Listening as activism. Cooperation. Multispecies research. Anthropocene. Mutations. Climate crisis. Eco-grief. Wisdom keepers. Taking turns with Earth.
Since 2018, The Witness has brought together transdisciplinary groups of artists, scientists, and activists from around the world who are collaborating with their local communities to listen to our imperiled planet. As the year unfolds, the groups meet regularly to share their fieldwork and to deepen their connections and collaborative potential with the communities. They also post photo, audio, and video fragments to give voice to these communities and the wisdom they impart on living in harmony with the Earth. In 2023, our focus turns to East Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa, and Europe. All Witness projects implore us to notice what may disappear forever, as well as to build, with urgency, greater caregiving for our non-human kin.
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What is heard is changed by listening and changes the listener.
— Pauline Oliveros
In 1989, legendary composer Pauline Oliveros created The Witness, a text score for listening, attuning, and responding to the sounds within and around us. The score, along with Oliveros’ philosophies of community and collaboration and the practice of Deep Listening®, have inspired this project, also named The Witness, and our researchers.
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Inside the word "emergency" is "emerge"; from an emergency new things come forth. The old certainties are crumbling fast, but danger and possibility are sisters.
— Rebecca Solnit