Climate Beacon
Emily Newman and Edward Kelley
“Climate Beacon” is our climate-fighting bioreactor; a vessel for growing organisms under controlled conditions to yield by-products. Inside the plastic exterior constructed column is a series of acrylic tubes filled with water and algae. Our bioreactor cultivates microalgae by pumping the gallery air through tubes, feeding the algae important nutrients such as carbon dioxide exhaled from visitors. Then the data from an interior carbon sensor reads the gallery’s atmospheric carbon dioxide levels informing the light display to change. The lights within our bioreactor function to both visualize the amount of carbon dioxide in the gallery atmosphere as well as help the algae photosynthesize. “Climate Beacon” uses direct air carbon capture to mitigate the effects of increased atmospheric carbon.
This exhibit was made possible by the support of the Gross-Wen Technologies who provided the algae and media and Openair Collective who collaborated on the research which informed this piece.
About the Team
Emily Newman is an artist, educator, and co-founder of Parts Per Million Collective; a collaboration to directly address climate change through art. Constructing with found and recycled materials is important to the guiding values of PPM and Emily’s own individual artistic practice. Her independent artwork is made using found and recycled packaging as an observed commentary on the domestic habits of consumption and 21st century motherhood. Emily’s recent group exhibitions include works shown at Manifest Gallery in Ohio and The Muckenthaler Cultural Center in California and two solo exhibitions at the Blanden Museum of Art in Ft. Dodge, Iowa and Farnham Galleries on the campus of Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa. Emily holds a BFA in sculpture from Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY and an MFA in studio art from the University of Nebraska Lincoln. She is an Associate Professor of Art at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.
Edward Kelley is an artist and educator living and working in Des Moines Iowa. Edward works with the climate by introducing climate change solutions into the artmaking process. Of particular concern is atmospheric carbon capture and agricultural waterway pollution. As a member of Parts Per Million Collective Edward recently completed a residency at Lakeside Lab as well as a temporary public art installation. This year Edward will be presenting as the 2024 keynote speaker for Salem Art Works Festival of Fire. Edward has received project grants from the Iowa Arts Council, as well as public art grants from BRAVO Greater Des Moines, and faculty development grants from Drake University. As an exhibiting artist Edward has shown nationally including solo and group exhibitions at Art League Houston, the Spartanburg Art Museum, and the Haydon Art Center. Edward received an MFA in Sculpture from Syracuse University and a BA from the College of Charleston.