This week Dr. Blundell continues his conversation with the Visual Artist, Rita Leduc. In part one we explored the under-acknowledged artistic and imaginative facets of Maria Mitchell. We also set the stage for how our collaborative work in the mountains of New Hampshire is transportable to Nantucket. You can learn more and see examples of her nature-inspired art here: https://www.ritaleduc.com/site-hubbard-brook-experimental-forest In this episode we explore more fully what Oika Art is and how we’re creating Oika Art projects on Nantucket.

UTOKing with Rich Blundell (2) | For the Love of Nature August 2, 2022Gregg welcomes Rich Blundell back to the program (see Episode 57). This episode continues their conversation about the philosophy of Oika and its connection and overlap with UTOK. In this episode, Rich talks about his experience as being a scientist/scholar in residence on the island of Nantucket. He is working to share his vision of the intersection of Big History, ecological intelligence, and the love of nature with members of high society. In addition, he is working with artists and activists to bring this vision to life. He and Gregg interweave their visions, as Gregg recounts his shift from being situated in the traditional academic community and being transformed via UTOK and its representation as a Garden.

In part one of this two-part episode, Dr. Rich Blundell speaks with the visual artist Rita Leduc. Rita and Dr. Blundell have been collaborating on a series of projects that explore the boundaries of art, science, nature and culture. Many of these are grounded in the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. You can check out these projects through this link: https://www.ritaleduc.com/site-hubbard-brook-experimental-forest

Now we are expanding our collaborative model and bringing it to Nantucket. As an artist who works directly with the natural world, Rita brings a unique perspective that might help us disentangle the perceived contradictions between art and science. Her process also highlights how nature may help us create a more beautiful culture. In this episode we begin to unpack Rita’s artistic practice, which sheds light on how the culture and nature of Nantucket may have contributed to Maria Mitchell’s outlook too.

Next week we’ll take a deeper dive into Rita’s process and introduce a series of really cool place-based art projects that are taking shape on Nantucket.

UTOKing with Rich Blundell Cultivating Ecological Intelligence June 20, 2022

Gregg welcomes Rich Blundell. Rich is a theorist and activist who promotes the philosophy of “Oika,” which is the relational intelligence of nature expressed through human thought and action. Rich’s life purpose is to promote a culture of Oika, which he believes will heal people and the planet and orient us toward a beautiful future. In this episode, Rich shares his narrative and his experiences with loving nature and how that emerged and blended with his training in Big History to generate his current philosophy and work with artists. In this episode, in addition to sharing his perspective, he asks Gregg about how UTOK transcends the Enlightenment Gap and gives us a new map of Big History that can align with a philosophy of ecological intelligence.

Giving nature a seat at the table w/ Rich Blundell - Voices with Vervaeke July 8, 2022

Deeper into ecological intelligence with Rich Blundell - Voices with Vervaeke April 10, 2022

Rich Blundell on Voices with Vervaeke March 20, 2022

https://youtu.be/Cfbqaj5Gxyo