Pulvis et umbra sumus. We are but dust and shadow. –Horace

Dust and Shadow is FoAM's contribution to a transdisciplinary research and residency programme at the ASU (Arizona State University) focused on environmental issues specific to the North-American Southwest. We combine philosophical inquiry with experiential futures and technological arts to explore existing and potential relationships between people and the desert. We start from a hypothesis that in order to mitigate the effects of climate change (and other environmental uncertainties) fundamental lifestyle adaptations are needed. We investigate and re-imagine myths and archetypes underlying contemporary lifestyles and worldviews. By addressing the mythical and emotional dimension of contemporary life in the desert, we design artistic experiments as propositions for re-attunement of urban experiences and desert ecosystems.

In collaboration with The Global Institute of Sustainability (GIOS), Laboratory of Critical Technics (LCT) and the Synthesis Lab of the Arizona State University (ASU).

• fragments https://d-u-s-t-and-shadow.tumblr.com
• photos https://www.flickr.com/photos/foam/sets/72157681429258454
• FoAM activity page: https://fo.am/dust-and-shadow/

How all of this might unfold (TBC and subject to change without notice)

• Spring 2017 (may/june): fieldtrip 1, observations, questions, travelogue, etc.
  
• Summer 2017 (july/august): articulating research questions, literature research, mapping, etc.
  
• Fall 2017 (november/december): fieldtrip 2, FoAM presentation/talk at LCT & Synthesis, experimental workshop, formulating propositions for experiments, planning publications
  
• Spring 2018: prototyping and experiments (first iteration): thalient lab, D&S walk, reader 1, equinox eve prototype, editorial design for the book
  
• Summer & Fall 2018: design seasonal feast, reader 2 and book
• Spring 2019: Public experiment (seasonal feast?) & book launch
  
• + continuous online documentation