When Art Becomes an Earth Issue
by Margaret Penney | January 26, 2018
With the effects of climate change, environmental news can be found at the forefront of our cultural landscape. News of disasters and droughts are more common. Along with environmental news, there is also an upsurge in environmental art, as artists do their work of cultural reflection. Visual artists, photographers, musicians, dancers, poets and technologists are using their abilities to create projects centered around environmental awareness.
The Earth Issue is one such new environmental arts project. It provides a platform for artists doing creative work that explores the intersection of the arts and environmentalism. The Earth Issue raises awareness about the environment through publications, exhibitions, educational talks and other collaborative efforts. At their website you can find a collection of beautiful and thoughtful work curated by Elizabeth Fleur Willis, Ki Yoong, and others.
The work of Christopher Drury explores micro and macrocosms, nature and culture through carefully composed photos that highlight both natural and naturally-inspired shapes.
David Ellingsen reflects on his personal history as a fifth generation member of a family embedded in the forest industry of British Columbia. The photo series of old growth forests is beautiful and bittersweet as it presents felled trees that appear like shrouded totems to this unsustainable industry.
To see more artist work and find out about events, visit their website www.theearthissue.com.
Margaret Penney is the Managing Editor of Notes on Design. Margaret is a teacher, designer, writer and new media artist and founder of Hello Creative Co.
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