The Power of Artivism: Visionary Artists Inspiring Change
Art and performance offer ways to communicate visions and strategies for transformative change in visceral ways that transcend dry discourse. When words alone seem to fall flat, art or music can at times communicate more effectively the burning need for a more nature-honoring, equitable society. Throughout history and into the present day, many significant movements for positive change have been buoyed by a wide range of artistic expressions that lend their power to the cause.
In this newsletter, we explore some renowned artists whose work weaves together cutting-edge ecological science with social interventions. They include groundbreaking artist, activist and teacher Betsy Damon, whose water-based work has had enormous global influence, and filmmaker, environmentalist and educator Joshua Harrison, who uses art, powerful new data collection technologies and breakthroughs in ecology to illuminate the climate crisis. We’ll also speak with the scientist whose cutting-edge research led to the breathtaking image of a sea star’s nervous system being used as the Bioneers 2024 Conference image. Plus, we’re excited to highlight the incredible artists who will be exhibiting at this year’s event, including activist Veronica Ramirez, who led the public earth altar-making ritual pictured above.
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Discovering the Real Nature of Water
The artist, activist and teacher Betsy Damon has focused on virtually every aspect of water during the past four decades, from the essence of water drops to whole water systems and their connections to life on Earth. Over the years, she has borne witness to the decline in water quality around the world as a result of human activities. In this excerpt from her book “Water Talks,” Damon writes about her childhood growing up around water and the events that led her to create “A Memory of Clean Water,” a 250-foot paper cast of a dry riverbed.
Research Technique Creates Striking Image of Sea Star Nervous System
Though the beauty of a sea star’s nervous system was incidental to postdoctoral scholar Laurent Formery’s research on their development and evolution, its power was not lost on him. His microscopy image of a juvenile sea star’s nervous system is featured as a primary part of the composite image being used for the Bioneers 2024 Conference. The image won the 2022 Evident Global Scientific Light Microscopy Award and made the cover of “Nature” as part of his recently published study. In the image, each layer of the sea star’s nervous system is represented by a different color, resulting in an arresting rainbow-hued rendering of its internal workings.
Artivism in the Age of Climate Chaos and Societal Instability
Throughout history, the most significant movements for positive change have nearly always been accompanied by powerful artistic expressions that shed light on injustices and offer visions of a more equitable society. We are currently facing unprecedented challenges as our climate unravels and reactionary authoritarian movements gain momentum. Does navigating these seemingly perpetual existential crises necessitate new strategies from the “engaged” creative community? This session will feature leading activist-artists and innovative figures reshaping art institutions, who will share their insights and experiences.
The panel will be moderated by Arturo Mendez-Reyes, founder of Arts.Co.Lab, a “cultural equity agency” dedicated to strengthening the cultural ecosystem within marginalized communities. Panelists include Devon Bella, founder of Art and Climate Action, a Bay Area collective committed to fostering a sustainable and environmentally-conscious arts community; David Solnit, renowned direct action organizer, author, puppeteer, and co-founder of Art and Revolution; among others TBA.
Art, Science, Ecology and the Climate Crisis | An Interview with Joshua Harrison
Joshua Harrison, a filmmaker, environmentalist and educator, is the heir to an illustrious legacy: his late parents, Newton and Helen Harrison, are widely considered to be among the most important and influential visionaries in the “Eco-Art” movement. Joshua, who has been engaged in the intersection of art and ecology since participating in middle school demonstrations on the first Earth Day in 1970, became Director of The Center for the Study of the Force Majeure after the passing of his father in 2022. Watch his conversation with Bioneers Senior Producer J.P. Harpignies below.
“Bending The River”: An Adaptive Reuse of the LA River Infrastructure
The Los Angeles River, in its current form, is a concretized flood control measure built in the 1930s that moves wastewater from the city directly out to sea. Utilizing the principles of adaptive reuse, the “Bending The River” project moves a portion of the LA River water and lifts it to the Metabolic Studio, where it will pass through a native wetland treatment and then will be distributed to local parks including the 52-acre park adjacent LA State Historic Park. This work culminates a transformation that began in 2005 with the project “Not A Cornfield.” A still from the “Bending The River” project’s livestream is pictured above.
Bioneers 2024 Artists and Performers
Art and performance will play a vital, celebratory and transformational role at Bioneers’ 35th conference. There will be three musical performances: singer/songwriter/musician Chris Pierce; musical duo The Local Honeys; and Destiny Arts Youth Performance Company. The conference will also feature an impressive list of visionary art activists. Bioneers artists include activist Veronica Ramirez, who has led public earth altar-making rituals; Roberta Trentin, whose work explores overlooked stories of fungi, microorganisms, and plants; Lisa Zimmer-Chu, who is committed to working with repurposed and found objects; and many more.
Upcoming Bioneers Learning Courses & Community Conversations
Through engaging courses and conversations led by some of the world’s foremost movement leaders, Bioneers Learning and Community Conversations equip engaged citizens and professionals like you with the knowledge, tools, resources, and networks to initiate or deepen your engagement, leading to real change in your life and community.
Upcoming Bioneers Learning Courses:
- Attuning to, Aligning with & Serving the Flow of Universal Evolution | Starting March 20 | Wake up to a radical reality and discover as a species who we really and truly are and who we can evolve to become.
- Being a Good Relative: Allyship with Indigenous Peoples | Starting April 24 | Understand and come to embody what it means to be a good ally through interactive teachings, discussions, and hands-on activities.
- The Four Sacred Gifts: Indigenous Wisdom for Modern Times | Self-Paced | Discover how the Four Sacred Gifts of forgiving the unforgivable, unity, healing, and hope in action provide us with a path to our most grounded, loving, healed, and generous selves.
- Regenerative Agriculture: Nourishing the Soil, Healing the Planet | Self-Paced | Be enlightened on the practical applications and impressive potential that regenerative agriculture has to revive healthy landscapes; contribute to human and animal health; create an equitable food system; and help heal the climate.
Upcoming Community Conversations:
- More coming soon!