Throughout history, art has been a powerful tool in building coalitions and advocating for change. Artwork can help individuals and the public to visualize and experience the feelings and stories that its creators share. The creative expression that artists bring into our cultural and political world can influence major social justice movements. Today, creatives around the world are using their talents to raise awareness about the climate and biodiversity crises.
Youth4Nature recently introduced the use of art as a unique and particularly accessible form of storytelling, one which can transcend language barriers and draw others to empathize with the storyteller. We believe that art is a powerful tool in improving individual mental and emotional well-being, a powerful tool for activism and the dissemination of important messages, and a strong part of the identity of a culture.
In September 2020, we had the pleasure of amplifying the work of young artists from around the world who share their passion for incorporating nature and climate solutions into art. We proudly displayed their work through a campaign on our social media platforms and gained insight into their process in a culminating live panel interview on September 18th.
Our highlighted artists included: Annabelle Golden, Jessica Thornton, Elwely Vall, Anthea Y., and Carmen Allison. Here are some of our favorite quotes from the panel:
Art is a powerful tool for "creating waves of movement by embodying that change" - Anthea
There is a "hope of reciprocity" - Anthea
"It's powerful to see how many people resonate with a message" shared through artwork - Annabelle
Learn more about each of these artists below and get to know them even better in our Artist Feature series, launching on Instagram on March 1, 2021!
Our art and activism campaign will continue to evolve with our Storytelling campaign. We encourage you to submit your story in the form of art, including poetry, photography, spoken word, and visual art of any media! Please reach out to Youth4Nature with any inquiries.
Annabelle Golden
From: USA
Find them at @graphicsandgrain and at www.graphicsandgrain.com
Doortje Hefting
From: Netherlands
Find them at @doortjehefting on Twitter and at @doortjeheftingart on Instagram
Anthea Y
From: Italy
Find them at @anthea.jpg on Instagram and at www.antheay.com
“I loved the joy and hope in the faces of the speakers. Was beautiful to see people who truly believe that we can come together and create a new future.”
Elwely Vall
From: Mauritania
Find them at @Elwleynajivall on Twitter and @Elwelyvall on Instagram
Carmen Allison
From: USA
Find them at @c4rmenart and at carmenea.com
“Listening to other peoples’ perspectives always motivates me- we are all coming from completely different places but we have one goal, and that is very powerful and invigorating.”
Jessica Thornton
From: Dgheyey Kaq' (Anchorage, Alaska)
Find them at @jessicathorntondesigns and at www.jessicathorntondesigns.com
iyamuremye leonard
From: Rwanda
We believe in our collective power, in our individual responsibility, that to tackle both the climate and ecological crises, activities must be grounded in justice, backed by science, embracing local indigenous knowledge & frontlines community efforts, without forgetting youth & nature. If you want to help us make our future work better and more engaging, or suggest ways we can curate our sessions, please drop us an email at hello@youth4nature.org, or connect with us on Twitter and Instagram.