Our Forum Artists this year are Matt Shara and Patrick Robertson, both seniors at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, where Matt is majoring in Architecture and Pat is majoring in Liberal Arts and Engineering Studies program. An explanation for their artwork follows below;

When we began to talk concept for the artwork for the In2:InThinking Network's 2012 Forum, we started with the words leadership, initiative, and making a difference. We talked about each word individually, independent from context. We talked about what each word meant to us and what each word means in itself. What does it mean to be a leader, to take initiative, to actually make a difference. This exercise was not excessive, but rather revealing. These observations soon related to our own experiences at the 2010 and 2011 Forums. What does it mean to participate in the Forum, how can art not only capture, but also augment these qualities through the expression of the words driving the 2012 event? Soon a similarity was seen... Leadership, initiative, and making a difference all require action! The artwork does not symbolize action in itself, but rather our current position, our potential to act.

In our current position we can see a beautiful future, filled with whatever colors we wish, all blending vibrantly together. There is still a gap, however, between where we stand and the future's manifestation, and in this gap are the forms for us to fit together. They swim in the sea of (mass) ubiquity, following currents around and around. These currents are businesses, they are schools, institutions, and governments; these currents are people. We are people, waiting to work together, waiting to be directed through collaboration, waiting to build reciprocal relationships able enough to connect the pieces of our brightest, most vibrant future. Together we have the potential to act, together we have the potential to lead and take the initiative to make a difference!

Forums Home Page