What better way to usher in the New Year than with greenmuseum‘s first ever environmental art calendar? Through a unique collaboration with Amber Lotus Publishers, greenmuseum.org, the not-for-profit online museum of environmental art, has created a 100% post-consumer waste recycled paper calendar, Environmental Art 2008: Contemporary Art in the Natural World. “To our knowledge, this is the first wall calendar to address the global environmental art movement,” says Sam Bower, Executive Director of greenmuseum.org.
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As highlighted in greenmuseum‘s press release, “Environmental art is one of the most exciting art movements of our time and is growing rapidly around the world. With roots in the Land and Earth Art movements of the 1960s and ’70s, and the iconic work of artists such as Robert Smithson and Nancy Holt, environmental art now celebrates our connection to nature through beauty, science, metaphor and ecological restoration. (These artworks) can encompass a surprising landscape of approaches from ephemeral ‘art in nature’ sculpture designed to last only a few hours before returning to the earth, to community-based ‘eco-art’ installations which clean up polluted watersheds and promote public understanding of local and global environmental issues.”
“As concern about environmental issues increases internationally, new and surprising initiatives are emerging. Issues such as climate change, species extinction, even the restoration of polluted cityscapes, are all receiving attention from artists. In contrast to the traditional model of the lone artist in their studio, many contemporary projects involve on-site collaborations between artists, scientists, park managers and communities.”
The artworks featured in the Environmental Art 2008 wall calendar were drawn from the global archives of greenmuseum.org. The calendar provides a sampling of some of the latest developments in this field to stimulate the imagination and promote the role of art in the creation of a more sustainable world culture. “By calling attention to this work in a popular medium such as a calendar we hope to show more people what’s possible and inspire the creation of new work,” says Bower.
A portion of the calendar sales will go to support the work of greenmuseum.org.
+ Greenmuseum’s Environmental Art Calendar 2008 available for under $15 on Amazon.com
Although some may debate whether or not calling these “environmental” art would be appropriate, I’m glad to see these artists receiving more recognition. Smithson has also appeared in a list of the Boldest works of art in recent history on MakeFive: http://www.makefive.com/categories/entertainment/art/boldest-works-of-art-in-recent-history