Why Art Is Vital To A Burning World
By now Climate collapse shouldn’t be news to anyone. This week the U.N. is releasing an especially damning report that can be summed up neatly as; “It’s worse than we thought.”
I confess to experiencing a mini-climate-crisis-freakout this past week. The What-ifs are terrifying. Sooner or later we will all be forced to ask ourselves; “what can I do?”
Recognizing the existential threat that is Climate Collapse, what is a rational response? As an artist I came to this, some might say highly convenient, conclusion:
The answer is Art.
Creating Art.
Enjoying Art.
Supporting Art.
Sharing Art.
Art is the salve we’ll need to endure the impending upheaval. And more than just a distraction or an attempt to avoid reality; Art is the most vital human endeavor most likely to produce the shift in consciousness we need to save the planet and create a more just and livable planet.
What do I mean by art? I mean paintings, plays, literature, sculpture, jewelry, dance, poetry, music, — all forms of artistic expression.
And how will Art save us?
Art will save us by shifting how we see one another, how we see our planet. From this humanities attitudes, behaviors, and actions will make the vital shifts and changes needed to save ourselves and the planet.
Art shines a light. And in light is truth. And from truth springs justice.
Human history is ripe with examples of art producing seismic shifts in human consciousness:
The anti-slavery novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, by Harriet Beecher Stowe radically changed the views of slavery in the U.S. and is credited with igniting the anti-slavery movement in America. Not bad work for a Novel.
The 60’s era Peace Sign was originally created as the symbol for nuclear disarmament in Great Britain. But from there it took on a life of its own and became a powerful symbol for a global resistance to war, poverty, and a whole host of ills plaguing humanity.
Television shows like Will & Grace and Ellen are credited for shifting American’s views on the rights of LGBTQ citizens.
Dylan’s song, Blowin In The Wind became a rallying cry for the Vietnam anti-war movement.
Today we see the raised fist of the Black Lives Matter movement on lawn signs, shirts, and murals.
Ironically the ideologies that dismiss, fear, or downplay the arts, are themselves some of the most enthusiastic practitioners of the use of art and symbols to motivate and rally their supporters. Is a red MAGA hat art? Whatever it is it speaks volumes.
Some argue that in the face of global catastrophe, we have far more important things to focus on like shoring up infrastructure, reducing emissions, etc. All true. All vital.
But none of these projects will happen until humanity’s desire to do so is harnessed and we become fully engaged, in concert with one another globally, to solve these problems. Only Art, more so than politics, can achieve that.
The good news is that there is no organized opposition to the arts.
There are governments and powerful corporate interests bent on censoring and marginalizing artists' voices. But these forces are mostly reactionary at best and are usually too late to stop something that takes on a life of its own.
For the most part, the power of Art to invoke change, to act as a beacon for people to rally around, remains dormant only as long as we allow it to go fallow.
The Answer remains: Art
If you create art then keep creating!
If you’re an Art Collector keep collecting.
If you love art support the arts.
If a work of art moves you in some way? Share it with others.
Circling back to my mini-climate-crisis-freakout: The world is on fire. I can’t stop that. But I can paint. I can create art that means something to me. And in doing so hopefully, create something that means something to someone else.
Will it change the world?
Let’s find out.