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Connecting the Roots is proud to announce an exciting addition to the artistic lineup for the launch of our international arts residency programme on January 25th, 2025.

Internationally renowned light artist Chris Levine will present an immersive laser installation, specifically tuned to the event’s natural surroundings, accompanied by a beautiful, elevating soundscape created especially for the event.

Born out of Levine’s ‘iy_project’, a collaboration with the Eden Project that harnesses the power of laser, sound, people and place, this work is the brainchild of Levine and CTR trustee (and former Eden Project Creative Director) Peter Hampel. Their work integrates collaborations with top recording artists such as Robert Del Naja (Massive Attack), Jon Hopkins, Nick Mulvey, Marco Perry (Björk), and most recently, Gruff Rhys.

Levine has previously headlined several international arts festivals, including Dark Mofo (Tasmania), Glastonbury, Wilderness, and the Eden Project (UK).

The artist says, “It’s a real honour to be invited to present my work in Costa Rica for the first time, alongside Greivin Salas and Andrew Gifford, in such a spectacular and special place. I am also proud to support the incredible efforts of the Connecting the Roots team, who are rewilding nature and reminding us all that we are a part of nature, not apart from it.”

We are deeply grateful for the support of our production partner, ER Productions, in making this event possible.

Further information on Chris Levine:

Chris Levine is a contemporary artist known for his expansive and experimental practice. His multidisciplinary approach harnesses a diverse array of technologies, aiming to reveal how light is fundamental to human experience.

Driven by a profound desire to expand perception, Levine’s work guides his audience into a meditative engagement with the present moment. His medium, his message, and his language is Light.

Levine’s groundbreaking light-based portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, Lightness of Being, has gained international acclaim. In an age overwhelmed by imagery, the artist created a portrait of seminal importance. Though he has exhibited in museums and galleries dedicated to portraiture, Levine is not a portrait artist in the traditional sense.

At the heart of Levine’s practice are his immersive light installations, which he strives to take beyond the confines of the white cube exhibition space into real-world, mass-participatory environments. He has created site-specific, large-scale outdoor light installations in locations as diverse as Durham Cathedral, the Eden Project, and the Royal Opera House in London, to Hobart, Tasmania, Radio City Music Hall in New York, and the stage at Glastonbury. Continually pushing the boundaries of what light art can achieve, Levine’s singular ideology seeks to elevate the viewer’s consciousness through art.

Costa Rica-based NGO Connecting the Roots (CTR) is thrilled to announce the launch of its international artist residency programme. Beginning on 15th January 2025, the inaugural residency will feature one of the UK’s leading landscape artists, Andrew Gifford, who will spend two weeks at the charity’s headquarters in the Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica. During his stay, Gifford will create a new body of work inspired by the lands surrounding the centre – rewilded by Connecting the Roots.

This new artwork will then serve as the centrepiece for a major fundraising event the following week on 25th January, presented by Gifford, Costa Rican artist Greivin Salas, and acclaimed artist Chris Levine, where CTR trustees will host key partners, stakeholders, and prospective funders.

Connecting the Roots operates at the intersection of environment, education, and the arts. Based at the stunning Eagle’s Nest retreat, perched above the Pacific coastline in Costa Rica’s Guanacaste province, CTR is committed to reversing systemic land degradation by investing in biodiversity restoration projects and community-led environmental initiatives.

“At Connecting the Roots, we believe that addressing the environmental challenges of our time requires two things: restoring critical biodiversity and reconnecting people with the natural world,” CTR trustee Peter Hampel said. “Our residency programme embodies this vision by engaging Costa Rican and international artists to inspire behavioural change and highlight the urgent need to rewild – both places and ourselves.”

Renowned for his innovative landscape paintings and light installations, Andrew Gifford brings a unique artistic perspective to the CTR residency. Over his career, Gifford’s work has been exhibited globally, including solo public shows at Leeds City Art Gallery, the Fruitmarket Gallery in Edinburgh, and venues in Jerusalem, Ramallah, and New York.

