ESSENTIAL WATER
An Artist and Biochemist Explore the Beauty of Water and Danger of Pollutants
Thursday, August 27, 2020
Speakers: Arica Hilton, Janet Angel Welch, and Gail Sturm (Moderator)
From biochemist Janet Angel’s powerful invention to transform oil spills into food for marine life, to artist Arica Hilton’s art advocacy for the oceans, you will not want to miss their underwater stories of life’s most critical resource. This panel is moderated by Gail Sturm, Chair of the Brushwood Center Board of Directors.
A SPECIAL PERFORMANCE: REFLECTIONS ON EARTH
This program features a special musical performance, "Reflections on Earth - Oceans," created by Sibylle Szaggars Redford, The Way of the Rain Artistic Director with music by Tim Janis and spoken word by Robert Redford.
Thursday, August 27, 2020
Speakers: Arica Hilton, Janet Angel Welch, and Gail Sturm (Moderator)
From biochemist Janet Angel’s powerful invention to transform oil spills into food for marine life, to artist Arica Hilton’s art advocacy for the oceans, you will not want to miss their underwater stories of life’s most critical resource. This panel is moderated by Gail Sturm, Chair of the Brushwood Center Board of Directors.
A SPECIAL PERFORMANCE: REFLECTIONS ON EARTH
This program features a special musical performance, "Reflections on Earth - Oceans," created by Sibylle Szaggars Redford, The Way of the Rain Artistic Director with music by Tim Janis and spoken word by Robert Redford.
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
Arica Hilton, Artist and Global Advocate (Featured Artist)
Arica Hilton is a Mediterranean born artist, gallerist, curator, and poet who has devoted herself to capturing the beauty of water, the most valuable element on earth. Her work is layers, depth, limpidity. It is also a message: recycled bits of micro-plastic infuse the fairy-tale colors, highlighting the very real human impact on water and its consequences for the planet.
Hilton’s own artistic pursuits began with writing poetry and expanded to painting when she began to illustrate her poems. Her artistic evolution sparked an interest in the realm of creation, and she discovered mathematics, physics, quantum mechanics, and string theory. Her studies solidified her passion for environmentalism when she learned that stars are nothing more than another extension of humanity – that the elements in the bloodstream are the same elements that comprise a star. The interconnection was what Hilton had been searching for her whole life. As Hilton says, “We are the same as a star. How beautiful is that?” Today, Hilton is a visual artist, poet and global advocate who travels worldwide to enrich her life and the lives of others. She is based in Chicago, where she is the director of Hilton Asmus Contemporary, a gallery platform that she leverages to support artists and environmentalists who seek change for a better world.
Arica Hilton is a Mediterranean born artist, gallerist, curator, and poet who has devoted herself to capturing the beauty of water, the most valuable element on earth. Her work is layers, depth, limpidity. It is also a message: recycled bits of micro-plastic infuse the fairy-tale colors, highlighting the very real human impact on water and its consequences for the planet.
Hilton’s own artistic pursuits began with writing poetry and expanded to painting when she began to illustrate her poems. Her artistic evolution sparked an interest in the realm of creation, and she discovered mathematics, physics, quantum mechanics, and string theory. Her studies solidified her passion for environmentalism when she learned that stars are nothing more than another extension of humanity – that the elements in the bloodstream are the same elements that comprise a star. The interconnection was what Hilton had been searching for her whole life. As Hilton says, “We are the same as a star. How beautiful is that?” Today, Hilton is a visual artist, poet and global advocate who travels worldwide to enrich her life and the lives of others. She is based in Chicago, where she is the director of Hilton Asmus Contemporary, a gallery platform that she leverages to support artists and environmentalists who seek change for a better world.
Janet Angel, Janet Angel Welch, PhD, Founder and CEO, Jacor
Janet Angel Welch is a passionate preservationist with over 25 years in research and development as a biochemical scientist, wellness expert, CEO, entrepreneur, inventor and speaker. She worked as an environmental biochemist since the 2010 Deepwater Horizon Spill to develop green and sustainable technology to reduce toxins in the environment, and focused on adaptive Scientific Research and Development in Ecological Restoration, Preservation, and Human Health. Welch risked her life to perform scientific research in the Gulf to prove that nature had an answer to the crude oil catastrophe in 2010. Five years later (2015) the first US Patent for EcoBioClean® was granted, as a revolutionary Green Technology Formula to rapidly remove hydrocarbon contaminants. In 2017, the second patent was issued concluding the formula and methods could be effectively used in or on bodies of water, land masses, flora and fauna, man-made structures and materials, holding tanks, containers, and refining equipment or pipes. In December 2019, a third patent was issued concluding that the formula not only will remediate (clean) but will reverse-engineer and bio-transition hydrocarbons (such as crude oil) into beneficial food forms, which can serve as a nutritional source for flora and fauna, with breakdown beginning within one minute. EcoBioClean® was nominated for the prestigious 2017 United States Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge award. EcoBioClean was approved by the EPA in 2019 and is now listed on the National Contingency Plan as an effective and safe method to remediate crude oil spills if a disaster should occur in USA navigable waters. Additionally, EcoBioClean was one of just three US Companies chosen out of a field of applicants from around the globe to present in Berlin, Germany to the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) alongside dozens of internationally known chemists and Nobel Prize Laureates. Welch was the only US company executive and inventor invited to represent the US at a similar presentation in Vienna, Austria, as well as the only bioremediation company chosen to participate in the novel Canadian Government's ELA (Environmental Lakes Area) IISD 3 year fresh water research project to determine the viability of using EcoBioClean technology to enhance measures to safely and effectively clean up a crude oil spill if a pipeline were to break. She is now in her second year of that research project with promising results to date.
