The power of art to organize, connect, and educate has always put artists and art at the forefront of revolutions and social movements. In this period, artists are playing key roles in calling attention to, and organizing around, the climate crisis. Artists are working with designers, architects and scientists, for example, to create sustainable environments and ecosystems. Art is also communicating the reality of the climate crisis: the heartbreak of loss, devastation, and destruction, and the possibility of repair, recovery, equity, and community.
We are all born with the ability to be creative. Because of being told what looks good, what doesn’t, what’s right, or what’s wrong, many of us start to feel self-conscious and lose access to our ability to make things. But, in fact, we all still have this ability within us. It is part of being human.
With the help of listening to each other and noticing our feelings, we can reclaim our inherent creativity and unblock places where we feel stuck, unable, embarrassed, or not good enough. We can free ourselves from negative thinking and allow ourselves to make, play, experiment, and express ourselves through art of all kinds.
Art can serve as a universal language that brings people together around a common goal or cause and moves them to action. Art can be a way to notice that we are all connected and that something that hurts one person or community hurts us all. Art can help people understand complex ideas and concepts and distill hard science into something we can understand and feel. In moments when the climate emergency feels too big and despair takes over, art can lighten our load and help us feel hopeful again. Art can help us notice how much we care about the earth.
In this workshop, we will:
* Explore the impact of art and creativity in the climate movement
* Make art in a safe and unpressured environment
* Notice our feelings with others about the earth and the climate emergency
Come learn how the tools of Sustaining All Life/United to End Racism offer us ways to recover from the impact of working in exploitative and oppressive systems, including the competition for limited resources and the marginality many of us face. Come hear from a variety of makers, learn how art and creativity are playing critical roles in the climate movement, and celebrate your own creativity and connection to the earth. With this support, we can continue building a united front and creating artwork that engages, inspires, and moves us toward a sustainable world in which we live in concert with each other and everything around us.
followed by Healing Circle (optional)
3:30 – 4:30pm
Healing circles based on shared experiences give people a chance to be listened to about feelings connected to climate change. Having the chance to share feelings of grief, fear, anger, discouragement, and hope in a mutually supportive group can refresh us and give us new ideas for action.