In recent years, Gifford has focused on woodland and scrubland landscapes, aligning his work with the growing interest in rewilding. His collaborations, such as a talk with leading naturalist Kate Humble, explore how art can shift public perceptions of landscapes and conservation. Currently, he is developing a major series following the temperate rainforests of the UK, with exhibitions planned for 2025 across Cornwall, Wales, Cumbria, and Scotland.

During his CTR residency, Gifford will draw upon his extensive experience to illuminate the unique biodiversity of Costa Rica’s dry tropical forests, inspiring audiences worldwide to engage with conservation and restoration efforts.

The Connecting the Roots Artist Residency Programme not only supports artists like Andrew Gifford, but also acts as a catalyst for raising awareness about the critical importance of environmental restoration. Through initiatives like this, CTR continues its mission to rewild ecosystems and rekindle humanity’s connection with nature.

To learn more about Connecting the Roots and its artist residency programme, get in touch, via hello@connectingtheroots.org

Empowering Education – A beacon of hope for Ostional’s High School

In the heart of the Guanacaste Province lies a tale of resilience and dedication, where the pursuit of quality education faces formidable challenges. Many school buildings stand in dire need of essential amenities, with uninsulated roofs, insufficient classrooms, and a scarcity of desks and chairs hindering the learning experience. These conditions not only disrupt the educational journey but also expose young minds to the harsh tropical elements, risking their health and well-being.

We are delighted to share the inspiring success story of Connecting the Roots Org. – a beacon of hope for education in the region. In April 2024, through a remarkable display of community support, we inaugurated a brand-new classroom at Ostional’s High School. This milestone was made possible by the successful auction fundraiser hosted by Enter Gallery in July 2023, through the sales of 25 artworks donated by artists from Brighton, UK, and beyond, as well as through independent donations.

Led by the unwavering commitment of our co-founder Hen Azenkot, the collaborative efforts of Soluciones JyE, a local construction company owned by Andrey Campos, and the final donations from Ferreteria Grupo Nosara SRL; this octagonal marvel, crafted with care and dedication, now stands as a sanctuary for 11th-grade students, nurturing their dreams of higher education and providing the support they need to succeed.

The Extra Mile

But our journey didn’t stop there. As we embarked on this transformative endeavour, we recognised additional needs within the school community.

In a testament to our commitment to holistic improvement, we facilitated the construction of a new parking lot and the installation of gutters to prepare for the upcoming rainy season. Furthermore, through strategic partnerships with local businesses like Novel Teak, we have secured donations to continue our mission. High-quality teak wood will soon breathe life into another much-needed classroom, ensuring that every student has access to a conducive learning environment.

More Investment Opportunity

Having assessed each school independently, we estimate that the average cost of delivering the required improvements to each school to be $40,000. While each school has different needs, these comprehensive improvements may involve installing long-lasting roof insulation, enhancing overall building structure, building waste management solutions within the school, providing essential school supplies (including furniture), or supplying an inspirational and educational mural based around the theme of nature.

It’s our hope that, with these improvements, schools across Guanacaste become a welcoming environment for students to learn; one where they are free of distraction and can learn comfortably without unnecessary risks to their health. Join us in creating spaces where excitement around sustainability blossoms, and the commitment to rewilding becomes a shared journey—for the benefit of the Earth, and a benefit to us all.

Special Thanks

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Enter Gallery for their unwavering support in hosting the fundraiser, as well as to our generous bidders, donors, and the talented artists who contributed their work: Chris Levine, Charlotte Rose, Ben Rider, Dan Baldwin, CJP, Pure Evil, Jana Nicole, Mike Edwards, RYCA, Jayson Lilley, Copyright, Marcelina Amelia, Gavin Mitchell, Maria Rivans, Peter Blake, The Connor Brothers, Magnus Gjoen, Haus of Lucy, Elizabeth Waggett, Mark Vessey, Aaron Crascall, Rebecca Strickson, Richard Berner, Craig Keenan, Dave White, Dirty Hans, Joe Webb, Sarah Arnett, Bonnie and Clyde, Sara Pope, Mark Powell, Dan Hillier, Jamie Reid, Chris Kettle, Anthony Freeman, and Mateo Humano.

