“Lungs of the Sea Forest”

"Lungs of the Sea Forest" is an immersive experience. Featuring a site-specific kelp installation and two films, the showcase operates at the intersection of art, science, and activism. This conceptual framework revalues nonlinear systems, holistic connections, and equitable processes, challenging the prevailing hierarchical structures in both society and the environment.

Artist Kalie Granier transforms the entire gallery space into a colossal kelp nest, inviting the audience to immerse themselves in hundreds of pieces that have been collected from beaches in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties over the last three years. The concept aims to reconnect individuals with seaweed, offering a presentation of living beings intricately interwoven into their environment.

This exhibition is in partnership with Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History and will feature an Artist Talk and discussion of environmental impacts on species. This indigenous plant is historically so significant.. This is a topic the artist has been working with for many years and with indigenous communities.