After a special showing of The Plastic Bag Store, join artist Robin Frohardt, MASS MoCA Director Kristy Edmunds, and Jenny Gitlitz from Beyond Plastics, who will delve into critical topics surrounding policy research and strategies to support the eradication of single-use plastics. Frohardt, creator of The Plastic Bag Store, will share her unique perspective on the topic as an artist steeped in environmental activism, alongside Edmunds and Gitlitz, a leading advocate for plastic pollution reduction. This program promises insights into the intersection of art, policy, and environmental sustainability. Don’t miss the opportunity to be part of a conversation aimed at shaping a sustainable future!

RSVP to secure your place, and join us in exploring actionable solutions towards a plastic-free world.

About the Speakers:
Kristy Edmunds is a noted curator, producer, artist, and arts leader and was appointed Director of MASS MoCA in October 2021 following a national search. Since then, Edmunds has proven to be a thoughtful listener in the effort to gain a deep understanding of the museum and the community at large, and a strategic thinker in laying the groundwork for MASS MoCA’s bold future. In her first 2+ years, she has made catalytic shifts in programming, led an inclusive strategic planning process, and attracted significant funding for new initiatives including The Plastic Bag Store, which begins a conversation about the museum’s role in an environmentally sustainable future.

Robin Frohardt is an award-winning theater and film director known for her rich aesthetic and highly detailed constructions. Her narrative-based film, puppetry, and sculpture, use recognizable materials, often trash, to create richly detailed worlds that make magic of the mundane and highlight the trivialities of daily life. Her theatrical work has earned her a Guggenheim Fellowship, a Creative Capital Award, and multiple Jim Henson Foundation Grants. Her play The Pigeoning, hailed by The New York Times as “a tender, fantastical symphony of the imagination,” debuted in 2013 and continues to tour at home and abroad. Her follow-up project The Plastic Bag Store premiered in Times Square in 2020 and has since toured to Los Angeles, Chicago, Adelaide, Austin, and now North Adams. Her films have been official selections at The Telluride Film Festival, Aspen Shortsfest, the One Earth Film Festival, and BAM.

Jenny Gitlitz is an alumna of U.C. Berkeley’s Energy and Resources Group and a recipient of the Switzer environmental fellowship. She has spent more than 30 years developing programs and conducting research, analysis, and legislative advocacy around recycling, waste reduction, and green materials. She has written and spoken widely about the success of beverage container deposit laws, and has been active in many state campaigns. Prior to joining Beyond Plastics, Jenny spearheaded the Beverage Market Data Analysis, the Container Recycling Institute’s signature product. At Beyond Plastics, Jenny works with activists and policymakers all over the country to advocate for waste reduction laws. A Berkshires resident, she enjoys canoeing and cross-country skiing.