Exhibition examines intersection of waste, environment, human impact

Art piece.

Christy Rupp, Boom or Bust, recreated 2024. Collage. Courtesy of the artist.

By EMILY REYNOLDS, originally published in UBNow

Published September 20, 2024

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“Runoff,” a major exhibition by eco-artist and citizen-scientist Christy Rupp, will be on view Sept. 28 through March 9 at the UB Anderson Gallery and the Buffalo Museum of Science, marking a significant collaboration between the two institutions.

Opening receptions will be held from 5-8 p.m. Sept. 28 at both the Anderson Gallery and the science museum.

In “Runoff,” Rupp delves into the intersection of waste, environment and human impact. Featuring environmental sculptures and graphics from the late 1970s to the present,

the exhibition debuts an oversized pipeline installation that disrupts the Anderson Gallery’s atrium, pointing toward our dependence on fossil fuels, even in spaces of culture and learning.

At the Buffalo Museum of Science, site-specific interventions and digital murals depict threatened species and their habitats, sparking dialogue about climate change and ecological sustainability.

Rupp, a Buffalo native, is known for her pioneering work in ecological art activism. Using discarded materials in multiple media, her work highlights the interconnectedness of waste streams and ecosystems. Her work has been exhibited and collected globally, addressing urgent environmental issues through innovative, playful and thought-provoking art.

The exhibition will feature educational programming, including panel discussions with UB faculty and local artists, as well as an interactive survey at the Buffalo Museum of Science — all aiming to engage and inspire the community.

sdg.

6. Clean water and sanitation

12. Responsible consumption and production

13. Climate action

15. Life on land