ELIZABETH MONOIAN
Elizabeth Monoian (MFA, Carnegie Mellon University) is the founding co-director of the Land Art Generator Initiative (LAGI), an organization that is developing global partnerships between private and public entities around interdisciplinary projects that address issues of climate and sustainability through the lens of creativity. She works closely with cities, universities, corporations, arts organizations, and community groups to design customized approaches to renewable energy installations. Elizabeth has published, exhibited, and presented globally on the aesthetics of renewable energy and the role of art in providing solutions to climate change.
The Land Art Generator works with communities around the world to design installations that actively support climate solutions by integrating sustainable infrastructure as the medium for creative and cultural expression. Through open design competitions for Dubai, Abu Dhabi, New York City, Copenhagen, Santa Monica, Melbourne, and Nevada the Land Art Generator has inspired thousands of designs from around the world. Participatory design projects include Land Art Generator Solar Mural artworks in San Antonio, co-designing culturally relevant clean energy solutions with Maasai women in Olorgesailie Kenya, working with West Virginia coal miners on destination energy landscapes, and more.
Her publications include The Time is Now: Public Art of the Sustainable City (Page One Publishing), Regenerative Infrastructures (Prestel Publishing), New Energies (Prestel Publishing), Powering Places (Prestel Publishing), Energy Overlays (Hirmer Publishing), Return to the Source (Prestel Publishing), Land Art of the 21st Century (Hirmer Publishing) and A Field Guide to Renewable Energy Technologies.
Partners and supporters of LAGI include Masdar Abu Dhabi, City of New York, NYC Department of Parks & Recreation, City of Copenhagen, European Union Commission on Climate Action, City of Santa Monica, J.M. Kaplan Fund, National Endowment for the Arts, Capital Region of Denmark, Danish Design Centre, US Green Building Council, the City of Glasgow, the State of Victoria, Carbon Arts, Creative Carbon Scotland, Climarte, Burning Man Project, Arizona State University, and many others.
Which are your favourite emerging cultural cities and why?
While there is rightly a lot of focus on what is happening culturally in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, everything about Oman—just a few hours drive away—delights me. The Mutrah Souk in Muscat, dhow trips to swim with dolphins and drink tea in Musandam, camping on the coast of Salalah, hiking up Jebel Shams to shop for locally woven rugs, witnessing deep human history at the 5,000 year old Beehive Tombs in Bat, exploring Nizwa and the surrounding villages—a trip through Oman will always offer authenticity, adventure, and new friendships.
Tell us about a cultural project with great potential for social impact.
A project we are deeply involved in and that we honestly can say is one to watch over the next few years is the regenerative development of Fly Ranch as a cultural destination. In 2020, thousands of creative minds responded to the LAGI 2020 Fly Ranch design challenge, a partnership with Burning Man Project who owns Fly Ranch just a few miles from Black Rock City. The regenerative artwork proposals for that unique and sublime landscape will be implemented over the coming years, providing a truly sustainable cultural destination, a venue like no other for open creative exploration and experimentation.
What has been your most memorable recent cultural experience?
I had the transcendent experience of full moon kayaking with good friends at the Louvre Abu Dhabi just before the pandemic caused the global shutdown. It was pure magic.
Describe the perfect cultural day in your city.
I’m currently based in a condo in Seattle overlooking Elliot Bay and I never get tired of tourist activities in the Emerald City. Perfection is starting the day in the Pike Place Market, just as the produce stands are opening, fresh flowers are being delivered to their stalls, and the line is forming in front of the original Starbucks. Next up is getting pastries from Three Girls Bakery and walking to the beachfront (Centennial Park) just below the Olympic Sculpture Garden to have a morning picnic while watching the cargo ships come into port. From there a walk along the waterfront towards the Ferry Terminal is a must. Stopping into Ye Olde Curiosity Shop is always on the agenda before checking out what is on at the Seattle Art Museum.