The US Pavilion at the 18th International Architecture Exhibition in Venice is showcasing a project called Everlasting Plastics, curated by SPACES, a Cleveland-based arts organization. The first part of this project, titled Sketches on Everlasting Plastics, aims to explore the diverse ways plastic has become an integral part of our lives.
Instead of taking a clear stance for or against plastic, the project seeks to delve into our complex connections with this material. It aims to understand how plastic affects our lives, our cultures, and our environment, both in terms of harm and potential benefits for our collective future.
Sketches on Everlasting Plastics emphasizes collaboration between institutions, disciplines, and different forms of expression. It's not just a book or an exhibition but an interactive experience meant to spark a broader conversation about plastic and its impact on our society. Through this project, a new way of understanding plastic and its significance begins to take shape.
Edited by Isabelle Kirkham-Lewitt and Joanna Joseph of Columbia Books on Architecture and the City, the publication includes contributions by Tizziana Baldenebro, Kristen Bos, K. Jake Chakasim, Sky Cubacub, Heather Davis, Jennifer Gabrys, Stephanie Ginese, Aurelia Guo, Adam Hanieh, Ilana Harris-Babou, Zakiyyah Iman Jackson, Carolyn L. Kane, Laleh Khalili, Anjuli Fatima Raza Kolb, Naa Oyo A. Kwate, Esther Leslie, Lauren Leving, Ani Liu, Adie Mitchell, Timothy Mitchell, Gabrielle Printz, Kyla Schuller, Terry Schwarz, Pallavi Sen, Ayesha A. Siddiqi, and RA Washington.