Saturday, June 29 1-5 PM
Join us on June 29th at Velum Fermentation from 1-5pm for an afternoon of food, fun, and a hopeful vision of our future.
At SolarPunk Future 2024, attendees will immerse themselves in a dynamic fusion of interactive art exhibits, mesmerizing performances, thought-provoking discussions, and a sustainability-focused job fair. Whether you're an eco-enthusiast, a tech aficionado, or simply intrigued by a greener tomorrow, there's an experience tailored just for you. Adding to the cultural tapestry, BOOM Concepts, a distinguished Black arts organization, will curate the Green Visioners art show, spotlighting the vibrant diversity and cultural richness of Pittsburgh's community.
This visionary collaboration brings together a coalition of organizations committed to sustainability. Partners include New Sun Rising, BOOM Concepts, The Climate Reality Project, The League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania Citizen Education Fund, Sustainable Pittsburgh, Communitopia, involveMINT, and The Breathe Project.The event is made possible by the generous support of sponsors, including Pittsburgh Regional Transit, Duquesne Light, ReImagine Appalachia, Green Mountain Energy, The Climate Reality Project, The League of Women Voters, FracTracker Alliance, and The Breathe Project, with foundation support provided by the Heinz Endowments.
Green visioneers art show by BOOM Concepts with Featured Artists:
Maggie Negrete - Maggie Lynn Negrete is a storyteller & cheerleader of curiosity, available for commissioned illustration, lettering, divination and educational experiences. A proud Pittsburgh resident and Vassar college alumni, Negrete’s visual art focuses on zinemaking, hand lettering, portraiture and technical illustrations including infographics for freelance clientele as well as occult & botanical designs for individual merchandise under the brand La Mama Magia. Negrete is affiliated with the #notwhite Collective, the Society to Preserve the Millvale Murals of Maxo Vanka, and BOOM Concepts.https://www.mgglntcreates.com/
Sara Tang - Sara Tang is a multidisciplinary artist who is currently exploring the intersections of chronic illness, embodied change, ecopsychology, and the sacred in her process and work. You can find them glitching out between being present and dissociating in many of Pittsburgh's liminal spaces. https://www.draw-me-in.com/about
Ivory Eddins - Ivory Eddins is a local Pittsburgh artist and small business owner. Ivory explores different disciplines such as painting, printmaking, and crocheting. They take inspiration from nature and spirituality. https://ivoryeddins7.godaddysites.com/
Jules Mallis - Jules Mallis is an intermedia artist, DJ and community leader based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Over the past 15 years in Pittsburgh, Mallis has been organizing creative endeavors and community programs. They perform live as a VJ and DJ and use digital media, paint, installation, performance, sound and audience interaction to create unique creative and enriching experiences. https://jmal.space/ABOUT-JMAL
Sound provided by Tech25
Solar Punk Programming Schedule
1:00-1:30 PM Opening/ Timbeleza/ Inside
2:30-2:45 PM Timbeleza//outside parking lot
3:00-4:00 PM SolarPunk Speaker's Forum
5 PM Krunk/ Inside
SolarPunk Speaker's Forum includes eco experts who will speak on today's and tomorrow's sustainable practices.
Special Guest and Panel Moderator, Rho Bloom-Wang, who served as Allegheny County's 2022-23 Youth Poet Laureate and is a 2024 National Youth Poet Laureate runner-up. Rho was Editor-In-Chief of Plaid Magazine and winner of the Oakland Sidewalk Poetry Contest, and has been nationally recognized by YoungArts, DePaul’s Blue Book, and the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers. You can find their work in Polyphony Lit; Lumiere Review; the tide rises, the tide falls; and Eunoia Review.
Performances by:
Timbeleza is an energetic Brazilian-style percussion band who performs with drums, many made from recycled materials.
KRUNK Movement is a year-round after-school production company that focuses on youth professional development by including elements of positive hip-hop, songwriting. art, and technology.
Hands On Activities for all ages with: Assemble, Irma Freeman Center for Imagination, Most Wanted Fine Art, Pittsburgh Center for Creative Reuse, and Pittsburgh Glass Center.
List of participating organizations: 350Pittsburgh, 412 Food Rescue, Aerial Tea Lounge, Assemble, Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation, BOOM Concepts, Breathe Project, Brian David designs for Ecolution, Brookline Teen Outreach/Compassionate Counseling, City of Pittsburgh, Climate Reality Pittsburgh & SWPA, Communitopia, Construction Junction, Duquesne Light, Edie Smith Studio (formerly Espirations Greeting Cards), El Colibri, FracTracker Alliance, GoodWill Industries, Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, Green Mountain Energy, Grounded Strategies, Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP), involveMINT, Irma Freeman Center for Imagination, KEYS Service Corps AmeriCorps, League of Women Voters, Mele’s Gifts & Party Planning, Millvale Tool Library / Millvale Community Library, Mondo Artist, Most Wanted Fine Art, NASA International Space Apps Challenge Pittsburgh, NeighborWorks Western Pa, New Century Careers, New Sun Rising, Our Children Our Earth: Toys & Eco-Goods, PA League of Women Voters, Papa Jeans Co., Pittsburgh Center for Creative Reuse, Pittsburgh Glass Center, Pittsburgh Green New Deal - volunteer organization, Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT), Protect PT, PublicSource, ReImagine Appalachia, Sierra Club of PA, Sol Refill, Sunrise Movement Pittsburgh, Susan Loucks Consulting, Sustainable Pittsburgh, Terroir Designs, The Center for Sustainable Business at Pitt University, Transitional Characters, Twisted Space LLC, UpstreamPgh, URA, Velumn Fermentation, WESA, Worm Return, and Youth Plantrepreneurs.
