ART AND ECOLOGY WORKSHOPS
Carbon, Creativity & Collapse
Ignite Studios- Ballina Bookings
Carbon, Creativity & Collapse is a 3hr workshop exploring ecological thinking, complex climate change science, and contemporary art processes. Bringing together the creative practices of Al Stark and Aviva Reed, who make up Esk Studio, this workshop offers participants an interdisciplinary space to engage with the intellectual and emotional dimensions of living in a time of environmental uncertainty. Through combining philosophy, climate change science, locally grounded regenerative practices, and visual arts-based approaches, participants explore meaningful ways to engage and process complex environmental issues in the face of impending changing climates and ecological collapses.
This workshop will be held at regional galleries across the Northern Rivers and will be followed up with an online gathering, 17th Sept, 2026, 6-8pm, whereby participants across the all Northern Rivers workshops can develop a community of practice furthering themes and philosophies generated through these workshops.
$15 All materials included. Bookings essential.
This project is supported by Ingrained Foundation, Vickie Brooke and Arts Northern Rivers.
Carbon, Creativity & Collapse
Grafton Regional Gallery- Bookings
Carbon, Creativity & Collapse is a 3hr workshop exploring ecological thinking, complex climate change science, and contemporary art processes. Bringing together the creative practices of Al Stark and Aviva Reed, who make up Esk Studio, this workshop offers participants an interdisciplinary space to engage with the intellectual and emotional dimensions of living in a time of environmental uncertainty. Through combining philosophy, climate change science, locally grounded regenerative practices, and visual arts-based approaches, participants explore meaningful ways to engage and process complex environmental issues in the face of impending changing climates and ecological collapses.
Light lunch included.
This workshop will be held at regional galleries across the Northern Rivers and will be followed up with an online gathering, 17th Sept, 2026, 6-8pm, whereby participants across the all Northern Rivers workshops can develop a community of practice furthering themes and philosophies generated through these workshops.
$15 All materials included. Bookings essential.
This project is supported by Ingrained Foundation, Vickie Brooke and Arts Northern Rivers.
Carbon, Creativity & Collapse
Lismore Regional Gallery- Bookings
Carbon, Creativity & Collapse is a 3hr workshop exploring ecological thinking, complex climate change science, and contemporary art processes. Bringing together the creative practices of Al Stark and Aviva Reed, who make up Esk Studio, this workshop offers participants an interdisciplinary space to engage with the intellectual and emotional dimensions of living in a time of environmental uncertainty. Through combining philosophy, climate change science, locally grounded regenerative practices, and visual arts-based approaches, participants explore meaningful ways to engage and process complex environmental issues in the face of impending changing climates and ecological collapses.
This workshop will be held at regional galleries across the Northern Rivers and will be followed up with an online gathering, 17th Sept, 2026, 6-8pm, whereby participants across the all Northern Rivers workshops can develop a community of practice furthering themes and philosophies generated through these workshops.
$15 All materials included. Bookings essential.
This project is supported by Ingrained Foundation, Vickie Brooke and Arts Northern Rivers.
Carbon, Creativity & Collapse
Tweed Regional Gallery- Bookings
Carbon, Creativity & Collapse is a 3hr workshop exploring ecological thinking, complex climate change science, and contemporary art processes. Bringing together the creative practices of Al Stark and Aviva Reed, who make up Esk Studio, this workshop offers participants an interdisciplinary space to engage with the intellectual and emotional dimensions of living in a time of environmental uncertainty. Through combining philosophy, climate change science, locally grounded regenerative practices, and visual arts-based approaches, participants explore meaningful ways to engage and process complex environmental issues in the face of impending changing climates and ecological collapses.
This workshop will be held at regional galleries across the Northern Rivers and will be followed up with an online gathering, 17th Sept, 2026, 6-8pm, whereby participants across the all Northern Rivers workshops can develop a community of practice furthering themes and philosophies generated through these workshops.
$15 All materials included. Bookings essential.
