Coltura (organization)

Coltura is an American environmental activist group based in Seattle, Washington.[1] The group promotes environmental policies and produces cultural works aimed at ending America's use of gasoline. Coltura has produced several works critical of gasoline use which have been presented in cities in the United States and Canada. The organization advocates for policies to phase out the sales of new gasoline-powered vehicles by 2030.[2]

Coltura
Founded2014 (2014)
FounderMatthew Metz
TypeNonprofit
Location
Key people
Matthew Metz (Co-director)
Janelle London (Co-director)
Websitewww.coltura.org

History

Founding

Coltura was founded in 2014 by Matthew Metz, an attorney in Seattle, Washington.[3] Coltura's name comes from an amalgamation of CO2, the chemical formula for carbon dioxide, and the word culture.[4][5] The organization was founded as a nonprofit with a mission of "eliminating gasoline use in America by 2040".[6] Metz serves as co-director of the organization along with Janelle London.[7]

Art events

Coltura has staged street theatre and performance art in a tradition akin to commedia dell'arte.[5] In September 2016, Coltura staged performances at gas stations, public events, and streets in Seattle to raise awareness about pollution-emitting gasoline vehicles. The performances were inspired by the strategies employed by the Colombian politician Antanas Mockus, who as mayor of Bogotá hired mimes to poke fun at drivers who drove past pedestrian crosswalks.[5] Coltura performed at Seattle Design Festival, where they displayed an art installation[3] as well as performing at the First Thursday Art Walk and Bumbershoot. Actors billed as "gasoline ghosts", carrying gasoline hoses and nozzles and dressed in white leotards, drew attention to the air pollution and greenhouse gases created by gasoline use. The "ghosts" showed their affection for gasoline, and comedically chased down cars to inhale their exhaust.[3][5]

In October 2016, Coltura staged a procession entitled Funeral for Gasoline as part of No Gasoline Day, in which actors carried a casket containing a fuel nozzle from the Space Needle to Downtown Seattle.[3][5] Coltura won the 2017 Sustainable Seattle Arts and Culture Award for their No Gasoline Day performance and "for helping change cultural norms about the use of gasoline through mobile and interactive live performance, social media, and imagery and videos challenging the cultural status quo."[8]

In June 2017, the group exhibited The Gas Trap, a 25-foot high clear vinyl bubble connected to the tailpipe of a gasoline-powered car, accompanied by a theatrical piece. The work was a collaboration between Metz, Samaj, the Seattle Design Nerds, Alyssa Norling and Grace Orr.[9][10] During the performance first staged in Westlake Park in Seattle, the performers appeared to be trapped inside and gasping for breath as artificial smoke filled the bubble.[6] The performance was staged again in Canada on September 10 at the Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Centre in Vancouver, British Columbia.[9][11]

Coltura held a mural contest in 2017 and collaborated with the artist Craig Cundiff to produce a large mural in the industrial Georgetown district of Seattle. It depicts a boy wearing a mask over his mouth and nose, with a view of Seattle's congested highways, hazy sky and setting orange sun in the background.[12]

Coltura’s gas ghosts and gasoline video have also received widespread publicity.[13][14]

Recharge Required report

On June 1, 2018, Coltura released a report, named Recharge Required, on the status of the State of Washington's varies agencies adherence to a 2007 law[15] requiring "vehicles in government fleets to run on electricity or biofuel… 'to the extent practicable'".[16] According to the report, in contrast to the 100% adherence set as the goal by the deadline on June 1, 2015, less than 6% of vehicles in use by county and city agencies[17] and 2% of the state's motor pool meet this goal.[16] In Washington State, Coltura’s Recharge Required report spurred legislative appropriation of $450,000 to study public fleet electrification.

