Explore “Illuminations”: The Plenary’s Showcase at The Foundry in SF

On October 26^th The Plenary, co. opened its doors one last time at Foundry SF for its show Illuminations. Everyone and anyone was invited into this inclusive space for a night of conversations about art, science and social issues. This show was the first major showcase in the city for the Plenary but it is definitely not the last. They are planning a new show at Pier 70 early next year. Illuminations featured a series of six interactive exhibits, created in collaboration with different artists. To better understand, I had to look up the meaning of the word. A plenary is a meeting to be attended by all participants who usually meet in smaller groups.

Ashley Voss and Tracy Piper enjoy the show.

When I entered the space I was encouraged to pick a round color coded pin. This was to  indicate to other guests what I was willing to talk about. The subjects ranged from arts, to tech and climate. As I wandered through the well curated space I was delighted to find conversation lounges, card decks and prompts to spark thought. “The goal is to create a space that unlocks collective insights, sparks idea exchange, and centers community and imagination in conversations about world shaping issues.” said Stephanie Fine Sasse, Founder & Director of The Plenary, Co.

Stephanie Fine Sasse, the founder of the Plenary .

“We see imagination as an essential problem solving skill that spans fields. Each piece in the show represents a blending of insights from our collaborating artists and the science we reviewed, but I don’t think most people can tell where one ends and the other begins”

I asked her who this project was for and she said, “Everyone is welcome. Right now, most of the ways that society shares and builds knowledge is passive for most communities, focused on talking heads and consuming media. The concept behind Illuminations focuses more on active exploration and spaces that tap into our curiosity and collective insights.”

The experience that I had at Illuminations definitely did that for me. It was a very generous and open show that encouraged connection and problem solving about heavy hitting issues. The attempt to bridge that gap between art and science was a valiant and necessary one.

J.D. Beltran enjoys the art.

“I think the gap between art and science is a fairly recent problem. For most of our history, we used creative and scientific inquiry in tandem, with one often informing the other. In the show, we have an exhibit called “Imagine That” that speaks to how many scientists were also artists, and how many artists shaped progress. We see imagination as an essential problem solving skill that spans fields. Each piece in the show represents a blending of insights from our collaborating artists and the science we reviewed, but I don’t think most people can tell where one ends and the other begins. I think the gap is an artifact of school subjects and the left brain / right brain myth (which we also address in the show!). In practice, if we give both art and science their due respect as tools for understanding and addressing the challenges we’re facing, they blend seamlessly, just as they always have.” Sasse told me. She is a multimedia storyteller, experience designer, and former neuroscience and psychology researcher. She spent the better part of a decade studying the human brain, the results of which were utilized in making this show possible.

What is The Plenary?

One goal of The Plenary is to leave guests wanting to dedicate more time to explore and exchange ideas. “We want to blur the lines between science, art, and impact, so that knowledge building can become a more collective effort, rather than a siloed or exclusionary one. We want anyone who comes through the space to feel energized by possibilities, both in terms of the content of Illuminations, but also in terms of its format. I love the way that one member of our team, Samar Ibrahim, described the goal: “conversations that lead to action, not just knowledge” said Sasse.

In a rapidly changing world of technological advances and climate change, exchanges like these become more valuable and necessary. The Plenary will open a new experience at Pier 70 early next year. “San Francisco is entering a new chapter, and we’re really excited to dream up a space that contributes to that. It will be a space for translating the core pillars of The Plenary, Co. – imagination, curiosity, impact, and community – into more intimate gatherings, like food storytelling dinners, game nights, film screenings, and art shows. We launch our first season in January, all around the theme of “openness”. We’re collaborating with local artists and musicians, and will be inviting people to join us on a little experiment to try to change our own minds. Folks can join the clubhouse through our website for free or as a supporting member.”

To learn more go to their website: https://www.theplenary.co/issue-areas and https://www.theplenary.co/illuminations

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