Janet Angel Welch is a passionate preservationist with over 25 years in research and development as a biochemical scientist, wellness expert, CEO, entrepreneur, inventor and speaker. She worked as an environmental biochemist since the 2010 Deepwater Horizon Spill to develop green and sustainable technology to reduce toxins in the environment, and focused on adaptive Scientific Research and Development in Ecological Restoration, Preservation, and Human Health. Welch risked her life to perform scientific research in the Gulf to prove that nature had an answer to the crude oil catastrophe in 2010. Five years later (2015) the first US Patent for EcoBioClean® was granted, as a revolutionary Green Technology Formula to rapidly remove hydrocarbon contaminants. In 2017, the second patent was issued concluding the formula and methods could be effectively used in or on bodies of water, land masses, flora and fauna, man-made structures and materials, holding tanks, containers, and refining equipment or pipes. In December 2019, a third patent was issued concluding that the formula not only will remediate (clean) but will reverse-engineer and bio-transition hydrocarbons (such as crude oil) into beneficial food forms, which can serve as a nutritional source for flora and fauna, with breakdown beginning within one minute. EcoBioClean® was nominated for the prestigious 2017 United States Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge award. EcoBioClean was approved by the EPA in 2019 and is now listed on the National Contingency Plan as an effective and safe method to remediate crude oil spills if a disaster should occur in USA navigable waters. Additionally, EcoBioClean was one of just three US Companies chosen out of a field of applicants from around the globe to present in Berlin, Germany to the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) alongside dozens of internationally known chemists and Nobel Prize Laureates. Welch was the only US company executive and inventor invited to represent the US at a similar presentation in Vienna, Austria, as well as the only bioremediation company chosen to participate in the novel Canadian Government's ELA (Environmental Lakes Area) IISD 3 year fresh water research project to determine the viability of using EcoBioClean technology to enhance measures to safely and effectively clean up a crude oil spill if a pipeline were to break. She is now in her second year of that research project with promising results to date.
Gail Sturm, Chair of the Board of Directors of Brushwood Center, Sturm Realty
Gail Sturm is the Chair of the Board of Directors of Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods. Gail specializes in professional portfolio advisory services, build-to-suit, brokerage, consulting and representation for real estate needs of corporate clients. As a commercial and industrial real estate professional with more than $3.5 billion in sales and leases completed during her 40 + year career, Gail explores new ways to increase productivity driving profitability for her clients. She co-authored “Seeing the Light,” an article illustrating the impact of new lighting opportunities on lowering energy costs to tenants. She was a featured speaker at the Annual CREW Network Convention in San Francisco, “Energy & Real Estate: Adding Value in Changing Market Place.” Gail served as the moderator of a panel discussion on Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design regarding neighborhood development (LEED-ND). Bisnow 2018 Chicago named her as Chicago Power Woman Leadership Recipient. Previously, Gail was President of a national real estate firm. While there, she was instrumental in shaping the company’s structure and developing its philosophies. Gail served as the first woman President of The Chicago Office Leasing Brokers Association, COLBA, and was a Founder of Chicago Real Estate Executive Women, CREW, where she served as Vice President. Gail is Chairman of Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods, Former Board Chairman of the Luster Learning Institute NFP, Former Vice Chairman of Lake Forest Symphony, Advisory Board Member of Arzu, Resource Board Member of the Metropolitan Planning Council of Chicago, Board Member of Fenix Family Health Center and Former Chairman of the Transportation Management Association of Lake Cook. In addition, Gail is actively involved with the Economic Club of Chicago. Gail holds a BBA in Marketing/Management from St. Mary’s College of Notre Dame.
Gail Sturm is the Chair of the Board of Directors of Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods. Gail specializes in professional portfolio advisory services, build-to-suit, brokerage, consulting and representation for real estate needs of corporate clients. As a commercial and industrial real estate professional with more than $3.5 billion in sales and leases completed during her 40 + year career, Gail explores new ways to increase productivity driving profitability for her clients. She co-authored “Seeing the Light,” an article illustrating the impact of new lighting opportunities on lowering energy costs to tenants. She was a featured speaker at the Annual CREW Network Convention in San Francisco, “Energy & Real Estate: Adding Value in Changing Market Place.” Gail served as the moderator of a panel discussion on Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design regarding neighborhood development (LEED-ND). Bisnow 2018 Chicago named her as Chicago Power Woman Leadership Recipient. Previously, Gail was President of a national real estate firm. While there, she was instrumental in shaping the company’s structure and developing its philosophies. Gail served as the first woman President of The Chicago Office Leasing Brokers Association, COLBA, and was a Founder of Chicago Real Estate Executive Women, CREW, where she served as Vice President. Gail is Chairman of Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods, Former Board Chairman of the Luster Learning Institute NFP, Former Vice Chairman of Lake Forest Symphony, Advisory Board Member of Arzu, Resource Board Member of the Metropolitan Planning Council of Chicago, Board Member of Fenix Family Health Center and Former Chairman of the Transportation Management Association of Lake Cook. In addition, Gail is actively involved with the Economic Club of Chicago. Gail holds a BBA in Marketing/Management from St. Mary’s College of Notre Dame.
