The Ecology/Art Expedition Survey, Phase 1, Sonoma County, California
March 17 2002

The Expedition was organised by Nils Norman in collaboration with Oakland based artists Scott Constable and Ene Osteraas-Constable for the exhibition Utopia Now (and Then), Sonoma County Museum, Santa Rosa, California.

The Bay Area is home to a network of ecology and agriculture institutions. The tour visited a selection of these sites including the Occidental Arts & Ecology Center, the Permaculture Institute of Northern California, Hog Island Oyster Company, and Cannard Farm.

Napa Valley and Sonoma County are rural areas that are becoming increasingly gentrified through the burgeoning gourmet and organic food industries and the wine industry in particular.Ironically the ecological impact of this expansion on the area is a developing problem yet to be fully addressed.

During this day-long bus tour Arthur Dawson, a local historian, provided a regional historic perspective; Robin Grossinger and Elise Brewster of the San Francisco Estuary Institute provided scientific mapping and information about local aquatic systems.