At Home On Earth

SIMPLE / SMART / SUSTAINABLE / STORIES

Hayfield, by Nancy Furino

“A good landscape painting can transcend the simple reproduction of a scene, often inspiring viewers to look afresh, and want to preserve what makes [a place] a visual and ecological treasure,” writes Hermine Hull in this essay about why artists paint landscapes. “An unobstructed view. A stormy day or a placid one. Wind rushing through a hot, summer field. An opening beyond a woodland that draws a viewer to wonder where that pathway goes.”

There are many, she writes, who believe the grandiose landscape paintings of the Hudson River School in the late 19th century inspired the conservation movement in America. 

“Conservation, preservation, the care and stewardship of our … views and values, our traditions, our community, our history,” she writes. “That is what most of us care about. Art maintains these values.”

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Don’t Miss the Boat!

“Cultural change often needs to precede policy change.”

–Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, author of What If We Get It Right? (on Amazon and Bookshop)

Ayana Elizabeth Johnson recently participated in the Martha’s Vineyard Book Festival where she spoke about her own book, as well as many of the solutions available to address climate change. Later, at a private event, she was asked to expand on her quote (above). She pointed to when the U.S. military was discussing whether soldiers were ready to include gay enlistees, to which a military chief responded something along the lines of, “I should think so. The most-watched TV show on our ships and bases is Will and Grace.” Ayana’s point was that we ready people for solutions by making them part of our cultural landscape — in fiction, movies, music, art. Let’s look for those cultural touchpoints — the characters who thrift and use city transit, the storylines that feature heat waves or drought. Not necessarily disaster books and movies (we have plenty of those) but rather culture that reflects back our new reality and provides different ways of thinking about it.

• Is Doodling Good for the Environment?

• How to Host a Party With the Earth in Mind

• Sustainability on the Set

• Make a Seasonal Fruit Kernza Tart

• Keen, Green Back-to-School Clothes

• Preserving the Ojai Playhouse

• In Santa Barbara, Painting to Preserve Nature

• In North Dakota, an Emphasis on Local Food Addresses Food Deserts

• Why Do Artists Paint Landscapes?

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FEATURED STORIES

BIG IDEAS AND LOCAL CHANGEMAKERS

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Artists Passage, Carpinteria Bluffs, by Arturo Tello

More than 70 acres of pristine bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean. A 76-mile stretch of undeveloped coastline. A 300-acre open space in the foothills with views of the coast and the mountains. The Oak Group, a collective of artists in Santa Barbara, has used paintings made by members to raise awareness and funds to conserve all of these places, and more. The group’s cofounder, Arturo Tello, first started bringing art to planning meetings to counteract the posters prospective developers would display, to show what would be lost if developers were allowed to build. “There was a certain poignancy to painting a place that was in danger of being lost,” he says. “And now, there's a different kind of poignancy when I paint a place that has been preserved in perpetuity.”

Dear Dot: How Can I Build Community? And Why?

Dear Dot,

I keep hearing people talk about how important it is to build community as we confront a warming planet. But I live in a medium-sized city where people keep to themselves, so I’m not sure how to do that … or even really why I should. Help?

– Shawna

Dear Shawna,

I, too, have noticed that the buzz around community-building is growing louder, mixed in with warnings about “collapse” and “breakdown.” It can be hard to keep a cool head when confronted with predictions that sound like the plot of a dystopian sci-fi film. 

But whether or not we’re on the brink of societal and/or ecological collapse, the idea of creating community remains a good one. Consider this, from renowned scientist, broadcaster, and climate activist David Suzuki, who recently told a reporter that “The units of survival are going to be local communities, so I’m urging local communities to get together.” With increasing emergencies in the form of earthquakes, floods, droughts, and storms, he says, “governments will not be able to respond on the scale or speed that is needed for these emergencies.” 

This often happens organically in the wake of natural disasters but proactively creating community is wise. How? Dot shares some ideas. 

BUY LESS/BUY BETTER: Back-to-School Clothes

If you make a purchase through our links, including from Amazon, we may earn a small commission.

’Tis the season for new supplies, new routines, and new clothes. But dressing growing kids doesn’t have to come at the planet’s expense. Start by asking friends and checking Facebook Marketplace for hand-me-downs. When shopping new, look for companies that prioritize sustainability and durability, like these three mom-founded brands. 

Colorful Clothes for Play

Mightly is our top pick for sustainable apparel that won’t break the bank. Stock up on items like Fair Trade, organic cotton tees: just $34.95 for three. Features like extendable cuffs help lengthen the lifespan of the clothes. Save 20% with code BLUEDOT20. Shop today or read our review.

Wearable Whimsy

Winter Water Factory brings bold, joyful prints to life on organic cotton clothes designed and made in Brooklyn. The creative, comfortable duds include perfect tees, twirly dresses, and cozy rompers available in sizes that fit the whole family. Shop today or read our review.

Basics Built to Last

Jackalo designs durable, comfortable clothes for active kids, with special features such as reinforced knees. This 1% for the Planet member operates a thoughtful buy-back program that enables multiple kids to use the same clothes. Shop today or read our review.

What You Can Do

Who’s up for a movie night? We know that talking about climate is perhaps THE MOST important thing we can do. One way to spark a conversation is to get your friends together to watch the film Don’t Look Up, which Bluedot Institute student Lauren Peloquin reviewed as part of the Bluedot writing program. Then host a discussion to see what everyone thought, using this discussion guide to help make the climate connection. 

The Keep-This-Handbook

Art as Advocacy

I love museums. I could spend days wandering around The Art Institute of Chicago or The Broad here in L.A., taking in the modern masterpieces and reading the wall labels, which always teach me something interesting about the artist or the artwork (or both). So I was thrilled when I got the opportunity to launch Bluedot’s Works in Progress series, about artists whose work deals with ecological themes. Over the past two years, I’ve edited Q&A interviews with playwrights and sculptors, and assigned a story about an installation artist who built a town out of trash, among many others. Every single one has inspired me to change my habits, or simply to stay in the fight for climate solutions. 

Do you know an artist we should write about? Email us at the address below. Have a great weekend, and we’ll see you next week!

– Robin Jones (and Emily Cain, Leslie Garrett, and Jamie Kageleiry)

Editors

Write us at editor@bluedotliving.com

Leslie Garrett has been covering climate stories for close to two decades.  She makes her home in Canada, west of Toronto. She’s still figuring out her favorite spot but it’s definitely near the water.

Jamie Kageleiry, a longtime magazine and newspaper editor from Martha’s Vineyard, says her favorite spot on earth is out on a kayak there, looking at birds.

Robin Jones is a Southern California native who served as an editor at Westways magazine for more than a decade. She lives in Long Beach and teaches journalism at Cal State Long Beach.

Emily Cain is a recent graduate of Cal State Long Beach, where she wrote and edited for the university’s award-winning magazine, DIG.

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