Every year, hundreds of whales and other marine mammals strand on the shores of the North Pacific. These ocean-dwelling animals are mostly hidden from humans during their lifetimes, but in a stranding death, they reveal themselves to us, and call on us to care. What might this care look like? What can these deaths teach us about the lives of these animals and the entangled futures of humans and oceans?

Join us for an evening of reading, listening, and reflecting on these questions together. Patty Chang and Astrida Neimanis will bring together contributions of words and sounds from various writers, artists, and scientists. No advance preparation required; readings and listening selections will be provided. All are welcome! 

Sounding Care is part of Learning Endings, a multi-part project by artists and researchers Patty Chang, Astrida Neimanis, and Aleksija Neimanis. Through a series of events, gatherings, research, and discussions, Learning Endings brings together local communities, scientists, artists, and humanities researchers to consider ecologies of care in a time of endings, with a focus on stranded marine mammals. Sounding Care will lead up to their walkshop in September, a walking tour at a local site related to a marine mammal stranding. This community event will provide an opportunity for participants to collectively reflect on mutual care, death and intimacy in relation to oceans.

Sounding Care is presented by the Artist Fellowship Program, which is intended to advance artistic inquiry through the mutual exchange between invited artists and the larger University of Washington community. It is designed as a generative program that promotes dynamic collaboration and facilitates artistic development, aligning the Henry's commitment to innovation and inquiry with the University's standing as a leader in research. The content of Sounding Care emerged from conversations developed through the Artist Fellowship Program with artists and the greater UW community: Charlotte Coté, Associate Professor in American Indian Studies; William Wilcock, Professor in School of Oceanography; and AF Jones of Laminal Audio.