The A in STE(A)M = ARTS
As an artist being immersed in and aware of my environment is a gift that I was able to tap back into in 2020 during the pandemic (there’s a gift in everything). My husband and I started taking more walks on the beach and my love for nature and landscape photography kicked in. As my imagination soared I began to see worlds inside of the photographs. This is how my visual art works began.
The Arts are a vital part of the solution to most of our modern day problems because everything requires creativity and imagination.
This particular piece is about how Climate Change affects our children. They are resilient and will always find a way to survive. They are able to see beyond our filters and find the magic in everything.
These are a few of the photos from a walk on the beach in 2021
Location: St. Helena Island, South Carolina
Land of Gullah Geechee People
This one stood out to me, and was also a winner in the Conservation League’s photo contest in 2023.
Below is what my mind saw in the photo. Our Gullah Chirrn (da youngins) they have the magic of seeing with unfiltered eyes. They are magic. They can fly until we tell they can’t. They posses the power to heal the world.
36 x 24 on Canvas
Collage with African Fabric, feathers and found objects.
The sweet baby girl in this piece is Nature, yes it’s her birth name.
Climate Change:
Children’s bodies are developing physically, which can make them more vulnerable to climate-related hazards like heat and poor air quality. They also breathe at a faster rate, increasing their exposure to dangerous air pollutants.
Children drink more water than adults per pound of body weight. They swallow about twice as much water as adults while swimming. This can increase their exposure to certain contaminants in recreational waters and the risk of developing gastrointestinal or other illnesses.
Children are developing emotionally, as their brains continue to grow throughout adolescence. Children can experience mental health impacts from major storms, fires, and other extreme events that are expected to increase with a changing climate. They also can suffer from other changes, such as having to move due to climate threats.
Young children depend on adults for their safety and well-being. This dependence can put children at greater risk during extreme events. For example, without adult help, children may not be able to keep their heads above floodwaters or get to safety during a storm.
📊Data: Climate Change and Children’s Health from EPA.gov
https://www.epa.gov/climateimpacts/climate-change-and-childrens-health
Books: pictured below
The People Could Fly by Virginia Hamilton
The Year We Learned to Fly
by Jacqueline Woodson
