Comments on: Teaching Ecoartivism http://blog.art21.org/2009/11/19/teaching-ecoartivism/ The Official Blog of Art21, Inc. and the Art in the Twenty-First Century PBS series Sat, 20 Mar 2010 17:38:50 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Mary Jo Aagerstoun http://blog.art21.org/2009/11/19/teaching-ecoartivism/comment-page-1/#comment-19392 Mary Jo Aagerstoun Thu, 18 Feb 2010 18:44:26 +0000 http://blog.art21.org/?p=11706#comment-19392 Coming up with cute names for practices that are basically object or installation related and created to be shown in commercial galleries or other exhibition spaces does nothing to engage art with environmental activism, IMHO. Rather, please consider the work (never mentioned on this blog) by Newton and Helen Harrison and Betsy Damon, both of whom are semifinalists for the prestigious Buckminster Fuller award. Artists like the Harrisons, Betsy Damon and hundreds of others are working worldwide in collaboration with scientists, engineers, architects, landscape architects and many other professionals to marry art to TRUE environmental activism...addressing environmental crises like water scarcity and pollution, energy creation and saving with a combination of conceptual, process, social sculpture, direct democracy and other social-aesthetic approaches. See www.sfeap.org for an outline of the FIRST EVER EcoArt apprenticeship for professional artists living in Florida. This apprenticeship does not focus on galleries and objects, but on creating healthy environmental and ecological processes. Coming up with cute names for practices that are basically object or installation related and created to be shown in commercial galleries or other exhibition spaces does nothing to engage art with environmental activism, IMHO. Rather, please consider the work (never mentioned on this blog) by Newton and Helen Harrison and Betsy Damon, both of whom are semifinalists for the prestigious Buckminster Fuller award. Artists like the Harrisons, Betsy Damon and hundreds of others are working worldwide in collaboration with scientists, engineers, architects, landscape architects and many other professionals to marry art to TRUE environmental activism…addressing environmental crises like water scarcity and pollution, energy creation and saving with a combination of conceptual, process, social sculpture, direct democracy and other social-aesthetic approaches. See http://www.sfeap.org for an outline of the FIRST EVER EcoArt apprenticeship for professional artists living in Florida. This apprenticeship does not focus on galleries and objects, but on creating healthy environmental and ecological processes.

]]> By: What’s Cookin at the Art21 Blog: A Weekly Index | Art21 Blog http://blog.art21.org/2009/11/19/teaching-ecoartivism/comment-page-1/#comment-15308 What’s Cookin at the Art21 Blog: A Weekly Index | Art21 Blog Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:17:04 +0000 http://blog.art21.org/?p=11706#comment-15308 [...] talks about the Mythic Environments created by Robert Smithson and Eames Demetrios… What is Ecoartivism? Stacy Ward Kelly has been inspired by many artists  who have a calling to protect and care for [...] [...] talks about the Mythic Environments created by Robert Smithson and Eames Demetrios… What is Ecoartivism? Stacy Ward Kelly has been inspired by many artists  who have a calling to protect and care for [...]

]]> By: kalman gacs http://blog.art21.org/2009/11/19/teaching-ecoartivism/comment-page-1/#comment-15301 kalman gacs Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:17:14 +0000 http://blog.art21.org/?p=11706#comment-15301 Great article! Check out http://www.climatechangeartists.org The exhibition shown there is available to travel. Great article!
Check out http://www.climatechangeartists.org
The exhibition shown there is available to travel.

]]> By: Mary Mugele Sealfon http://blog.art21.org/2009/11/19/teaching-ecoartivism/comment-page-1/#comment-15300 Mary Mugele Sealfon Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:31:09 +0000 http://blog.art21.org/?p=11706#comment-15300 Ecoartivism is an important part of the contemporary zeitgeist. I am participating in two other groups which deal with aspects ecoartivism. 1. The mission of the Wallkill River gallery & school in Montgomery, NY is to raise public awareness of the disappearing open spaces, and challenges facing our small farms. We hope that by showing our region is beautiful and worth preserving, and through our art activism (ecoartivism), we will inspire others to help preserve our open spaces. The artists often partner with historic sites such as Sugar Loaf Village, organic farms, and nonprofits like Black Rock Forest Consortium to build benefit art auctions, giving participants a chance to sell their work, and help raise money for nonprofits that preserve open spaces. The WRS published a local foods cookbook based on what our farms grow, in season, and where to find it. The WRS is committed to buying local, and all our events are zero waste, handicapped-accessible, and carbon neutral. 2. Another group which has just started meeting: Arts in Healthcare Seminar. Twenty Orange County and regional artists from various disciplines, are working in a seminar on the Arts and Healthcare. (from a grant from Orange County to the Palisades Conservancy and their Artists in the Park Program, assisted by the Orange County Arts Council) A combination of think tank and field research, the seminar develops the artist’s knowledge and experience in new approaches to programming in arts and healthcare, particularly in services to veterans. After two meetings I have learned that most of the artists incorporate the environment/nature in their work and consider nature an important healing resource. Ecoartivism is an important part of the contemporary zeitgeist. I am participating in two other groups which deal with aspects ecoartivism.
1. The mission of the Wallkill River gallery & school in Montgomery, NY is to raise public awareness of the disappearing open spaces, and challenges facing our small farms. We hope that by showing our region is beautiful and worth preserving, and through our art activism (ecoartivism), we will inspire others to help preserve our open spaces. The artists often partner with historic sites such as Sugar Loaf Village, organic farms, and nonprofits like Black Rock Forest Consortium to build benefit art auctions, giving participants a chance to sell their work, and help raise money for nonprofits that preserve open spaces. The WRS published a local foods cookbook based on what our farms grow, in season, and where to find it. The WRS is committed to buying local, and all our events are zero waste, handicapped-accessible, and carbon neutral.

2. Another group which has just started meeting:
Arts in Healthcare Seminar. Twenty Orange County and regional artists from various disciplines, are working in a seminar on the Arts and Healthcare. (from a grant from Orange County to the Palisades Conservancy and their Artists in the Park Program, assisted by the Orange County Arts Council) A combination of think tank and field research, the seminar develops the artist’s knowledge and experience in new approaches to programming in arts and healthcare, particularly in services to veterans. After two meetings I have learned that most of the artists incorporate the environment/nature in their work and consider nature an important healing resource.

]]> By: Damien Franco http://blog.art21.org/2009/11/19/teaching-ecoartivism/comment-page-1/#comment-15214 Damien Franco Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:39:34 +0000 http://blog.art21.org/?p=11706#comment-15214 It's really awesome that you took the time to highlight this trend of "ecoartivism". I'm currently in the transition of moving my work-flow into a more eco-friendly environment. As a photographer I use Macs and am currently testing out recycled papers for my fine art photography printing needs. If everyone did just a few moves like this a huge impact would be made. Every little bit helps. It’s really awesome that you took the time to highlight this trend of “ecoartivism”. I’m currently in the transition of moving my work-flow into a more eco-friendly environment. As a photographer I use Macs and am currently testing out recycled papers for my fine art photography printing needs.

If everyone did just a few moves like this a huge impact would be made. Every little bit helps.

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