Charlie Cannon of Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) traveled to the democratic convention this week to present Dialog:City, creative methods for sustainable living and working. Cannon is a professor at RISD and with the help of students and colleagues, has put together an exhibition featuring projects from all parts of the globe that provide examples of environmentally responsible actions.

The program works to generate awareness and discussion around each topic. In fact, it extends beyond a presentation of scientific facts and figures into an “arts and cultural event that catalyzes civic discourse by inviting internationally renowned artists and designers to create participatory, interactive, and dialogical site-specific works.” This art is not abstract, but is open for interpretation and thoughts on how to take the many sustainable ideas back to local governments for implementation.

The exhibits have been strategically placed nearby the democratic convention in hopes of generating awareness about sustainable projects and initiatives that mitigate climate change. Project topics include agriculture, land use and energy use. Specific projects featured include a green roof project in New York, carbon offsets in California, and a green building in Colorado. The democratic convention is also working to be the greenest convention in history; Dialog:City helps to meet those goals by educating delegates about sustainable communities.

Cannon’s students at RISD have helped formulate these exhibits as well. It all began with when Cannon assigned students the task of designing methods to reduce carbon emissions globally. Students then collaborated on which projects represented sustainable actions and would generate dialog.

Not only is the exhibit meant to stimulate discussion for Democratic delegates, but also for the general public. To interest passersby, the project exhibit boards are setup in a “festival-like” format in Pepsi Center so that each project can be viewed via a tour of the grounds. To learn more about each project, the public can attend scheduled sessions that deliver details about each project.

More than exhibiting these projects is a simultaneous opportunity with the democratic movement to bring about change. Change and theories for change are echoing in Denver and throughout the nation. Some of these changes should and will be about sustainability. Change in the way we operate as a country at home and abroad. Change in how we relate to the environment at work and at home. Change in how we protect our natural resources and our wildlife. Change in how we build our future so that it reflects our American dreams.

Image courtesy Dialog:City