CINCINNATI, OHIO.- Cinergy Foundation presents "Ecovention - Current art to transform ecologies," on view through August 18, 2002. For almost forty years, artists have been developing innovative ways to resolve complex ecological problems. Some artists argue "don’t touch it," others invent novel strategies to remediate degraded sites, while others are devoted to maximizing biodiversity. Coined in 1999, the word ecovention blends ecology and invention. Ecovention, co-curated by ecoartspace curator Amy Lipton and CAC curator Sue Spaid, seeks to highlight innovative artist-initiated solutions that are impacting the environment.

Ecovention is the first-ever museum exhibition to showcase realized projects that have transformed local ecologies. The nearly forty works included reflect the diversity of approaches and projects currently transforming sites in California, Kansas, Massachusetts, New Mexico, New York, and Pennsylvania, as well as Australia, Finland, Germany, Israel, Kenya, Korea, Kansas, Thailand, the Netherlands, and Russia. Ecovention, is organized to demonstrate five distinct focuses: 1) Activism/ Monitoring, 2) Valuing Anew/Living with Brownfields, 3) Biodiversity / Studying Species Depletions, 4) Urban Infrastructure/ Environmental Justice, and 5) Restoration and Reclamation Aesthetics.

This landmark exhibition will illuminate the important role that artists with environmental concerns are playing in communities. Such artists attempt to solve today’s ecological problems by involving local experts and scientists in the discovery and implementation of innovative strategies. Ecovention explores current projects by this field’s influential artists, such as Agnes Denes, Hans Haacke, Newton and Helen Harrison, Patricia Johanson, and Mierle Laderman Ukeles, as well as recent works by dozens of artists who first gained prominence during the 1990s. In addition to the exhibiting works at the Contemporary Arts Center, several artists have collaborated on ecoventions with local groups to resolve local environmental issues.