This project is supported by Ingrained Foundation, Vickie Brooke and Arts Northern Rivers.
Ecological art club
A morning for exploring diverse art forms including drawing, watercolour and collage around environmental themes for humans of all ages! This workshop makes space for intergenerational creation.
$20 including all materials.
The Squid, the vibrio & the Moon
A morning making watercolour artworks inspired by a story about the symbiotic relationship between the Hawaiian bobtail squid and the bioluminescent bacteria that help it glow in the moonlight. Using Small Friends Books as a learning resource, we will explore the micro and macro creatures of the ocean.
Suitable for ages 12-120
$20
About the facilitator: Some would call Aviva Reed an artist, others a scientist. Aviva describes herself as a visual ecologist and creative provocateur. She enjoys provoking thought, smashing paradigms and rebuilding them. She loves combining ideas and exploring concepts from multiple perspectives. Through her practice she seeks to evoke enchantment, cross-disciplinary thought, and to question status quo notions of normality.
Aviva has an undergraduate degree in Environmental Science, a Masters of Education (in Environment) and has spent the past decade working as a professional artist.
Forest fungi
Join Aviva for an afternoon of exploring ecological ideas about forests and fungi and creating a watercolour painting. There will be a short presentation on forest science, we will explore examples of ecological portraiture and then create our own watercolour ecological portrait.
$20 including materials
Suitable for ages 10-100
BOOK HERE
About the facilitator: Bringing together art, science and environmental education, Aviva explores the ecological world with art and storytelling. She has worked extensively within community, primary, secondary and tertiary education facilitating sessions on microbes, deep time and the ecological imagination. She has a Bachelor of Science and a Masters of Environment, majoring in Education. She is currently completing her PhD in Creative Arts & Literature. She is author/ illustrator of five books on microbial communities and evolution.
Salty sea
Join Aviva for an afternoon of exploring ecological ideas about oceans and coral reefs through creating a watercolour painting. There will be a short presentation on ocean coral science, we will explore examples of ecological portraiture and then create our own watercolour ecological portrait.
$20 including materials.
Suitable for ages 10-100
BOOK HERE
About the facilitator: Bringing together art, science and environmental education, Aviva explores the ecological world with art and storytelling. She has worked extensively within community, primary, secondary and tertiary education facilitating sessions on microbes, deep time and the ecological imagination. She has a Bachelor of Science and a Masters of Environment, majoring in Education. She is currently completing her PhD in Creative Arts & Literature. She is author/ illustrator of five books on microbial communities and evolution.
River flow
Join Aviva for an afternoon of exploring ecological ideas about freshwater rivers and then creating a watercolour painting. There will be a short presentation on river science, we will explore examples of ecological portraiture and then create our own watercolour ecological portrait.
$20 including materials
Suitable for ages 10-100
BOOK HERE
About the facilitator: Bringing together art, science and environmental education, Aviva explores the ecological world with art and storytelling. She has worked extensively within community, primary, secondary and tertiary education facilitating sessions on microbes, deep time and the ecological imagination. She has a Bachelor of Science and a Masters of Environment, majoring in Education. She is currently completing her PhD in Creative Arts & Literature. She is author/ illustrator of five books on microbial communities and evolution.
Symbiosis Storytelling
‘The Forest in the Tree’ is a science adventure story about microbes, forests, trees & fungi
created by Small Friends Books.
We will explore this wild underground world through a book reading and conversation and then we will create our own science inspired watercolour artworks of soil and fungi.
Ages 6+
Presented by visual ecologist Aviva Reed. Aviva was lead illustrator for this series and has a wealth of creative and scientific insights to share.
Symbiosis Storytelling
‘The Forest in the Tree’ is a science adventure story about microbes, forests, trees & fungi
created by Small Friends Books.
We will explore this wild underground world through a book reading and conversation and then we will create our own science inspired watercolour artworks of soil and fungi.
Ages 6+
Presented by visual ecologist Aviva Reed. Aviva was lead illustrator for this series and has a wealth of creative and scientific insights to share.