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From Burn to Bloom: The Art & Science of Wildfire Recovery

  • Odell Brewing Company 800 East Lincoln Avenue Fort Collins, CO, 80524 United States (map)

From Burn to Bloom is a public art+science event hosted by The Geospatial Centroid and the Radical Open Science Syndicate at Colorado State University.

In 2020, our community experienced the largest wildfires in Colorado history. Since then, researchers at CSU have been working hard to understand how these high-elevation fires have impacted our ecosystems. To share this research with the public, we are inviting artists across disciplines to co-create hands-on stations for learning and making.

While wildfire is inherently destructive, post-fire ecology holds valuable lessons about hope, resilience, and recovery. From Burn to Bloom will combine the emotional power of art and artmaking with the educational power of scientific research to explore these themes.

From Burn to Bloom will be a fun and interactive community event with playful art and science activities, hopeful community reflection, and all-ages education. Get inspired by the ways nature repairs after fire and reflect on building more resilient landscapes–and mindsets–in the face of an ever-changing climate. 

  • Paint algae bloom watercolors + learn how fire affects our water quality!

  • Construct clay pots + learn how fire changes soil overtime!

  • Make floral block prints of post-fire flowers + learn how they restore the forest!

  • Play in a (simulated) beaver pond + learn how beavers strengthen post-fire landscape!

  • Write a love letter to the forest on seed paper + learn what plants grow after fire!

  • Take a selfie with Smokey Bear + learn about how you can mitigate wildfire!