Arts, alumni and the city

"Why are we not sustainable," he wondered,
pointing out that 30 years ago, carbon in the Earth's atmosphere was measured at a level of 387. 

Today, he continued, despite exposure to information, co2 levels have surpassed 400.

Shrivastava said academic research has proven insufficient when it comes to amending behavior.
"It changes our heads, but it doesn't change our hearts."

Successful public art programs includeNew York's High Line park an exhibit in Times Square made from garbage bins, said Shrivastava. He then detailed his team's project: Arts and Sustainable Enterprise.

A collaboration between seven universities in Montreal and France, this project is based on the principle that "art has something to contribute" towards sustainable behavior. 

With the fitness-themed title “Be Moved by Art,” Shrivastava's team aimed to move pedestrian traffic out of the John Molson School of Business Building's crowded elevators and into its beautiful –– though underused –– stairwell. The centrepiece of their efforts thus far is a stairwell art gallery thatwaslaunched in February 2014 and features sustainability-themed works by Brooklyn artist Lori Nix and others.

To the crowd's delight, Shrivastava described an unexpected sign of the project's success — students working out at Concordia’s Le Gym have been spotted running up and down the JMSB staircases as part of their jogging regime.

Concordia representatives included alumni officer Lina Uberti. Guests included the executive committee of the Concordia New York Alumni Chapter: co-president Russ Makofsky, BComm 07, as well as former president Janet Chin Lyn, MBA 93. Paolo Pazzia BComm07, Jill Smith BA, 06 and Gerry Walsh LBA71, newest executive member, attended.  

Other attendees included Gary Regenstreif, BA 83, long-serving senior editor at Reuters and an advisor to the World Economic Forum; actress Suzanne Savoie; financier Paul M. Levesque, BA 57; as well as GURU Energy Drink co-founder Raymond Jolicoeur, BAdmin 1990.