On the monitor: Enjoy video reels on sustainable programs from Charlie Kilman creator of the YouTube channel Our Changing Climate, and witness the excitement of Pittsburgh's first eco, art and tech fest Geek Art Green Innovators (GA/GI), founded by local Creative Strategist, Chistine Bethea. We also acknowledge SolarPunk's amazing 2024 event partners and supporters!
Tabling
Interested in tabling at our event? Apply by May 29th - all applications will be reviewed by June 1st. Slots are limited and a space is not guaranteed.
Donate
If you enjoy Solarpunk Future, please consider making a donation to help make it happen every year!
Sponsor
If you're interested in sponsoring our event, check out our Sponsorship Package!
Sponsored by:
Pittsburgh Regional Transit, Duquesne Light, ReImagine Appalachia, Green Mountain Energy, The Climate Reality Project, The League of Women Voters, FracTracker Alliance, and The Breathe Project.
Foundation support provided by the Heinz Endowments.
Meet Our Team
Christine Bethea of Geek Art / Green Innovators (GA/GI)
Geek Art/Green Innovators (GA/GI) was a ground-breaking, wildly successful, and award winning celebration of Art, Tech, and Sustainability in Pittsburgh. Created by artist and Creative Strategist, Christine Bethea, GA/GI was held on Penn Ave annually for ten years showcasing hundreds of artists, inventors, and scientists and dozens of university eco & tech programs from the southwestern Pennsylvania region and beyond. Now Team GA/GI and Ms. Bethea, as the event's Arts Chair, has joined ReImagine Jobs, a leader in sustainable initiatives to celebrate the possibilities of a cleaner and greener Pittsburgh.
Nina Gibbs of Most Wanted Fine Art
Nina Gibbs is an accomplished and energetic professional with more than 20 years of experience in the fast-paced arena of fundraising and community engagement across classes and cultures. Nina has a proven track record of achieving exceptional results in grant writing, individual giving, corporate giving, volunteer recruitment, and event planning. Nina and her arts organization, Most Wanted Fine Art, have been honored as a “40 under 40” by Pittsburgh magazine, “Community Development Award” from Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group, “Power of Work Award” from Goodwill of Southwestern PA, and “Best Art Gallery for Local Artists” 2014-2017 by Pittsburgh City Paper readers.
Boom Concepts
BOOM Concepts is dedicated to the development of artist and creative entrepreneurs representing marginalized voices. BOOM Concepts offers artist studios in auxiliary locations across Pittsburgh’s unique neighborhoods, spaces, and resources catered to each artist’s creative and professional goals.
The Breathe Project
The Breathe Collaborative is a coalition of citizens, environmental advocates, public health professionals and academics working to improve air quality, eliminate climate pollution and make our region a healthy and prosperous place to live. The Collaborative powers the Breathe Project through science-based work and a community outreach platform. We use the best available science and technology to better understand the quality of the air we breathe and provide opportunities for citizens to engage and take action.
Communitopia
Communitopia envisions a world where solution-based climate change education has transformed community thought and practice resulting in empowered and healthy local communities. We exist to provide transformative climate change education that develops today’s climate leaders and advances equitable solutions.
involveMINT
involveMINT's mission is to make visible, recognize, and provide resources to reinforce patterns of living that contribute to social and environmental well-being in our communities.
New Sun Rising
New Sun Rising believes that everyone has the potential to make a positive change. Some people strengthen culture by creating a greater sense of connections and shared purpose, honoring diverse experiences and traditions, making everyone feel valued and open to possibility. Others promote environmental sustainability, ensuring that natural resources are respected and protected for the well-being of current and future generations. While some provide economic opportunity for all, through access to good jobs, education, and entrepreneurship. It is at this intersection of culture, sustainability, and opportunity that Vibrant Communities exist. New Sun Rising promotes this vision by serving as a trusted partner with nonprofits, social enterprises, collaboratives, and investors. Our services enhance their effectiveness through capacity building, accessible funding, and data advocacy. We are guided by our core value commitments to an equitable & inclusive society by using adaptive processes centered in asset-based practices. In 2019, New Sun Rising established the Vibrant Communities Framework to help people ignite, launch, and grow community development efforts in the Pittsburgh region and beyond.
The League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania Citizen Education Fund
The League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. Through research and advocacy, the League seeks to encourage Pennsylvanians to actively participate in government.
Sustainable Pittsburgh
The Climate Reality Project Logistics Team
Register for Free – Solarpunk Future!
Join us on June 29th at Velum Fermentation from 1-5pm for an afternoon of food, fun, and a hopeful vision of our future.
What is Solarpunk Future?
Happening on June 29 1-5pm! Part interactive art show, part job fair, join geek creatives and green innovators for an afternoon event full of performances, exhibits, and art installations which will give all ages and walks of life the opportunity to be inspired by the sustainable future that we can collectively create.
Solarpunk is an art, literature, and political movement juxtaposed in opposition to the cyberpunk concept of the future. While cyberpunk often depicts a postapocalyptic, dystopian and disconnected future, solarpunk imagines a community-led, sustainable future that offers a hopeful alternative to the uptick in climate-doomism circulating in social media. Solarpunk provides us a goal to work towards together.
To learn more about Solarpunk, check out EARTH.ORG.