“Otsego 2000 Presents” Video Discussion Series
As part of a grant from the Creatives Rebuild NY Teaching Artist Collaboration, Brooklyn artist Chris Carr has been working with Otsego 2000. He has created the discussion series “Otsego 2000 Presents,” available on the Otsego 2000 YouTube Channel.
“I interview various people - some of whom live in Otsego County with a goal of amplifying voices as well as people from outside at Otsego County, with a goal of sharing best practices, and information that can inspire or inform viewers, “says Carr. “Hopefully the discourse will generate questions and further inquiry.”
“Chris brings lots of passion from a number of sources to our project: the commitment of the environmentalist, the creativity of the artist, and the perspective of an urbanite who "gets" the rural sensibility,” says Dan Sullivan, Otsego 2000 board member. “With his unique ability to engage and draw people into participation, it’s a winning combination.”
Featured in the “Otsego 2000 Presents” series are: Kathy Woughter, Philanthropy & Outreach Coordinator at the Adirondack Land Trust; Dr. Tatiana Height, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for the Family Forest Carbon Program at the American Forest Foundation; Cherise Tolbert, Development and Communications Manager at Otsego Land Trust; Sass Peress, renewable energy entrepreneur; and Alyssa Portaro, sustainability consultant.
Carr said the discussions touch on how their lives intersect with nature, the outdoors, conservation, and social justice. The discussion series can be viewed at www.youtube.com/@Otsego2000NY. New interviews will be added in the coming weeks.
“With this discussion series, we hope to advance and inspire discussions on a range of issues central to Otsego 2000’s work,” says Executive Director Ellen Pope. “It builds on what we do with Glimmerglass Film Days and will inform our environmental stewardship work as well as Otsego Outdoors and the Cooperstown Farmers’ Market.”
Chris Carr is a New York-based multidisciplinary conceptual artist, photographer, emcee, educator and instrumentalist. In 2010, he founded Brooklyn Wildlife, a creative arts incubator specializing in independent art and music. He hosts podcasts and interview series and has organized hundreds of live events and performances. He has spent 20 years playing music and has toured more than half the country. Along with Melissa Hunter Gurney, he co-founded the art space "Gamba", the GAMBAZine publication, and Black Land Ownership. He leads Diversity and Inclusion workshops and developed Curating the Classroom to help schools deactivate systemic oppression.