The importance of artists and art-making in the climate movement

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 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 be creative. 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 and cause. 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 and free ourselves from emotional burdens Come learn how the tools of Sustaining All Life 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. With this support we can continue building a united front and creating artwork that engages, inspires, and moves us toward a sustainable world where we live in concert with each other and everything around us.