Today’s “Where Are We?” piece is by local artist Christine A. Banna. Created for the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center’s Art on the Marquee series, “One Step Forward, Two Steps Back” is shown here in its online video documentation form – but can be best viewed in its natural habitat, the 80-foot screens of the BCEC. Stop by to see it in South Boston on Wednesday evenings through mid-March.
Banna provided the following statement to accompany the work:
When I was first drafting a proposal for this animation, I was considering two diametrically opposed aspects of humanity, our scientific progress and how we can simultaneously regress on a societal level.  I decided to focus on the technological achievements of humanity by using imagery of a space shuttle launch.  I have chosen this specific metaphor for scientific progress because I believe it is symbolic of our species’ greatest strengths.  We are the only mammal to migrate and thrive in every unique environment on planet Earth.  I feel that it is absolutely remarkable that we then looked up and chose to travel to an environment completely inhospitable to us - space.  In addition to this imagery, I added a clip of Belka and Strelka, two Soviet space dogs who were launched into low Earth orbit for a day and were the first Earth-born creatures to go into space and return safely, thus paving the way for increasingly complicated manned missions. Â
I was also trying to be cognizant of the nature of this unique display. Â I planned this animation to have the aesthetic of a moving ink drawing to purposely give a sense of tradition and physicality in juxtaposition to the mechanical engineering required for launching such complicated machinery into space. Â Marrying the organic with the manufactured. Â Additionally, I felt the appearance of a traditional medium on such a modern site as the marquee would further highlight our technological progress while staying cognizant of our humanity.
Addendum January 28, 2017:
In consideration of the current events and political climate, I have had a hard time re-reading my initial statement for "One Step Forward Two Steps Back". Â When I was initially conceiving this animation I was certainly influenced by the dangerous rhetoric that was commonplace during the presidential election (my proposal was submitted in October). Â Now seeing the reality of the suppression of scientific information and the dangerous precedents that are being made I am humbled that my animation was playing in public during it all, but deeply saddened at its timeliness.
Christine A. Banna is a multidisciplinary artist who pulls from both modern and traditional methods such as painting, drawing, video, sound and animation and utilizes them in her practice. Born in Providence, RI, Banna grew up with a deep love of ancient history and science which has been a driving force for her since she was a young girl.  This dichotomy between ancient and modern is reflected in both Banna’s subject matter and medium choices in her work.
She currently lives and works out of Medford, MA.Â
The Where Are We Project, in conjunction with Flat Earth Theatre’s production of Silent Sky, invites an assortment of scientists, artists, thinkers, and dreamers to ponder our place in the universe. Silent Sky will be performed March 10th – 25th, 2017, at the Mosesian Center for the Arts in Watertown, Massachusetts.
Tickets – About the Show – About the Company – About the Project