If you’d like to donate to further community projects by investing in excellent art, you can still do so via Enter Gallery. Here is a link to their Connecting the Roots collection, where all profits will be donated to upcoming Connecting the Roots initiatives.

We’re thrilled to announce that our benefit art auction, hosted on Artsy between 22 June and 6 July 2023, was a resounding success – with the funds raised allowing us to progress with the second phase of our conservation project in Costa Rica.

Funds were raised through the sales of 25 artworks donated by Enter Gallery artists from Brighton, UK, and beyond, as well as through independent donations.

Following this spectacular outcome, Connecting the Roots will implement various vital initiatives at Ostional High School, which is located at the heart of our rewilding project in the country’s Guanacaste region. These initiatives will include building a new classroom, providing an environmental education programme, establishing sustainable practices (such as repairing the school’s roof and providing insulation), and creating infrastructure for waste management and recycling.

We’ve chosen to prioritise these items as a result of close consultation with the local community in Guanacaste, the Costa Rican government, and the school, which has communicated a clear need for improvements to its facilities. As well as the space limitations of the school’s sole classroom, its lack of insulation also presents challenges for children’s learning, as they struggle with the heat of the tropical Costa Rican climate.

By developing an environmental education programme, we also hope to extend the impact of the first phase of our project: promoting sustainability and rewilding within the region to counteract the effects of climate change.

Since 2021, we’ve been focused on restoring land in the Nicoya peninsula in Costa Rica – an area that had been shaved of its remarkable biodiversity for agriculture. This project is still going strong, with our nursery very much active and growing hundreds of trees to restore diversity to the area.

It’s our hope that this educational programme and our continued work with the school will be pivotal in raising awareness about environmental conservation – both among the younger generation and, through them, the local community too.

By investing into the foundations of the community, it’s our aim to foster a sense of responsibility and stewardship towards the local ecosystem, ensuring a more sustainable future for the community and the conservation project as a whole.

To follow our progress on the project, subscribe to our newsletter or follow us on Instagram. You can also support the project directly by donating here.

We’d also like to share a final thank you to our supporter Enter Gallery for facilitating this fundraiser, all our bidders and donors, and the generous artists who donated their work:

Chris Levine, Charlotte Rose, Ben Rider, Dan Baldwin, CJP, Pure Evil, Jana Nicole, Mike Edwards, RYCA, Jayson Lilley, Copyright, Marcelina Amelia, Gavin Mitchell, Maria Rivans, Peter Blake, The Connor Brothers, Magnus Gjoen, Haus of Lucy, Elizabeth Waggett, Mark Vessey, Aaron Crascall, Rebecca Strickson, Richard Berner, Craig Keenan, Dave White, Dirty Hans, Joe Webb, Sarah Arnett, Bonnie and Clyde, Sara Pope, Mark Powell, Dan Hillier, Jamie Reid, Chris Kettle, Anthony Freeman, and Mateo Humano.

Since 2021, Connecting the Roots has been working with Enter Gallery – an art gallery, located in Brighton in the UK, who understand how important restoring biodiversity is to the fight against climate change.

Over the next decade, Enter Gallery has pledged £100,000 to our pilot project in Costa Rica. So far, £30,000 has gone towards establishing the project, helping to fund our gravity-fed water system, our on-site nursery, and allowing us to plan over 400 trees across the pilot project site.

We’re delighted to announce that from the 22^nd June until 6^th July 2023, Enter Gallery is hosting an online art auction featuring incredible artworks from some of the biggest contemporary artists out there, from Mr Brainwash and Sir Peter Blake to Chris Levine. All proceeds from the auction will go towards further rewilding work in Costa Rica.

