Last month I posted 16 Ways to Reduce the Carbon Footprint in Your Art Studio and I invited artists to contribute their ideas. One artist was chosen for their answer, and has won a free class: Courtney Wooten pointed out that as artists, our greatest potential for impact can be made by using our art to “spread awareness, to shine a light, to educate, inspire, agitate and help build a movement.”
Courtney Wooten: Although we do a lot of re-using canvases and re-purposing materials in our home, my mind keeps going back to Toni Cade Bambara’s exhortation that, “the role of the artist is to make revolution irresistible.” As important as personal responsibility and praxis is to me, over 70% of greenhouse gas emissions come from 100 corporations. Reducing my own carbon footprint is great, and using my art to spread awareness, to shine a light, to educate, inspire, agitate and try to help build a movement feels even greater! No social movement is without creativity and visual art—as Brecht (I think, I’m paraphrasing?) reminded us, our artistic expression isn’t just about holding up a mirror to reflect society, but wielding a hammer with which to shape it.
Art News by Anika D. We all know that abstract art has made a big comeback on the art market, but how many of you know that abstractionism is also the favorite style of the presidential couple Barack and Michelle Obama? Unlike his forbearers, Barack Obama seems to be tired of looking at all those boring …
I’ve been posting drawings with hands as expressive elements. Today a work by Prinston Nnanna appeared in my inbox. Prinston is a Brooklyn-based artist who works with charcoal, coffee, and acrylic inks. According to his website, his goal is to “depict the elegance of the Black figure at the same time as reconstructing the image in …
As a young child, Pippin attended a segregated one-room school in Goshen, New York. When he was ten years old, he answered a magazine advertisement and received a box of crayon pencils, paint, and two brushes. At age 15 Pippin left school to care for his ailing mother. She died when he was 23, and …
[image_with_animation image_url=”7183″ alignment=”” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] I’ve been making more monotypes. I can’t seem to put them down. The exciting discovery of what comes out of the press is as neurologically rewarding as opening wrapped presents. Better maybe. The invitation of the ghosted plate, cold blankness eliminated, grey tones and shapes invite me to create …
The role of the artist is to make revolution irresistible
Last month I posted 16 Ways to Reduce the Carbon Footprint in Your Art Studio and I invited artists to contribute their ideas. One artist was chosen for their answer, and has won a free class: Courtney Wooten pointed out that as artists, our greatest potential for impact can be made by using our art to “spread awareness, to shine a light, to educate, inspire, agitate and help build a movement.”
Courtney Wooten: Although we do a lot of re-using canvases and re-purposing materials in our home, my mind keeps going back to Toni Cade Bambara’s exhortation that, “the role of the artist is to make revolution irresistible.” As important as personal responsibility and praxis is to me, over 70% of greenhouse gas emissions come from 100 corporations. Reducing my own carbon footprint is great, and using my art to spread awareness, to shine a light, to educate, inspire, agitate and try to help build a movement feels even greater! No social movement is without creativity and visual art—as Brecht (I think, I’m paraphrasing?) reminded us, our artistic expression isn’t just about holding up a mirror to reflect society, but wielding a hammer with which to shape it.
Use your art to raise awareness, call for action, and change the world. (Works for any medium and skill level!) – Courtney Wooten
Thank you for the call back to our powerful potential as artists, Courtney. Looking forward to seeing you in class!
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Art News by Anika D. We all know that abstract art has made a big comeback on the art market, but how many of you know that abstractionism is also the favorite style of the presidential couple Barack and Michelle Obama? Unlike his forbearers, Barack Obama seems to be tired of looking at all those boring …
Drawing Hands: Prinston Nnanna
I’ve been posting drawings with hands as expressive elements. Today a work by Prinston Nnanna appeared in my inbox. Prinston is a Brooklyn-based artist who works with charcoal, coffee, and acrylic inks. According to his website, his goal is to “depict the elegance of the Black figure at the same time as reconstructing the image in …
Horace Pippin
As a young child, Pippin attended a segregated one-room school in Goshen, New York. When he was ten years old, he answered a magazine advertisement and received a box of crayon pencils, paint, and two brushes. At age 15 Pippin left school to care for his ailing mother. She died when he was 23, and …
Degas’ Pastel Over Monotypes
[image_with_animation image_url=”7183″ alignment=”” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] I’ve been making more monotypes. I can’t seem to put them down. The exciting discovery of what comes out of the press is as neurologically rewarding as opening wrapped presents. Better maybe. The invitation of the ghosted plate, cold blankness eliminated, grey tones and shapes invite me to create …