by Ryan E. Dean

Mission Statement:

The Bird’s Eye View is a network of recycled art installations, constructed on rooftops, in collaboration and support of 350, an international grass-roots organization for the reduction of carbon emissions. Images of the installations will be taken to be spread by use of the media to the general public, raising awareness about global warming. The images send a message of green peace, global solidarity, and a broadened human perspective.

Network of Activists:

The network of activists completing this project is ever expanding, and this is your invitation to become involved in a movement in the direction of a sustainable future for our planet! We must look beyond language barriers and our own scope of shapes, sizes, and colors. We must see, in essence, that all there is is one world…We must see from a BIRD’S EYE VIEW!

What is 350 and What is the Bird’s Eye View?

In order for our planet, and all of its inhabitants, to exist safely, our atmosphere should contain no more than 350 parts per million (ppm) of carbon. This number, 350, has been identified by leading scientists, including Dr. Pachauri, chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, as the number we must work together to obtain. Currently the amount of carbon in the air is 387 ppm and rising, producing detrimental effects on the atmosphere, and our climates. We are in grave danger, and we are all in that danger together. Environmental author, Bill McKibben, has co-founded the international organization, 350 (350.org), to call the world to action on October 24, 2009. 350 encourages us to muster our energy from now until October 24 in producing direct action projects that will showcase the number 350!

As a result, The Bird’s Eye View was created.

In the time leading up to October 24th, people from all over the world will be coordinating their own signs of support in the form of ‘nests’, rooftop installations made of used materials that compose the giant number 350 when viewed from above. The numbers will be laid out across rooftops, and captured through photographs and disseminated to people all over the world by use of various media forms, such as the internet, newspapers, magazines, and television. The goal is to make this project as far reaching as possible, but your help is needed!

Why Should YOU Get Involved?

Our goal is to provide our world with an avenue through which they can express support for the reduction of carbon emissions. By creating these installations on rooftops across the world, we showcase a unified message of support for 350 and the reduction of carbon in the atmosphere to a safe level. The number 350 is effective, because it does not need to be translated and is understood by all people, universally. This allows the project to become a truly global endeavor without altering the message. The placement of the nests will also present a new way of viewing buildings. We are quite familiar with the interior and exteriors of buildings, yet we seldom become acquainted with and often take for granted the rooftop, the part that is always overhead. Similarly, global warming is a problem always looming above our heads, but many of us never acknowledge it all.

Build a Nest of Your Own!

1. Gather Materials (on-going step)
a. Collect anything that can be folded up and laid out flat… tarps, blankets, pool liners, packaging plastics, you name it!
b. Whites and bright colors are best since so many rooftops are darkly colored
c. Gather as much as possible! The bigger, the better!

2. Create a Support Network/Gather Friends
a. Gather your friends, family, co-workers… anyone and everyone can help!
b. Contact your local non-profits. If you’re on a campus, contact student groups for the environment, the arts, activism, and more. This is such a wide spread problem that literally everyone is affected!
c. Get the word out! Send out the emails, post some messages, make some posters and let people know what’s going on!
d. Hunt for materials! The more people looking, the more materials you’ll find! Check out construction sites, organic food stores, farms, etc. More importantly, be creative!

3. Scope out your area!
a. Find the biggest roofs available to you!
b. Keep in mind the visibility… Will the materials be seen in the photograph?
c. Multiple possibilities? Each digit on a separate roof would be great!
d. Finding a good storage room for materials will come in handy!

4. GET PERMISSION
a. *Note this can be tricky here are some words of advice:
i. If you’re on a campus, approach your dean about helping you!
ii. Make a clear plan of action.
iii. Limit the number of people who will be on the roof!
iv. Reduce the amount of time on the roof by preparing the numbers ahead of time!
b. Safety concerns – look into drainage and ventilation issues on your roof!
c. Work with your campus safety dept. or building manager!

5. Pick a Date and Start Advertising
a. Once you have permission… Get the word out!
b. When will you execute the plan? What will your event look like?
c. It doesn’t need to be exactly on the 24th… give yourself +/- 1 week leeway

6. Make a Date!
a. When will the nest go up?
b. When will the photographs be taken?
c. When will the nest come down?

The Scope and Outcomes
Your surrounding community will become more aware of the presence of carbon in the atmosphere by you partaking in this project! You can take a public stance against global warming by joining us in this action!

The impact of this project will come from the sheer size of the network that is carrying this one unified message. With your involvement, we are that much closer to getting media coverage on a local, national, or international scale.

The photos taken will be compiled in order to show the breadth that this project has spanned. If the network is big enough, there is a possibility of utilizing aerial photography and even satellite imaging technology. The sky is the limit!

Google Maps Concept Photo-Illustration

Download the Bird’s Eye View Proposal

CREDITS:

A Project Created by Ryan E. Dean

Dana August
Anthony Belcher
Adam Blythe
Bolsjefabrikken
Tim Chouinard
James Dean
Susan Dean
Rachel Dingman
David Downie
June Finan
Marion Fleurance
David Frassenelli
Holly Gurney
Conor Hogan
Timothy J. Hospodar
Jake Iselin
Elizabeth Jabar
Franke James
David Jones
Alan Cavo Kiernich
Carol Kiunga
Winnie Kiunga
Naoki Kakuta
Binit Malla
Valdemar Markussen
Enrica Marciano
Laura Marie Marciano
Bianca Martirossian
Stephanie Mcguinness
Megan McNally
Scott Mickey
Allie Nunes
Saybel Nunez
Kolya Orekhova
Svitlana Orekhova
Svitlana Orekhova
Arta Osmanaj
James Packard
Eliza Perry
James Reese
Alex Roem
Reversegarbage
Maryli Tiemann
Francesco Vivan
Carissa Welton
Gail Yanku
Max Yanku
Iris Yee
350 team

With gratitude for assistance with the September 2009 Proposal: Anthony Belcher, Laura Marie Marciano 350; Bill McKibben, May Boeve, Bates College, and Fairfield University September 2009

Google Map: © 2009 Google – Imagery © 2009 Digital Globe, First Base Solutions, GeoEye, Map data © 2009 Google, Tele Atlas; Photo-Illustration: Bird’s Eye Google Maps Concept by Franke James

Comments (1)