JAMES LEONARD, THE TENT OF CASUALLY OBSERVED PHENOLOGIES
in front of ADA gallery (or inside in case of rain)
Saturday July 23, 2016 (12-6pm)
228 W. Broad St., Richmond, Va. 23220
It can be hard to face a future we fear. Divination has been used by cultures throughout the world to help people navigate difficult futures. Artist James Leonard adapted Tarot cards to help others process what he calls “overwhelming climate anxiety.”
This summer he’s traveling the country, making one-day stops to give climate change divinatory readings inside a special, hand-sewn tent. The tent’s exterior looks like a cross between a post-apocalyptic wigwam and a children’s blanket fort. The rainbow interior is made of brightly colored recycled clothing. Detailed tea-colored ink paintings of different plant and animal species—each reportedly affected by climate change are pinned to the outside.
James Leonard is an internationally exhibited artist based in Brooklyn, NY. He recently finished a 2016 artist residency at MASS MoCA. In 2015, he was artist-in-residence at the Boston Center for the Arts. On July 23 from noon – 6 pm, Leonard will be in his tent in front of ada gallery offering free climate change readings.
This project invites the general public to consider their own rapidly changing landscapes. Readings last approximately 15 minutes each, on a first-come, first-served basis.
