Retooling: Art, Ecology, and Climate Adaptation

September 22 - October 11 2026 MESH_ARTS at The Old American Can Factory, 232 3rd St. #C302 Brooklyn, NY 11215 Exhibition opening hours Thu/Fri/Sat 1-6pm Retooling is a three-week exhibition and public program featuring talks and community workshops. Featured artists and speakers: Alex Nathanson, Casey Ivanovich, Denise Lanzieri, Edward Morris, Esteban Agosin, Frederick Bernas & Nico Munoz, Geshe Wurfel, Joaquin Fargas, Katie Fisher, Laura Splan, Luis Medina, Mari Nagem, Marina Komiya, Mary Mattingly, Morakana, Peter Yeadon & SPARK IP, Thiago Hersan. Curated by: Elena Soterakis (BioBAT Art Space), Isabella Indolfi & Paige King (MESH_ARTS) What happens when artwork shifts from representing ecological problems to functioning as an ecological tool? Artists working across disciplines to engage with ecological challenges are creating tools that expand how we understand and respond to climate change. During Climate Week NYC and for the following two weeks, MESH_ARTS, in collaboration with BioBAT Art Space, presents an exhibition highlighting innovative practices that have generated tools around shade equity, atmospheric adaptation (transforming sunlight into water), and other creative conversions that help aid. The exhibition considers artistic practice as a way for building ecological infrastructure and public pedagogy, where interdisciplinary collaboration gives rise to new forms of environmental literacy and civic imagination. The exhibition will be accompanied by public talks and community workshops. This program demonstrates how creative collaboration can cultivate environmental literacy, build shared infrastructure, and connect artistic practice with climate action. Artists working across disciplines to engage with ecological challenges are creating tools that expand how we understand and respond to climate change. They’re repositioning the focus from artist as producer to artist as facilitator, educator, and infrastructure builder. Increasingly, these interdisciplinary practices have generated new forms of collective knowledge, action, and tool-making. Through collaborations across art, science, engineering, and technology, they transform empirical research into new ways of operating. These artists work with natural forces rather than simply represent them. Embedded in their practice is a bridge to speculative propositions, learning, and possible futures. Their creative outcomes are ecological, accessible, and pedagogical, generating tangible tools that foster connective participation and action. PUBLIC PROGRAM Tuesday 22 Sep 6:00-9:00pm _ Exhibition opening Saturday 26 Sep 4:00-5:00pm _ Talk: Mari Nagem (artist) + Denise Lanzieri (astrophysicist and associate researcher at Sony CSL) + Thiago Hersan (Assistant Professor of Data Visualization at Parsons School of Design) 5:30-6:30pm _ Talk: Joaquin Fargas (artist) + Casey Ivanovich (scientist) + Frederick Bernas & Nico Munoz Sunday 27 Sep 12:00 - 1:30pm _ Workshop with Alex Nathanson 3:00-7:00pm _ Lightning Presentations (Alex Nathanson + Laura Splan + Marina Komiya + Katie Fisher + Geshe Wurfel) Sunday 4 Oct 4:00-5:00pm _ Talk: Esteban Agosin (artist) + Luis Medina (scientist) 5:30-6:30pm _ Talk: Morakana (artist) Sunday 11 Oct 4:00-5:00pm _ Talk: Peter Yeadon & SPARK IP 5:30-6:30pm _ Talk: Edward Morris (artist) + Mary Mattingly (artist) 6:30 - 9:00pm _ Closing reception info@meshartcenter.net https://www.meshartcenter.org/ https://www.biobatartspace.com/ About the co-organizers: MESH_ ARTS (@mesh_art_center) is a cultural hub where Art meets Research, Technology, and Science. Based in Brooklyn, they operate as a curated network and ecosystem that connects organizations, artists, curators, researchers, engineers, activists, makers, and thinkers across disciplines and geographies. Through peer-led public programming, including exhibitions, talks, and workshops, they foster inquisitive practices and expand critical conversations on the role of art today and the impacts of technology on society and the environment. MESH_ARTS is currently, incubating at the Old American Can Factory, in Gowanus, Brooklyn, within a dynamic community of cultural practitioners. BioBAT Art Space (@biobat.artspace) is an artist-run gallery dedicated to the intersection of Art and Science. Their vision is to advance the art of interdisciplinary creativity through cutting-edge research, art exhibitions, the production of artworks, artist residencies, education, and community engagements. BioBAT Art Space catalyzes and promotes creative experimentation in art and science through exhibitions, artist residencies, educational programs, and free cultural events in an underserved part of NYC. The Old American Can Factory is an historic, six-building, 130,000 SF industrial complex in Gowanus, Brooklyn, housing a curated community of more than 350 persons including, artisans/fabricators, visual/performing artists, poets/writers/publishers, filmmakers/theater-makers, architects/designers, educators and others working in the culture industry. The (OA) Can Factory was planned & developed by XØ Projects Inc.