Promoting Campus Sustainability with Art
I don't consider myself talented enough to call myself an artist. But, I am an art lover. I especially love art that is motivated by convictions or that delivers a message.
I was walking through a local high school the other day and was thrilled by the beautiful murals painted in the hallways. They promoted positive messages, such as valuing education, healthiness and the earth. It got me wondering how people are using art to promote campus sustainability. I know of a few ways, that I'll list here, but I would really appreciate it if you, dear readers, would add your experiences, thoughts and ideas by leaving comments below.
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Earth Jams- almost every Earth Day event I've attended has included an Earth Jam, with local musicians drawing people together through a free concert.
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Murals
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Recycled Art- promote the 3Rs with art pieces constructed out of reclaimed materials, such as the piece at right which was created by College of William & Mary students to promote recycling.
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Posters- beautifully designed, drawn or painted poster art that promotes an environmental message
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Design Projects- Concordia University got design students to produce a beautiful and sustainable design for their 2006 Campus Sustainability Assessment report
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PLEASE!! Tell us about examples you've seen or participated in! If you send us photos, we'll post them too!**
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Green Mountain College
Green Mountain College annually hosts an "Earth Week" celebration -- a serveral-days expansion of the traditional Earth Day. During Earth Week, environmentally themed installations - often made of "found items" diverted from the landfill - are exhibited around campus and sometimes become part of our more permanent landscape. Art students work with faculty, Earth Week organizers, and our Land Use Committee to approve the installations and have to demonstrate how the piece will minimize impact while in place.
My favorite demonstrations (I'm still blown away) of art and sustainability work comes out of Allegheny College's Center for Economic and Environmental Development. They've made tremendous work of combining sustainability and service through their art and other work. http://ceed.allegheny.edu/A&EI/index.html Check out their road sign mural and flowers projects.
I'm encouraging my fellow
I'm encouraging my fellow students to decommission their cars and take a pledge of not owning one again until they are sustainable; if that ever happens! I stuccoed my car and painted it black as part of the Black Car Project. Now I am looking for fellow activists to inspire change by making a commitment that counts and resonates with others! http://autovoid.blogspot.com
I'm sending this link and message to you in the hopes you will post it, blog it, listserve it, wiki it, e-mail it, and look at it! Wouldn't it be cool to have a decommissioned art car in every school's parking lot in the country? Check out the photos of my car on the website and feel free to use the image!
This is important: it's the
This is important: it's the first evidence I've seen of any school including the ARTS in its sustainability plan - something ARTS AT THE HEART OF A SUSTAINABLE WORLD, an initiative fostered by the US Partnership for the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development and Earth Charter USA, is looking for.
Arts at the Heart is a global initiative aimed at sharing information and generating support for increasing recognition engagement with the arts at the best way to foster the personal and collective creativity we need to create a sustainable world.
We;d love to hear from artists, educators and activists interested in adding their voice to this project - contact . An April '08 event in Ithaca, NY will be developing action plans for next steps on NYS and global levels: GREENING THE ARTS, a Symposium to Explore a Role for the Arts in Creating a Sustainable World, April 25 & 26 - all welcome.