User:EagleART6/sustainable art

Sustainable art can be defined in a variety of ways. Some artists define it as art that addresses or critiques environmental issues. In contrast, others identify as Eco Artists because their materials and studio techniques have a low environmental impact or are mostly recycled. In many parts of our daily lives, sustainability is present. We ensure that the environment is protected, that economic development is balanced, and that social welfare is promoted in various ways. Many artists define the gallery norm by creating site-specific work that takes advantage of the natural surroundings. We know that some artists use their work to raise awareness about topics like pollution and climate change. The artistic community continued to develop sustainable art with the entrance of the new millennium. However, the connection between art and sustainability is not restricted to physical media, such as sculptures constructed from natural materials or paintings made from environmentally friendly materials. Entire businesses have begun to adopt environmentally friendly practices in recent years, and architects, fashion designers, and painters have created niches of the art world committed to the cause.

History of Sustainable Art

We see depictions of sustainable art all around nowadays - in parks, on benches, in schools, at the beach, etc. But where did the "craze" begin? From some perspectives, the relationship between art and nature has been around since the Renaissance, where there was a vivid increase in the use of natural materials to make pieces of art we still see today. This is a fair belief, considering how much art exploded during this time. Artists used lots of natural materials, such as earth, minerals, plants, berries, etc., to make the different and vibrant paints we see in a lot of Renaissance pieces. A more modern take on the beginning of sustainable art goes back to the 1960s and 70s and the Land Art Movement. This movement was about using natural landscapes to create art pieces, such as sculptures. Artists who participated in this movement, such as Robert Smithson, used natural materials, usually, ones found at or near their construction sites to create the various pieces, much like the Renaissance painters used to make their paints. But now, they also used their art as a form of protest, or as a way to inform. Nowadays, sustainable art is seen in so many different forms - paintings, sculptures, clothing, live statues, and more. Artists do not just use naturally occurring materials, they also reuse materials already formed (such as water bottles, old clothes, plastic gathered from the ocean, etc.). These art pieces come flavored with messages, knowledge, and warnings to pass on to all who wander by. Even schools are working towards a more sustainable ideology, with fashion and art schools encouraging their students to rethink their approaches to art and design and take what was and transform it into something new.

Environmental Impacts of Sustainable Art

Art is a strong force that has the power to promote change. As society evolves, changes are made, shifts and perspectives change. In recent years citizens and artists are becoming more socially and environmentally aware which has been a push towards sustainable art taking into consideration the labor, materials, and environment that go into the process of art-making and crafting. Sustainability encourages social and environmental responsibility which has sparked cultural movements, political initiatives, and force companies to become more conscious of the impact they have environmentally. Sustainable art has been a push for initiatives that encourage eco-friendliness. In 1998, the Labeling of Hazardous Art Materials Act (LHAMA) was passed by congress that required art materials to be evaluated by professionals in order to determine if there were any harmful health effects from the products. Although the act brought about the change it still had some limitations such as products not being forced to abide by the labeling requirements if they are not intended for sale at schools or the use of children. Most art products used by many artists are excluded from such requirements. This brings into question toxic chemicals and how harmful they are to the environment. A big part and responsibility of creating art not only comes from bringing awareness on social and environmental issues but also taking into consideration the process by which materials are obtained. The responsibility is on the artist to make sure they are avoiding toxic materials, manufacturers that don’t practice ethical labor laws, and products that contribute to industrial waste.

Examples of Artist and Their Works

Sustainable art has been the talking point between many academia and scholars due to the message behind the art (focusing on sustainable ways of production). It's a form of protest that many artists are taking advantage of to share their thoughts on the excessive waste in our environment and how it's being stored. Many artists such as Gracelyn Kilpatrick and Gilbert Angeles use materials that were once considered waste and transform them into products or sculptures for the people to see and wear. For example, Kilpatrick gathers waste that washes ashore near the beaches alongside her home and makes them into lasting bracelets using transparent resin to maintain the material and keep it intact. She also sells her work through social media which funds a few non-profits that help to clean our ocean. The message behind their work is to get people involved and have them aware of what's going on around the world. They have the ability to partner with companies such as Outdoor Research and other name brands to transform their daily production of using day-to-day materials and reuse those materials that have already been constructed. This goes to the basic foundation of influencing other companies to do the same and have people aware of the importance of sustainability. For example, Hillary Taymour ; a fashion designer, has limited herself to fabrics that were leftover to design her brand. These artists are forming a different way of protesting and becoming activists to shed light on these issues and the importance of sustainability.

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