Campus & Community

Create a Better World: SU Showcase Offers One-Credit Sustainability Workshops for All Students

Tuesday, January 29, 2013, By News Staff

Concerned about plastic waste? Spend a weekend with a visiting artist, refashioning plastic waste into art that sends a message about sustainability. Want to feel more connected to your ecosystem and the history of this region? Be part of a puppetry performance piece about Onondaga Lake. It’s all part of SU Showcase, which brings together students from all majors to learn about sustainability and share that knowledge in creative ways with the larger community.

“Plastic Impact” is a one-credit workshop that will be offered the weekend of Feb. 22-24. Local artist and engineer Mark Povinelli will lead students in rethinking the materials we use every day and creating eye-catching installations around the Quad. This project is connected to the University Lecture on Feb. 27 by Roz Savage, an open water rower who is an advocate for reducing plastic waste in the oceans.

Another one-credit workshop, “Lake, Story and Ritual” will take place the first two weekends of April. Participants will explore the importance of Onondaga Lake, which holds a sacred place in Haudenosaunee culture as well as playing key roles in the history of ϲ and the ecology of the region. Then, working with master puppeteer and performer Geoff Navias, they will design a ritual to link SU to the lake and the new Great Law of Peace Cultural Center on its shores. The ritual will be performed on the final day of the workshop.

Registration remains open until the workshops begin, and students can receive credit through (SOL 300) or the (CLB 400).

“Plastic Impact” will be held Friday, Feb. 22, 6-9 p.m., and continue Saturday, Feb. 23, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“Lake, Story and Ritual” runs Saturday, April 6, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, April 7, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with the performance on Saturday, April 13, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Meals will be provided for both workshops.

To register, students can fill out an add form in HL 441, the second floor of Smith Hall or Room 108 of The Warehouse. Students from all majors are welcome to participate.