Following the public AIC launch event on the afternoon of Oct. 9, 2009, approximately 64 people reconvened for a dinner/discussion event at MIT’s Stata Center dining room, organized by the Platform 2 artists’ collective. Each table focused on one of the eight themes of the Artists’ Prospectus for the Nation, assisted by a commissioned placemat by a New England-based artist (see the “Nature” placemat, top right, by New Haven artist Joseph Smolinski). An empty placemat at each table was used by diners to record notes from the discussion. Pictured directly above is the notated placemat from the Nature Table.

And here is a summary of the discussion by one of the Nature Table's notetakers:

At the Nature Table, our first question was: when we address the topic "nature," do we immediately and only think of climate change?  Or conversely, can we think of nature without thinking of climate change?  We struggled with the difference between nature and climate
change as themes.  Some thoughts were that nature is experienced, is immediate and local, is full of wonder.  On the other hand, climate change is experienced through the news media, is an accumulation of data, is often understood as being "out there."  Our children understand this differently (do not see them as being so separate). There was some discussion about collaboration and the necessity of collaboration in dealing with climate change.  The question was asked -- do scientists need artists?  What can art bring to the table in this complex urgent topic?  Some thoughts were about the ability of art to bring a sense of experience, of bringing together ideas from different disciplines, of translation, and of connection of the self to the
science.  Collaboration between different disciplines to tackle the complexities of the subject feels necessary though difficult.  The notion of alliances versus collaboration was put forward.

Jane Marsching