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In “Eco Exhibitions Won’t Save Us (2023),” Marv Recinto observed that while artworks materialize ideas and educate viewers about ecological degradation, this may not be enough to effect meaningful environmental change—especially in underserved communities where this impact is often most dramatic. Eco-critical infrastructure artworks, in contrast to most public monuments, shift an artwork’s function from that of a contemplative finished product to a process-oriented engagement with the natural world. Artists who create such work—including the members of this panel—seek to engage in a transformative practice: one that remediates environmental problems (or intervenes before they occur) through an active collaboration with scientists, designers, local community members, and nature.

In this session, the panelists will discuss the impact of their collaborative approaches and artistic practices, specifically how they address shifting cultural perceptions toward environmental consciousness and stewardship. They employ various modalities and media—from incorporating plastics with organic materials, to the intersection of global tourist narratives with local oral histories, and to art historical references that prompt community storytelling. Through their creative installations and public art interventions, they hope to not only educate viewers but also mobilize communities to initiate creative pathways that point toward a more environmentally conscious, just, and sustainable future.