Publications
Here is a list of publications, available for download, that have been released by The Center for the Study of the Force Majeure.
The Time of the Force Majeure: After 45 Years Counterforce is on the Horizon
The Harrison's 2016 book is out of print and is one of the best accounts of their work.
Force Majeure Brochure
This brochure was published in 2019. It outlines the mission and philosophy of the Center for the Study of the Force Majeure. It summarizes some ongoing projects and promotes the fundamental goals of the organization.
Sensorium: The Voice of the World Ocean
Sensorium is Newton Harrison’s capstone project and the culmination of five decades of ecological art. This booklet was created to concisely explain the project and the reasoning behind it. Simply put, the ocean is dying, and by giving the ocean a voice, Newton hoped to help save it.
Helen's Town
Originally created as a companion document to an installation at the Liverpool Biennale, this document explains some key concepts behind Helen’s Town. The idea is to build a 20,000-person community carefully designed around farming, herding, and fishing techniques that will allow people to harmoniously live in abundance with the environment.
Future Gardens
A short document showcasing the genesis and creation of several iterations of Future Gardens around the world from the central coast of California to the Sichuan Province in China, as well as a proposal for an installation near the La Brea Tar pits in Los Angeles.
California’s Forest Crisis and Opportunity
A 2018 white paper laying out California’s wildfire threats and details crucial next steps in trying to mitigate the risks. It was presented to the incoming Newsom administration in 2018. A number of the ideas outlined in this publication have since been integrated into the state of California fire management strategies.
CFM Future Garden Arboretum
This infographic was published at the inception of the Future Garden on the UCSC Campus. Like other Future Gardens, it models the premise: “Every place is the story of its own becoming.” This installation, now a permanent part of the UC Arboretum, an ongoing experiment in adaptability and long-term survivability of local species in the face of a changing climate.
CFM 3 Case Studies
3 Case Studies that exemplify the Harrison’s approach to environmentally minded development at different periods in their career, including Crab Farm, The Sava River, and The Green Heart of Holland. Each of these works increase in scale and have led directly to real world policy outcomes.
CFM Spoils’ Pile Reclamation
Commissioned by the Art Park Foundation, this Harrison Project regenerated a thriving ecosystem on the site of a large toxic spoils pile on the grounds of ArtPark, a New York Park dedicated to promoting the Arts. From 1977 to 1979 over 3000 truckloads of soil and organic material were used to reclaim over 20 acres of the landscape, which were then replanted native species to rebuild the meadowlands that existed prior to the dumping.
The Fires Next Time
Fires Next Time is a CFM initiative to combine modern and traditional forestry techniques to minimize the risk of wildfire. A sub-project of Living Forest, this presentation document shows some of the long-term goals for the project which include integration in public spaces, online, and in the classroom.
Getting to Scale in The Golden State
A post examining shortcoming in the fire mitigation efforts mandated in California in 2020. CFM proposed forming a working group to address this issue and lays out the most vital questions to address.
On Crisis Management
An additional post on fire mitigation efforts in California with a focus on establishing priorities, and how to identify and address these issues collectively. By exploring crisis management examples from history, we hope to gain insight into our situation today. One thing is clear: Business as usual has failed.
Identifying Market Interest
This white paper surveys over 30 companies involved in processing wood products at various scales to develop synergy and economic models that coincide with strategic efforts to manage forest management that will ultimately result in more healthy, resilient forests. Interviews with representatives from several of the most influential lumber companies inform this practical study that would go on to be a major part of the Living Forest project.