Artivism: The Power of Art in Environmental Justice

Art for Social Change

Throughout history, the role of art in social change has been essential, building a community by expressing ideas through the “common language” of art. Whether through visual arts, music, narration, or another medium, creative expression is a powerful catalyst of social change that allows one to demonstrate resistance to an idea or support a growing movement. In the case of environmental justice, art is critical to convey messages about inequities regarding climate change and environmental health. When artists uniquely depict environmental justice issues through their work, it can spark further conversation about these systemic problems and inspire legislative reform.

Using art as a tool for social change is vital for issues where affected groups lack substantial political influence; in the case of environmental justice, this disproportionately consists of people of color. Bringing artwork into the limelight of the environmental justice movement will help promote grassroots reform and give a voice to marginalized communities. In situations where quantitative data is either not available or not representative of an entire population, art can convey significant messages that often bring about a greater sense of pathos compared to written reports and analyses.

Artists Gao Ling and Kim Anno highlight this principle. Ling initiated a photography project titled “The Big Mist” that calls for people on social media to submit selfies of themselves that communicate the problem of air pollution. People from around the world submitted photos, underscoring that art projects can increase awareness about environmental issues across different cultures and societies. Anno’s film “Water City Durban” depicts a soccer match in South Africa being played underwater, a reference to the alarming rise in sea levels. By portraying this component of climate change through visual and sentimental means, Anno’s work shows that artistic expression can energize wide-scale social change by connecting to people’s emotions.

Art for Environmental Justice

Incorporating art into environmental justice movements is vital to building connections within the community and encouraging more people to advocate for equitable environmental practices. The Sierra Club, in conjunction with the Minnesota Environmental Justice Table, Hope Community, and Community Stories Collective, initiated a portable mural project in protest against a trash burner for energy production in Minneapolis. The project was meant to involve the community’s youth to vitalize their passion for environmental activism. The mural is being installed at North High School, fostering collaboration between environmental justice organizations and students and staff at the school. The partnerships built for executing the project are invaluable in their contribution to wider community-building between youth and advocacy groups to boost environmental justice.

The importance of art in expanding the environmental justice movement is also evident through workshops and international discussions. University of Exeter professor Clare Saunders and artist Daksha Patel led online forums, inviting people from around the world to share their experiences with environmental justice. Notably, the team used art, specifically photography and drawing, to portray different environmental conditions. Participants explained their perception of environmental justice and conversed about methods to better engage the communities that are most affected by environmental inequities. The workshop by Saunders and Patel highlights the power of art in kindling broader, more impactful discussions on environmental justice, allowing for the global exchange of ideas between people from different backgrounds.

Notable Art Initiatives

Vigilance: Learning From the Legacies of BIPOC Environmental Leaders

Vigilance is an art exhibit that focuses on the contributions of people of color and marginalized communities to the environmental justice movement. The artwork presented in the exhibit highlights BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) artists and trailblazers for environmentalism and social justice. This includes Ron Finley, who inspired the idea of growing gardens ubiquitously by placing plant seeds in barren areas. Autumn Peltier, an environmentalist focused on advocating for accessible and clean drinking water, is also featured. Vigilance demonstrates the junction of environmental conservation and systemic justice issues, emphasizing the importance of valuing the voices of underprivileged individuals who are the most affected by environmental injustice but are frequently overlooked. The organization managing the exhibit arranges periodic events and activities to engage youth and adults in the community in discussions about the role of art in promoting environmental justice.

New Forest, Ancient Thrones

The Detroit Remediation Forest, “New Forest, Ancient Thrones,” by Jordan Weber is an art installation that portrays the intersection of Black female activists and environmental conservation. The piece features two crowns that represent African queens Queen Idia of Benin and Queen Ranavalona III of Madagascar. Weber explains that the queens’ resilience in preserving their land against colonial takeover is paralleled by the work of modern-day social and environmental justice activists. In the center of the sculpture, there is an air quality monitor to evaluate levels of particulate matter (PM) pollution, the reading of which is shown through lights on the structure. Interestingly, the sculpture is very close to the Stellantis Mack Assembly Plant; unsurprisingly, the PM detector has identified multiple air quality violations in the nearby region. Weber’s artwork uniquely combines the historical African diaspora and environmental justice, bringing further attention to ongoing systemic injustices committed against people of color specifically with regard to environmental hazards.

Art is a patently powerful tool to convey messages of environmental justice, bringing more attention to social inequities and stimulating thorough discussions about people’s experiences and solutions at the intersection of environmental conservation and social reform.

Works Cited

Gale, Brennecke. “Art as a Tool for Environmental Justice.” Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, 19 Apr. 2023, sustainability.stanford.edu/news/art-tool-environmental-justice.

Idowu, Angel. “‘Vigilance’ Showcases Diverse Environmental Leaders With Work From Local, National Artists.” WTTW News, 22 Apr. 2024, news.wttw.com/2024/04/22/vigilance-showcases-diverse-environmental-leaders-work-local-national-artists.

Maddern, Kerra. “Creativity Helps the Disempowered to Highlight Climate Emergency Concerns, Study Shows.” University of Exeter News, 6 Feb. 2024, news.exeter.ac.uk/uncategorized/creativity-helps-the-disempowered-to-highlight-climate-emergency-concerns-study-shows/.

Terrill, Whitney. “Art and Activism.” Sierra Club, 20 Feb. 2024, www.sierraclub.org/minnesota/blog/2024/02/art-and-activism.

Walker, Micah. “Detroit Remediation Forest Uplifts East Side Art, Environmental Justice.” BridgeDetroit, 5 June 2024, www.bridgedetroit.com/detroit-remediation-forest-uplifts-east-side-art-environmental-justice/.