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.
[image_with_animation image_url=”11664″ alignment=”” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] For the purpose of torturing my Still Lifes Class with a level of realism few on the planet can reproduce, here are some Still lifes by Israel Hershberg. Israel Hershberg lives and works in Jerusalem, Israel. While he is known primarily as a landscape and figurative painter, his realist …
The Chicken Coop Challenge 10 teams collaborated for this blind drawing challenge. Each team member emailed me their drawings without their team mates seeing what they drew, and I assembled them. Evidently, no one can be serious. Winning team below. And the winning team is… 2 HILLS! Brad Wilder drew the roof, Lucy Garnett drew …
One year ago in March, to protect our students and teachers from a new coronavirus, the Seattle Artist League moved our classes online. The virus was declared a national emergency, and we went into quarantine. We have now been in quarantine for thirteen months. Through this year, we have met each other online to draw, …
This is the last day in our 30 Day Creative Challenge! A big public THANK YOU to those artists who posted your sketches to Instagram or to Padlet. While the posting type people are wooting amidst their social media glitter and confetti, I’ll pass a word of quiet appreciation to the unknown number of you …
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!
Related Posts
Israel Hershberg’s Quiet Still Lifes
[image_with_animation image_url=”11664″ alignment=”” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] For the purpose of torturing my Still Lifes Class with a level of realism few on the planet can reproduce, here are some Still lifes by Israel Hershberg. Israel Hershberg lives and works in Jerusalem, Israel. While he is known primarily as a landscape and figurative painter, his realist …
Exquisite Corpse Challenge 2 Winners
The Chicken Coop Challenge 10 teams collaborated for this blind drawing challenge. Each team member emailed me their drawings without their team mates seeing what they drew, and I assembled them. Evidently, no one can be serious. Winning team below. And the winning team is… 2 HILLS! Brad Wilder drew the roof, Lucy Garnett drew …
Online Anniversary Show: Bold Abstracts
One year ago in March, to protect our students and teachers from a new coronavirus, the Seattle Artist League moved our classes online. The virus was declared a national emergency, and we went into quarantine. We have now been in quarantine for thirteen months. Through this year, we have met each other online to draw, …
Day 30: Black Square #30SAL
This is the last day in our 30 Day Creative Challenge! A big public THANK YOU to those artists who posted your sketches to Instagram or to Padlet. While the posting type people are wooting amidst their social media glitter and confetti, I’ll pass a word of quiet appreciation to the unknown number of you …