In today’s blog, we reveal the steps you need to take to get involved in the auction, and provide a couple of sneak peeks at some of the beautiful pieces included.

How the auction works

The Connecting the Roots auction will commence at 3pm (UK time) on Thursday 22nd June 2023, and will run for two weeks until lots start to close at 8pm on Thursday 6th July.

View artworks included in the auction. 

If you’re interested in taking part, please read the following steps about how you can get involved…

1. Registration

To participate, prospective bidders must create an Artsy account and register for the specific auction they’re interested in. Registration typically involves providing basic personal information and agreeing to the terms and conditions of the auction. Simply follow this link, click on ‘Register to Bid’, and fill in your details.

2. Time to browse

Once registered, prospective bidders can explore the auction catalogue on the Artsy website or app. It provides all the details about each artwork, including images, descriptions, artist information, estimated value, and any other relevant details. You can view this catalogue here. To give you a taste, here are a couple of pieces…

3. Placing bids

Once the auction is live, prospective bidders can place bids on the artworks they’re interested in. Bids can either be entered manually, or bidders can set a maximum bid amount, and the Artsy platform will automatically increase their bid incrementally on their behalf, up to the maximum specified amount.

This automated bidding system is known as ‘proxy bidding’ and allows bidders to remain competitive without having to constantly monitor the auction.

As per Artsy’s website:

“Auction bids are binding, so it is essential to understand the total cost of a potential auction purchase before placing your bid(s). You may see notices of additional fees on lot pages – please make sure you understand any applicable fees before placing your bid(s) as fees can differ based on location of seller and collector.”

4. Real-time updates

During the auction, Artsy will provide real-time updates on bidding activity. Bidders can see the current highest bid for each artwork and track any competing bids as they come in. This transparency allows bidders to stay informed and to adjust their own bids if necessary.

5. Notifications

If someone outbids another bidder, Artsy will send a notification to alert them. This way, bidders can decide whether to increase their bid or let the artwork go. Those interested in following a particular auction can also add the auction’s close time to their personal calendar.

6. Auction closing and winners

When the auction ends, the highest bidder for each artwork is considered the winner. Artsy will inform the winning bidders and provide instructions for completing the transaction, including payment and shipping arrangements. Typically, a buyer’s premium (a percentage fee) is added to the winning bid, which covers Artsy’s services and other associated costs.

To register your interest in the auction, head to the auction’s page on Artsy.

From June 22^nd to July 6^th, Enter Gallery is hosting an online art auction to raise vital funds for our rewilding project in Costa Rica.

The auction consists of a sensational selection of rare and limited edition artworks from leading contemporary artists including Sir Peter Blake, Dave White and Charlotte Rose. You can view the selection of works included in the auction here.

To encourage people to bid, we wanted to take a moment to explain how funds raised will be spent over in Costa Rica, and how these proceeds will help us to continue our efforts to restore biodiversity in this beautiful corner of the world.

Ostional High School

Rewilding isn’t just about planting trees, restoring ecosystems also involves supporting the local communities that reside within them. That is why we have decided to use the funds raised from the art auction to implement a number of initiatives at Ostional High School, which is located in the heart of the area that we are rewilding.

Funds raised will go towards building a new classroom, providing an environmental educational programme, establishing sustainable practices, and creating infrastructure for waste management and recycling.

At the heart of our project is the need for education, and one priority is to raise awareness of environmental conservation among the younger generation. We want to help foster a sense of responsibility and stewardship towards the local ecosystem, ensuring a more sustainable future for the community and the conservation project as a whole.

This work will mark the start of a long-term, extensive programme, that works in tandem with the first phase of the scheme, as funded by Enter Gallery.

For phase two, we’re prioritising the immediate impact on the local community, and have consulted directly with local wisdom keepers, educators, farmers, and the Costa Rican government to establish what they need to make sustainability possible for the long term.

To register your interest in the auction and place your bids to support this change, head to the auction’s page on Artsy.