New Geologies: Xeno-Earth

This symposium aims to bring together researchers from the arts and sciences to explore post-natural perspectives in geology. The term “post-natural” is a relatively recent one, yet it is extremely useful for better understanding our global ecological crisis: “post-natural” both insists on “nature” and the “human-nature” dichotomy as artificial constructs, while also foregrounding the deep and unsettling reach of human activity within Earth systems (biological and ecological, climatological and atmospheric, geological, etc.). At a time of ecological crisis, turning our attention to rocks, minerals, and inorganic, non-living realms is particularly eye-opening. Geology expands and complicates ecological consciousness in myriad ways—forcing us to contend with planetary timescales and histories that are distinctly non-human, while also reminding us of the ways in which living and non-living systems are intractably interwoven. For good reason, we now refer to the current planetary ecological crisis by way of a geologic term, the Anthropocene, in recognition of the deep time implications of the present. The post-natural geologic perspectives produced by the Anthropocene include, for instance: a recognition that plastics have entered the geologic record (and produced a new type of rock: the plastiglomerate), or that human terraforming activities, such as mining or urbanization, are some of the most powerful sedimentary processes to shape the Earth. Inspired by writers and philosophers such as Timothy Morton and Thomas Nail, this symposium approaches rocks as the “strange stranger”—entities that take us far outside ourselves and our anthropocentrism. 
 
The University of Kansas is home to the Interdisciplinary Ceramic Research Center (ICRC), dedicated to broadening and innovating the scope of ceramic inquiry. By interrogating the ontologies and ecologies of rocks—the wellspring and foundation of ceramics—this symposium builds on the ICRC’s mission. Furthermore, this symposium is in keeping with the spirit of other interdisciplinary and justice-driven initiatives on campus—such as The Commons and the Spencer Museum of Art—and presents a unique opportunity for generative and collaborative discussion between the KU community and outside researchers.

Speakers

Oscar Salguero is a designer, independent curator, researcher, and archivist based in Brooklyn, NY. His design work has been exhibited both nationally and internationally, including a commission for Stockholm Design Week 2020 as part of non:agency’s The Age of Entanglements. In Spring 2021, Salguero curated Interspecies Futures [IF] at Center for Book Arts, NY. The show marked the first survey of bookworks by emerging artists working at the intersection of speculative fiction and new interspecies possibilities. Since 2019, Salguero runs Interspecies Library, an archive project dedicated to the study and advancement of conceptual artists’ books exploring alternative interspecies futures.

John Roloff is a visual artist who works conceptually with site, process and natural systems.  He is known for his ceramic works and outdoor kiln/furnace projects done from the 1970’s into the 1990’s, as well as other large-scale environmental projects, gallery installations and objects investigating geologic and natural phenomena.  Based on an extensive background and ongoing research in the earth sciences, he works from geochemical and global metabolic perspectives. His work since the late 1960’s engages poetic and site-specific relationships between material, concept and performance in the domains of geology, ecology, architecture, ceramics, industry, metabolic systems and history.

Claire Marshall is an Associate Professor of Geospectroscopy at the University of Kansas, a solid-state Raman spectroscopist, and astrobiologist. She has been involved in Raman spectroscopy of crystalline solids, and the application of Raman spectroscopy in astrobiology and planetary science research since 2002. Her interests are in Raman spectroscopy, astrobiology, and exploring the potential of Raman spectroscopy as a life detection technique, and design, fabrication, and development of spectroscopic instrumentation for life detection. She has been awarded and managed over $4 million in grants throughout her career.

Projected Timeline
All events are open to the public and we will be publicizing this event across campus.
March 30: Installation of exhibition in Geology study center (Neo-Mineralia books, video, flags, and photographs). Students can begin visiting the study center part of the exhibition as of Monday, April 1. The organizers will make sure the study center has a volunteer present during open hours to ensure Neo-Mineralia books are handled carefully by visitors.
April 4: Evening artist, curatorial and research talks in Ritchie 164. This room has already been reserved. Event starts at 7:00PM.
April 5: 10:00AM- Reading group. A 10-15 page text will have distributed to those who wish to participate ahead of time. Location TBD—possibly could occur in proximity to exhibition. Timothy Morton Hyper-objects, ask questions about how these texts relate to work of Oscar/John. Supply texts by mid February
2:00PM—Performance of ‘We Are Petroleum People,’ a performance piece by artist duskin drum.  Alternatively: outdoor field trip. Erratics?
6:00PM—Exhibition opening event and walk-through. Would be great to have this catered to encourage more people to come, stay, and share ideas related to this event.
April 14—Take down of the exhibition.