David Gonzalez

With Earth Day just around the corner, this month will see a flurry of activity focused on environmental issues. As one would expect, artists are also stepping up to the plate, adding their voices to the chorus of people calling for a societal shift that gives more attention to how human activity affects the natural environment. This Saturday, storyteller/poet David Gonzalez will team up with a group of multi-media artists at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center to present Wounded Splendor, an examination of the Earth’s natural beauty that advocates for its preservation and stewardship.

“The initial inspiration comes from my love of the outdoors and the need to make a statement about the abuse and insults upon nature,” Gonzalez told DCist. “I hope the piece gets people to reconsider, reflect, and respond.”

Saturday’s performance will be a work-in-progress, as the piece will not have its official premiere until 2010. The arts center co-commissioned Wounded Splendor, which developed through a two-year residency that involved the campus and local community. Gonzalez’s research included work with campus professors and scientists, the Anacostia Riverkeepers, and local youth at Hyattsville Middle School.

“[The piece] doesn’t come from watching TV, it’s from being in the world.” explained Gonzalez. “There’s a lot of ignorance about the natural world.”