Oakland Museum at the Oakland International Airport

April 29-July 6, 2005
Inspire, Innovate, Transform: Environmental Art and Sustainability
Oakland International Airport

Airport Exhibition Archive

Throughout human history, inspiration and innovation have helped transform our ideas into reality, our concepts into action. At turbulent times, as in Hellenistic Greece, medieval Japan, and Europe during the industrial revolution, new art forms and technologies evolved in order to address the changing relationships between nature and society. Today, as natural resources become more scarce, scientists, business people, educators, politicians, and artists continue to look for new, more efficient ways to sustainably provide for and respond to our ever changing needs.

Inspiration and innovation
From the beginning of time, the natural world has been a primal source of inspiration and innovation: from birds to planes; plants to architecture; landscapes to painting. In the twenty-first century, the intersection of art, technology, and the environment will play a critical role in positively affecting social change.

The transformation has already begun

People throughout California’s Bay Area, the United States, and indeed, the world, are responding to the reality of limited resources with fresh, invigorating ideas and sustainable technologies. In fact, sustainability is weaving its way into all aspects of our lives. From environmental art that serves to restore a damaged landscape, to solar energized jackets that will power your personal computer, people are experimenting with new ideas that will move all of us toward a more sustainable way of life.Truly, this is a story of hope. People are making a difference. We have the power to create the world that we want to live in. We trust that this exhibit will inspire you to take part in the transformation toward sustainable culture.

— Zakary Zide, Mia Hanak
Natural World Museum