UNB and Conservation Council of New Brunswick host environmental art show for Earth Day
Author: UNB Newsroom
Posted on Apr 21, 2022
Category: UNB Saint John , UNB Fredericton
UNB Sustainability and the Conservation Council of New Brunswick have teamed up to showcase an innovative community art project, “From Harm to Harmony: Healing the Land, Healing Ourselves,” debuting on Earth Day 2022.
The opening celebration will take place at the New Brunswick Archives & Special Collections Building (23 Dineen Dr., UNB Fredericton) on Friday, April 22, from 4 – 7 p.m. Artists include staff and alumni from UNB and St. Thomas University.
“From Harm to Harmony: Healing the Land, Healing Ourselves” is a group exhibition featuring works by artists across New Brunswick with varied representation in terms of cultural backgrounds, geographic locations, accessibility needs and artistic disciplines. With a unified desire to address the environmental emergency, their work aims to change the story of the nature and climate crises from one of despair, worry and loss, to one of hope, love and action.
For the past six months these artists have met regularly online with the two project facilitators, harnessing each artist’s mediums to address climate change individually and collectively. Through a variety of media and techniques (including songwriting, poetry, carving, embroidery, weaving, digital art, painting, rug hooking, video production, wool felting and more), their work offers varying perspectives on the natural world and the challenges that our society faces today.
These artists understand that to see change, we need to speak to people who have different and sometimes opposing values, nurturing biocentric and inter-relational values first. Starting from the notion that change begins with small actions at an individual level, the group also hopes to foster a desire to promote environmental action within our families, communities and institutions.
“I have become used to and perhaps hardened off to the scolding and threatening messages of climate gloom and doom, but this project has opened a new door, a necessary change in people's attitude to a more loving one, with nature and with each other,” says Ralph Simpson, artist and UNB alumnus. “I think, if we approach a problem with that a caring and kind mindset, we will find a way to make the changes in our lives.”
See UNB Sustainability’s Facebook and Instagram to see highlights from some of the artists who are alumni of UNB and STU.
Media contact: Kelsey Pye