After months of endless debate, brainstorming, and research, we have launched our first edition of One Hundred Days, an international competition for emerging and undiscovered talent worldwide. The competition is open to artists working within the realm of Visual and Installation Art and challenges artists to create and propose a project inspired by the principles of sustainability.

Why 100 DAYS? 

Because the first 100 days of any new initiative are traditionally considered a measuring stick for success and….because the winners will have the opportunity to display their artwork for a total of 100 days of exhibition in New York City.

Why Sustainability?

Because we believe in the need to create imagery that ultimately hits the public consciousness with the seriousness of climate change, and its impact into our lives,  and the need for a systemic shift in our economic and industrial model.

As a practitioner in the sustainability field for many years, I am painfully aware of the general public lack of understanding of the nature of climate change risk not to mention the wide-spread skepticism about whether human activities have a play on it. Needless to say, deeper investigation often reveals that such denial is usually fostered by powerful interests.

Yet, even among rational and informed experts, the traditional narrative generally focuses on the impact of our actions on the planet while forgetting to convey that once the ecosystem we depend on is gone it is our health, our lifestyle and, in the worst scenario, our survival that are at stake.

Let’s get this straight. Earth will survive climate change, humanity most likely will not…at least, not in its current shape.

Continuing on the current carbon emissions path means average global temperatures would increase by 4.0 to 5.6 Celsius degrees by 2090. Brazil, much of Canada, parts of the U.S., Siberia and Central Europe would be eight degrees warmer than in the past 50 years, computer models show. Rainfall in the north will increase but wet tropics will become 20 percent drier.

What would the world look like when it is four degrees warmer? It will likely mean one to two billion people will not have access to adequate fresh water because of the major shift in rainfall patterns. Up to 15 percent of existing or potential cropland – and 40 percent in Africa – will become too dry and too hot for food production and….I could go on for several paragraphs but you get the gist!

Your Challenge is….

To awake the collective moral imagination so the general public can begin to comprehend the change that will be forced upon us if we don’t take action now. Think about a world 4.0 Celsius degrees warmer. Nothing like an image has the power to rouse consciousness and consciousness is what we need to challenge the status quo.

You can tackle the challenge following three different directions, based on the traditional three pillars of sustainability – planet, people, and profit, also defined as environmental, social, and economic principles. Be audacious, Be provocative, Be vibrant. We can’t wait to see what the end results will be!

Please explore the competition website for more details on rules, guidelines, submission fees, our prestigious jury and the final awards of course.

Finally, stay tuned for more 100 DAYS updates including tips, testimonials, upcoming sponsorship, the appointment of two new jurors and additional awards to come. Good luck!

ELENA AVESANI, CONTAMINATE NYC EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Co-Founder and Executive Director of Contaminate NYC, LLC, Elena has worked as Product Manager at Oracle America for more than ten years specializing in Supply Chain Management, Customer Relationship Management, and eCommerce software applications. In 2005, while continuing her work with Oracle, she moved from San Francisco to New York City to attend Columbia University’s Master in International and Public Affairs, graduating in 2007. In 2008, she met Alessandro Spreafico and together they founded Contaminate NYC. A seasoned multi-tasker, Elena passionately fulfills her duties at Contaminate NYC while also working as Strategy Manager at Oracle America focusing on Technology Solutions for Sustainability and Environmental Issues. Elena also holds a Master in Management and Business Engineering at the Politecnico of Milan, Italy.