As we navigate the early decades of a new epoch defined by measurable human imprint on the earth, the question of how we will reconcile our behavior with the evidence of its catastrophic effects is yet to be answered. With her works on sustainability, contemporary US artist Mary Mattingly examines how we can connect and reconnect to Earth.

Life on Earth depends upon clean air and water, biodiversity, and a stable climate. These global commons--the ecosystems and processes that regulate the stability of the Earth system--are the foundation of human life, economy, and society. As a visual artist, Mattingly is a messenger for ways we can value these commons which makes her work uttermost topical and important. This comprehensive publication features an extensive overview of her installations and performances, including among others Swale, an edible landscape on a barge in New York City.