A Presentation By: Sinthia Cousineau Environmental Art A Presentation By: Sinthia Cousineau

What is Eco-Art? Definition for Eco Art: A term used for forms of art dealing with ecological issues Goal: To help improve our relationship with the natural world

Goals of Eco-Art Eco art aims to do the following: -To create an understanding of nature and its processes, & allowing us to understand current environmental issues. -Allowing us to be concerned with environmental forces & materials we can use to create artworks. Example: wind, water, lighting, earthquakes. -To have us rethink our relationship with nature and consider some solutions on how we can better co-exist with it. -To restore ecosystems in artistic and aesthetic ways.

Brief History -Began in the 1960s -Several artists began sculpting with nature materials Examples: snow volcanoes, lighting, earth & deep sea sites. -Most of these works are temporary & exist now only on photographs Often these works are filled with messages: environmental, or ontological (concerned with nature of being)

Types of Eco Art 1) Landscape Manipulation (using nature to create art) 2) Important Message (Environmental, social, or political) 3) Using recycled materials

“We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.” - Native American Proverb

Land Art “Landscape manipulation”

Land Scape Manipulation Robert Smithson (1938 -1973) -An American artist famous for his use of photography in relation to sculpture & land art -He manipulated the natural environment -Used rocks & stones

Spiral Jetty 1970 -1,500 feet long 15 feet wide 6,650 tons of earth & black basalt -Located in Utah's Great Salt Lake, surrounded by industrial wasteland

Andy Goldsworthy -A British Artist who created outdoor sculptures using natural materials like: pedals, leaves, snow, ice, rocks and twigs. “Stone River”

Art with an Environmental Message

Nele Azevedo’s Green Message -She carved thousands of small figures which she placed on important monuments to have her audience watch them melt. -Her sculptures question the role of monuments in cities. -Mainly, her art address the urgent matter of climate change & how it threatens our existence. 1,000 ice figures on the steps of Berlin’s Gendarmenmarkt Square

Christo & Jeanne-Claude -A Bulgarian American and his American Wife. -The couple was interested in provoking their audience to think about the immediate world. -In 1972-1976 created “Running Fence”, consist of cloth attached to street poles. A veiled French of 24.5 miles crossing the private property of 59 ranchers to reach the Pacific Ocean. -Inspired after the Continental Divide. -Aimed to create a new way of seeing familiar landscape

Running Fence (1976)

Art from Recycled Materials Julie Peppito’s

Sandhi Schimmel Gold -Used junk mail and other paper waste to create art. -Using postcards, brochures or any paper people tend to throw away. -Creates mosaic portraits using these papers & non toxic paints.

Bernard Pras -A French artist who used anamorphosis (sticking objects on a canvas to give more volume) -He turned trash into treasure “The Great Wave”

Sayaka Ganz -Inspired by the Japanese belief that “all objects have spirits” and those thrown away weep in the trash bins at night. -She creates animals, to bring live again to these discarded objects

Uri Eliaz -An Israeli Artist -Creates sculptures using objects he found only in the ocean.

Educational Benefits This type of Art teaches students about: -nature -responsibility for the planet -current environmental issues -how to create art with ecological materials -That they can use art as a means to spread an important message -Inspiring change in the World

What is biodiversity? Biodiversity is the variety of all life forms on earth Made up by the different plants, animals, micro- organisms and the ecosystem of which they are a part.

Why is biodiversity so important? Supplies all life forms with raw materials which we need in order to survive Trees: Oxygen >> Paper Cotton: Clothing Crops: Food Healthy plants and wildlife

How we contribute to biodiversity Humans are the number one species who contribute to the loss of biodiversity, as we are using up all of the earths precious resources Biodiversity is threatened by climate change HOW? Overconsumption: Overhunting Overfishing Deforestation Forgetting to turn the lights off Mass production

How can we make a difference? Support local and small run businesses: - local: little transportation pollution, organic produce Eat meat free one or more days a week - cuts down on waste, air and land pollution Take public transport, ride your bike or carpool - reduces air pollution Remember to turn your light off! - reduces carbon monoxide pollution