INDIANAPOLIS -- On Nov. 6, the Herron School of Art and Design at IU Indianapolis will open "Actions for the Earth: Art, Care & Ecology," a traveling exhibition that considers how artistic practices use kinship, healing, and restorative intervention to foster a deeper consciousness of our interconnectedness with the earth.
Curated by Sharmila Wood and produced by Independent Curators International (ICI), "Actions for the Earth" presents the work of intergenerational artists and collectives whose work responds to the overlapping global crises of our time—climate change, social inequity, and public health—while placing action, instruction, reciprocity, and exchange at the forefront of their practices.
For decades, artists have challenged oppressive systems and fostered deeper understanding of the interdependence between nature, health, and sustainability. “Actions for the Earth” continues this legacy, showcasing participatory interventions and healing practices informed by ecology, science, and ancestral knowledge. Through installations, performances, and research-based projects, the exhibition invites audiences to engage with art as a catalyst for transformation.
Herron Galleries’ presentation of Actions for the Earth features Indianapolis-based artists Stephanie Barlow and Shamira Wilson, whose practices ground the exhibition’s global themes in the Midwest through explorations of humanity’s relationship with the natural world via material inquiry, ritual, and research-based processes.
The featured works honor ancestral traditions, elevate Indigenous knowledge systems, and explore speculative futures through science fiction and network sciences—organic, digital, and spiritual. Visitors are encouraged to participate in activities such as instruction-based meditation and deep listening, emphasizing themes of learning, reciprocity, and intimate care.
Curated as a living resource, "Actions for the Earth" extends beyond the gallery walls, inspiring reflection and action in everyday life. The exhibition underscores our shared responsibility to nurture both global and local environments, reminding us that we are part of a vast constellation of living networks.
Featured in the travelling exhibition, "Actions for the Earth" participating artists and collectives include Ackroyd and Harvey, Lhola Amira, Arahmaiani, Sayan Chanda, Hylozoic/Desires (Himali Singh Soin & David Soin Tappeser), lololol, Ana Mendieta, Zarina Muhammad, Patrina Mununggurr, Pauline Oliveros, Yoko Ono, Tabita Rezaire, Eric-Paul Riege, Mithu Sen, Cecilia Vicuña, Katie West, and Zheng Bo.
Visit herron.indianapolis.iu.edu/afte for more information on the exhibition and related programs.
"Actions for the Earth" will be on view in the Berkshire, Reese, and Paul Galleries and the Marsh Gallery of Eskenazi Hall through January 17, 2026. Lead funding is provided by the Hartfield Foundation as part of an initiative to support ICI’s commitment to new curatorial voices who will shape the future of the field, and ICI’s Curatorial Intensive alumni as they move through the stages of their career. “Actions for the Earth” is made possible with the generous support of ICI’s Board of Trustees and International Forum.
The Great Frame up provides complimentary parking in the Sports Complex Garage adjacent to Eskenazi Hall or on levels 5 and 6 of the Riverwalk Garage, with validation from the galleries. Aloft Indianapolis Downtown makes accommodations for Herron's visiting artists possible.
