Fireside Dialogues

M12 STUDIO in collaboration with curator Daisy McGowan have programmed discussions through the Black Forest Institute at the UCCS Ent Center for the Arts Sculpture Green. Each Fireside Dialogue is an opportunity for sharing knowledge, stories and wisdom about our regional forests, trees and woodlands. The Black Forest Institute is interested in providing space for constructively addressing the complexities of forest fire and related subjects such as fire impact, rural futures, and global climate awareness. Part of The Space(s) Between exhibition, curated by Donald Fodness, Daisy McGowan and Geoffrey Shamos, and GOCA’s Art WithOut Limits program.

Bio: Mike Till here, forester extraordinaire. I work for the Colorado State Forest Service locally out of our Woodland Park Field Office and have been for the past 11 years. I have been working in the natural resource field specifically in the southwest, for the past 21 years. I help local governments and private homeowners with technical forestry assistance. I like to say, “Solving forestry issues from seed to stud”. In my current role, I administer and plan fuel mitigation projects in partnership with Colorado Springs Utilities, on forested areas around reservoir properties to protect the watershed from catastrophic wildfire and other disturbances. I spend most of my non-work hours hanging with my family and riding my bike when I can squeeze in a ride.