraid of?” it’s hurting others? Or we’re not common to hear people say they fear denying others the legitimacy of In other words, you may not fear the clowns, or spiders, or heights, while their fears?” While restoration is impact of this issue because you are others may respond with natural possible, it is only through not keeping yourself informed about disasters or the loss of natural awareness of the problem and it. You do not see its impact; habitats and species. changes in our human behavior. therefore, you do not feel its impact. He concluded, “There’s almost After discussing the effects of this always going to be a multitude of 2 February 2019 | Issue 2 2019 | Issue February Who is Jussie Smollett? Actor of victim Written by Dan Fogarty Photo Source by CPS Two months ago, Jussie Jan. 29, Jussie Smollett reports things like this.”. that he was attacked by two men Smollett, a Chicago at roughly 2 a.m. outside a Subway Feb. 15, two brothers, who are the resident and black, restaurant on the 300 block of East suspected attackers, are taken into openly gay actor of the hit North Water Street. These two men police custody as the two persons supposedly were screaming racial of interest. After twelve hours, both TV show “Empire,” was the slurs and chanting, “This is MAGA brothers are released and police target of a suspected hate country.” Once close enough, state that due to new evidence, they crime when two men Smollett reports, the two men began will be looking into a new primary hitting him and wrapped a noose suspect. verbally berated him, around his neck. assaulted him, and tied a Feb. 20, the Cook County’s State’s noose around his neck near Over the next few days, from Jan. Attorney Office approves charges 30 - Feb. 3, Jussie Smollett receives of filing a false police report against his home in the Streeter- an outcry of support from powerful Jussie Smollett and hints more ville figures all over the country as police charges may be coming soon. neighborhood. begin their investigation. Via social media, figures such as Kamala Feb. 21, after being charged, Smol- Harris and Ellen DeGeneres exclaim lett surrenders himself to the Chi- After two months of investigation, their support, and even President cago Police department. After a Jussie Smollett has become a person Trump tweets, “It doesn’t get worse, judge places Jussie Smollet’s bond at of interest in his own investigation, as far as I’m concerned.” $100,000, Smollett pays his $10,000 as police began to suspect him of bail, surrenders his passport, and fabricating the entire attack. This Feb. 12, Chicago Police say that remains under police supervision is the timeline that has been put Smollett was not entirely coop- until the trial is concluded. together based on information erative when asked for his phone gathered by the Chicago Police records of the nights leading up to As this is an on-going case, the Department. the attack. Pioneer is looking forward to con- tinuing to inform our readers about Jan. 22, Jussie Smollett reports to the Feb. 14, Smollett holds an interview Jussie Smollett’s story and the battle police that a letter addressed to him with “Good Morning America” for the truth. Keep on the look-out was received at a production studio where he tries to dispel the now-ris- for updates in future newspaper on Chicago’s west side. The letter ing doubts. Smollett says, “You do editions. was postmarked in Bedford Park such a disservice when you lie about 3 4 JAZZ Fest Music Written by Matt Rohrer February 2019 | Issue 2 2019 | Issue February This month, Prairie State College performance which got the crowd Though admitting the festival held its 31st annual Jazz Fest. The swelling with emotions. entailed a demanding schedule, Prof. festival is a three-day event where Nicholson seemed no less students from 22 surrounding When asked what she thought of the committed to the musical and middle and high schools get the opening performance, PSC nursing educational mission of the festival. opportunity to perform for both student Jennifer Lewis commented, After 31 years, festival has had quite each other and the public. “It was lovely, moving… I almost an impact on many peoples’ lives; cried.” some of the Fest’s attendees have This year’s event ran from gone full circle, going from students February 14th to the 16th and was With the crowd still high off the themselves to bringing their own held primarily in Prairie State energy and exuberance of the students to the event. College’s Barnes & Noble College opening performers, the Masters Auditorium located in the took the stage. True to their name, When asked, Prof Nicholson Conference Center in the main the Jazz Masters put on an believed there were four such campus building on the north side. unforgettable show. Their ability to instructors this year who had fill the room with bursting energy previously been attending students. The event was capped off by its “Jam one second, then instantly bring the Masters Jam,” a performance opened tune down to a soothing pace the Saving toughest for last, I asked the by a student band conducted by next was nothing short of brilliance. Professor what she’s enjoyed most Prairie State’s own Phillip Crews, about putting on Jazz Fest over the Director of the PSC’s Wind Ensem- The way the artists played off one years, to which she replied, “I just ble, and headlined by six nationally another so seamlessly would leave love the spontaneity of it, and the recognized Jazz artists: Orbert the average onlooker convinced they unpredictability of it. Davis, Edward Petersen, Ernie all could read each others’ minds, as Adams, Valerie Nicholson, Larry no note seemed misplaced or out of I just love connecting with the s Gray, and Ruben P.