Making Marks Towards
Social Justice
There are many ways to think about the connection between visual art and social justice. Even as social justice concerns are increasingly taking a well-deserved front seat in discourse and action, commitments to social justice in art have been around as long as humans have been making marks on paper, clay, and walls. Social justice concerns have often been implicit, if not explicit. The connections aren’t new, but increasingly visible in the current social and political moment. In this brief post I’ll share some considerations about the relationship between social justice and art, highlighting just one of them as an initial entry point for what is a rather large conversation.
One may also consider the social and economic context in which the supplies and work are made. Are workers and assistants paid fairly, and are the working conditions safe, clean, and equitable? What is the connection between artists and the communities in which they’re located? Who are the consumers of a creative work as we consider the explicit connections between the artists making the work and the community or communities that “consume” it.
One may also consider the social and economic context in which the supplies and work are made. Are workers and assistants paid fairly, and are the working conditions safe, clean, and equitable? What is the connection between artists and the communities in which they’re located? Who are the consumers of a creative work as we consider the explicit connections between the artists making the work and the community or communities that “consume” it.
Starting with the first consideration: the art “supplies” themselves. Art can be made with (almost) anything, but typically artists use commercially produced “art supplies,” many of which are toxic and made in ways that do not consider the environmental impact. What have artists been doing to address these concerns?
Louisa Buck (with the Gallery Climate Coalition), in an article for The Art Newspaper, spoke with three artists committed to changing their art practice to be increasingly sustainable: Antony Gormley, Fiona Banner, and Tino Sehgal take seriously the need to rescue the carbon footprint of their respective art practices and are making steps to do just that. Read about their efforts here: A greener way of working: seven artists on how they are reducing their carbon footprint in their practice.
Non-professional artists and hobbyists can make a difference as well. The Artwork Archive provides tips in their article, available here: How to Reduce the Carbon Footprint of Your Art Studio | Artwork Archive – one of countless indications that artists are increasingly taking seriously the features of their practice that are sustainable and those that are not. More and more artists are beginning to take steps to being increasingly accountable to their fellow artists and communities with a commitment to apply and integrate social justice commitments into their creative practice.
Finally, check out the dedicated work (and links to a host of resources) of the Gallery Climate Coalition (GCC), a registered charity, founded after COP26 and based in the UK (London and Dunstable). GCC is committed to working with artists and galleries worldwide to decarbonize the art world, and artists might start with their Decarbonization Action Plan, which can be found here.
Eleni Litt is a teaching artist in Princeton, New Jersey, and Artist in Residence at The Athena Advisors. She has a PhD in Social Anthropology from the London School of Economics, a Certificate in Fine Arts from Parsons School of Design, and a Certificate in Creative Arts Therapies from The New School. She recently retired from a long career in higher education, and is currently completing an internship for certification as a Rutgers Environmental Steward.
Through our Artist in Residence program The Athena Advisors is able to act on its commitment to raise up social justice issues across multiple sectors, in this case the visual arts. We provide multiple ways (for both colleagues and clients alike) to enter the conversation using mark-making and visual thinking. Perhaps you might like to join us at the upcoming Artist in Residence workshop?
Photos and artwork by Eleni Litt. All rights reserved.
Eleni Litt is a teaching artist in Princeton, New Jersey, and Artist in Residence at The Athena Advisors. She has a PhD in Social Anthropology from the London School of Economics, a Certificate in Fine Arts from Parsons School of Design, and a Certificate in Creative Arts Therapies from The New School. She recently retired from a long career in higher education, and is currently completing an internship for certification as a Rutgers Environmental Steward.
Through our Artist in Residence program The Athena Advisors is able to act on its commitment to raise up social justice issues across multiple sectors, in this case the visual arts. We provide multiple ways (for both colleagues and clients alike) to enter the conversation using mark-making and visual thinking. Perhaps you might like to join us at the upcoming Artist in Residence workshop?
For information regarding upcoming Artist in Residence programs please contact Lucy Hart: lucy.hart@theathenaadvisors.com
Photos and artwork by Eleni Litt. All rights reserved.