Regarding sustainability and how it intersects with society, the focus is typically on business and consumer habits. As you may have learned from our previous articles and podcasts, we frequently talk to small business leaders focusing on sustainable development.
Today, however, we're focusing on the creative side of things. We spoke with members of Operation ARTS, a nonprofit supporting artists and bringing sustainability to the art world. They've delivered resources and support to hundreds of artists nationwide. Their work shows that sustainability can be a focus for all endeavors.
A New Movement in Sustainable Art
Operation ARTS began in 2019 when Chyna Mae and Renee Taylor decided to use their experience as professional artists to help emerging artists struggling to find the support needed to become full-time career artists. Since its inception, Operation ARTS has produced 30+ professional development events, 20+ gallery exhibitions, and five large public art projects. They've also provided career training for over 100 local artists and partnered with dozens of local organizations.
That sounds great, but it wasn't enough for the team at Operation ARTS. With a passion for sustainable art and knowledge about sustainable materials, they decided to promote education in environmental consciousness for artists.
We had the chance to sit down with Daniel Collins, Treasurer, and Development Director, and Steve Fowler, Director of Fundraising and Philanthropy, and discuss what sustainability in art means to them and their board members Chyna Mae, President and Creative Director and Renee Taylor Secretary and Operations Director.
How can artists use their work to communicate the importance of being socially and environmentally conscious?
Steve: "Art needs a medium. Artists have to choose their source materials—and being cost conscious is just one factor—but for some, it's the only factor. Artists are often the voices of their generation, so who better to raise consciousness and awareness? Something as simple as responsibly sourced material can influence a scene, style, or, ideally, life-imitating art.
Artists have a unique platform to communicate important social and environmental messages through their work. By thoughtfully selecting their source materials, artists can make a significant impact on the world. For example, choosing sustainably and ethically sourced materials for their creations can help raise awareness about the importance of responsible consumption and production. By doing so, artists can set an example and inspire others to follow suit.
Art has the power to influence society and culture, and artists are often at the forefront of these movements. Through their work, artists can provoke thought and spark conversations about pressing social and environmental issues. They can use their art to create a dialogue and promote the importance of being socially and environmentally conscious.
In conclusion, artists have a significant role to play in promoting social and environmental consciousness. By selecting their source materials responsibly and using their artistic talents to create meaningful works that inspire and provoke thought, artists can help shift societal attitudes towards more sustainable and responsible practices. Art has the power to create change, and artists are key agents of that change."
Indeed, Steve makes an interesting point. Artists can not only promote sustainability by using natural materials, for instance—they can do it through symbolic or cultural impact. Every significant social movement, whether with climate change, civil rights, or foreign conflict, has a long history of an artist's work leading the cultural response. Painting, photography, poetry, and music are all tied to how we express ourselves regarding social change.
Implementing progressive political policy through art makes a big difference in creating a better future and fighting environmental and social injustice in our world today—and it is essential to bring awareness to these issues to affect meaningful change.
Combating Climate Change via the Art World
Inspiring ideas, that's for sure. But we wanted to investigate what that looked like on the ground floor. We asked Steve and Daniel to describe what Operation ARTS is working on to support earth art and our natural world through their initiatives.
What are some projects you are working on where you have incorporated sustainability or environmentalism?
Steve: "Every project chosen by Operation ARTS incorporates sustainability in a meaningful way. The ARTS in the name is an acronym for Alliance for Responsible Trade and Sustainability. As such, we focus on sustainably sourcing materials from ethical suppliers and consider local and eco options for every possible material and method. We also focus on reducing waste, upcycling, reusing, and transforming unused materials into new works of art.
We make and receive donations of art supplies and materials to support the community and reduce unnecessary waste. We upcycle free art supplies such as frames, canvas and other materials to local artist in need. These policies and systems are part of how Operation ARTS operates every day, but we are also currently working on some specific projects that incorporate sustainability and environmentalism.
Our free little art galleries, libraries, and multiple murals and signs are all illuminated with solar-powered LED lights instead of using the traditional energy grid. Many of our projects utilize recycled materials if at all possible. In 2022 alone, Operations ARTS helped remove the equivalent of over 12,800 plastic bottles from the waste stream using recycled plastic products through the Green Roof Bus Shelter Project for Edmonston.
In addition to the methods, many of our project’s artwork features environmentalism and sustainability in their theme and subject as well. Our President, Chyna Mae designed a sustainable design for all the Free Little Libraries, Free Little Art Galleries and Free Food Pantry. For examples The little free library outside of eco-city farms in Edmonston features scenes inspired by Dr. Seuss’ quoting The Lorax “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, noting is going to get better. Its Not.” We also never throw left over scrapes away always finding ways to recreate our scraps into other projects.
We love seeing people create tangible change, not just talking about it. With these programs, Operation ARTS certainly is doing just that. Whether educating as many artists as possible on sustainability, using upcycled materials, or offering easy switches to natural materials—there's a lot of opportunity for positive change in the art world.
Eco Consciousness as Creative Expression
We've always believed that fostering a personal connection is a meaningful way to make sustainability a permanent part of people's lives. Combining art and social consciousness is a great way to accomplish that. Exposing people to ecological art (whether made using environmentally friendly materials or a piece of art focusing on environmentalism from a conceptual standpoint) can create an enduring emotional link.
We asked Steve and Daniel to explain their connection to sustainability.
What does "sustainability" mean to you?
Steve: "In a word: equity. More conceptually: it's when consumption and cost do not diminish availability and accessibility. Whether it is a natural resource, or a business model, sustainable means equitable.
Ultimately, sustainability is about creating a world that is in harmony with nature and supports the well-being of all living beings."
Daniel: "One of the best concepts I have encountered relating to sustainable design and environmentally healthy business practices is: “Cradle-to-Cradle” which is an expansion of the product concept “cradle to grave.” This concept considers the entire lifecycle of a product and ensures that it is restorative to the resources it utilizes to produce, ship, use, and dispose of. This is the only way a process can truly be sustainable; if it interfaces with the environment in a way that is beneficial instead of detrimental to the resources that sustain its existence."
Our conversation certainly gave us much to consider, not to mention the desire to create art! While we may not be the next great figure in the land art movement, we can certainly get behind Operation ARTS' mission to enable other artists to educate, stop creating waste, and fight the climate crisis.
Check out Operation ARTS' website for more about its ecological art mission. Otherwise, join the BeOne community to hear from other important figures in environmental awareness.