Legislative efforts

In March 2020, Coltura led a coalition to pass Zero Emissions Vehicle legislation in Washington State.[18][19][20]

Coltura also led a coalition that introduced Washington State legislation mandating that all new cars sold be electric by 2030,[21][22] – thereby effectively banning sales of new gasoline vehicles.[23][24]

gollark: But not really.
gollark: True is 1 and False is 0, see.
gollark: Yes, that is known.
gollark: You're welcome.
gollark: ++remind 2y <@!290323543558717441> "never [to] be a women born into imperial China"

References
  1. "Menlo Park is the launch site of the No-Gasoline movement". In Menlo. 2017-12-18. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
  2. Monson, Dori (2017-10-04). "Advocate wants to force out gas cars in Washington in 2030". KIRO Radio 97.3 FM. Retrieved 2018-01-27.
  3. Smith, Rich (2016-09-27). "Can Performance Art Fight Climate Change?". The Stranger. Retrieved 2018-01-26.
  4. Westneat, Danny (2017-09-29). "He knows it's crazy, but this Seattle guy is pushing a total ban on gas cars". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2018-01-26.
  5. Kiley, Brendan (2016-09-06). "Seattle street clowns aim to provoke smiles, change hearts on gasoline use". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2018-01-26.
  6. Spain, Monica (2017-05-31). "This Inflatable Bubble Fills With Smoke. What Happens Next Is Art, Or A Guilt Trip". KNKX. Retrieved 2018-01-26.
  7. "Opinion: Yes! Ban sales of new gas fueled vehicles in California by 2040". East Bay Times. 2017-10-04. Retrieved 2018-11-09.
  8. Robison, Rita R. (2017-03-10). "Sustainable Seattle names 2017 award winners, citing region's advances in sustainability". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved 2018-01-27.
  9. McKenzie-Sutter, Holly (2017-08-29). "The Gas Trap takes a dramatic look at the consequences of gasoline use". Georgia Straight. Vancouver, British Columbia. Retrieved 2018-01-27.
  10. "Waiting to Inhale". City Arts Magazine. 2017-06-26. Retrieved 2018-01-27.
  11. Zeschky, Jan (2017-09-07). "Gas Trap: Bursting the carbon bubble". Vancouver Courier. Retrieved 2018-01-27.
  12. Rietmulder, Michael (2017-11-17). "New Georgetown Protest Mural Takes on Climate Change, South Seattle Air Pollution". Seattle Magazine. Retrieved 2018-01-27.
  13. "Gas Ghosts at Global Climate Action Summit". KRON San Francisco (TV). 2018-09-13. Retrieved 2020-04-04.
  14. "Gas Ghosts at Global Climate Action Summit". Univision San Francisco (TV). 2018-09-13. Retrieved 2020-04-04.
  15. Editorial Board (2018-06-10). "Local governments ignoring law on electric cars". The Daily Herald. Retrieved 2018-06-18.
  16. Ryan, John (2018-06-01). "Gas-guzzling cities, state blow past deadline for electric vehicles". KUOW News. Retrieved 2018-06-18.
  17. Bernton, Hal (2018-06-03). "Washington law ordered public agencies to buy electric cars. They're falling short, report says". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2018-06-18.
  18. "Automakers Required to Sell More Electric Vehicles Under New Legislation in Washington State". Seattle Times. 2020-03-09. Retrieved 2020-04-04.
  19. "Electric Cars Get a Boost in Olympia but Broader Climate-Rescue Legislation Withers". Investigate West. 2020-03-09. Retrieved 2020-04-04.
  20. "WA lawmakers pave the way for electric cars but activists want more". Crosscut. 2020-03-10. Retrieved 2020-04-04.
  21. "Washington State to Conduct EV Analysis for All Public Fleets". Government Fleet. 2019-05-07. Retrieved 2020-04-04.
  22. "Washington law ordered public agencies to buy electric cars. They're falling short, report says". Seattle Times. 2018-06-03. Retrieved 2020-04-04.
  23. "Gasoline car bans: EV savior or 'stupid' idea?". E&E News. 2020-02-14. Retrieved 2020-04-04.
  24. "Banning gas cars? It's a 'fringe crazy bill' no longer". Seattle Times. 2020-02-05. Retrieved 2020-04-04.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.