Jason Livingston with Phoebe A. Cohen: In the Sun’s Absence

Squeaky Wheel is pleased to announce In the Sun’s Absence, a public art project and exhibition led by artist Jason Livingston in collaboration with Phoebe A. Cohen (Chair and Associate Professor of Geosciences, Williams College). Timed with the 2024 solar eclipse, and featuring haikus installed on public signage, sound art, video, print work, and sculptural projects, In the Sun’s Absence asks audiences to contemplate how “in the sun’s absence, we have a chance to notice its significance.”

The project draws from Livingston’s public and environmental art practices and Cohen’s research into deep time. Livingston and Cohen have a shared interest in the Earth’s systems and the fact that the fossil fuels that run our economy are the preserved products of ancient photosynthesis. Through Livingston’s art works, audiences will reflect upon the foundational importance of our sun and its encompassing impact on the history of the Earth and humankind. Along with the exhibition at Squeaky Wheel, the project features billboards throughout Buffalo featuring haikus written by participants of Squeaky Wheel’s youth and adult education programs through workshops led by Livingston and Cohen that reflect on the exhibition’s theme.

Join us for the opening of the exhibition on Friday, March 22, 6–8pm, with brief remarks by Livingston and Cohen at 7 pm. This project was selected and has been generously supported by the Simons Foundation as part of their In the Path of Totality project.

Biographies
Jason Livingston is a media artist, filmmaker, and educator. His award-winning films have been widely exhibited at festivals and museums, including the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., the International Film Festival Rotterdam, and Media City in Canada. He is currently researching histories of extractive cinema and abolitionist re-imaginings of our shared world as a Presidential Fellow in the Department of Media Study, University at Buffalo.

Phoebe A. Cohen is a paleontologist, geobiologist, teacher, and science communicator. Her research focuses on understanding the interactions between life and the earth system in deep time by integrating micropaleontological, geological, and biological lines of evidence. Phoebe is an Associate Professor at Williams College, where her research has been funded by the National Science Foundation and NASA. She is also the co-host of the forthcoming podcast Jax and Phoebe Make a Planet, and an advocate for inclusion and equity in the earth sciences and beyond.

About the In the Path of Totality initiative
This work is supported by the Simons Foundation and is part of its “In the Path of Totality” initiative. For more information, visit inthepathoftotality.org .

The Simons Foundation’s mission is to advance the frontiers of research in mathematics and the basic sciences. Since its founding in 1994 by Jim and Marilyn Simons, the foundation has been a champion of basic science through grant funding, support for research and public engagement. We believe in asking big questions and providing sustained support to researchers working to unravel the mysteries of the universes. Through our work we make space for scientific discovery.

The Simons Foundation makes grants in four areas: Mathematics and Physical Sciences, Life Sciences, Autism and Neuroscience and Science, Society and Culture. Our Flatiron Institute was opened in 2016 and conducts scientific research in-house, supporting teams of top computational scientists. We recognize the value of collective effort and know that good science requires a diversity of perspectives. We actively promote large-scale collaboration through a pioneering grantmaking approach and are committed to the sharing of knowledge within the scientific community. We understand science is part of society and culture, and we actively provide opportunities for people to engage with science in ways that are relevant and meaningful to them.

About Squeaky Wheel
Squeaky Wheel Film & Media Art Center has a mission to continue a legacy of innovation in media arts through access, education, and exhibition. We envision a community that uses electronic media and film to celebrate freedom of expression and diversity of voice.