What’s Next for Earth: Inner Change Online Exhibition

Michele Guieu | June 12, 2020 | Leave a Comment

Part of What's Next for Earth project Inner Change

Image courtesy of Michalina W. Klasik (detail) ©️ 2020

What’s Next for Earth is a Community Art Project to reflect on the COVID19 period and re-invent the future: normal was the problem. Inner Change is What's Next For Earth’s third project.

The inspiration comes from an article posted by Brittany Ganguly in the MAHB: If change must come, what does that mean for our mental health?
Excerpt:
“If we are to successfully navigate a sustainable future, we can’t forget to take into account our mental health needs and the personal changes we all must embrace. Most importantly, responding to the human predicament will not come lightly;  understand yourself and be kind to yourself so that we can continue to show up each day to participate in change.”

Between May 23 and June 6, 2020, artists on Instagram were invited to read Brittany Ganguly’s article, create an art piece, and post it on their Instagram page. A selection of the contributions was posted on What’s Next forEarth’s page. Here are some of them.

Part of What's Next for Earth project Inner Change
Image courtesy of Michalina W. Klasik ©️ 2020

Michalina W. Klasik (Poland)
Quarantine journal p.2-3 cultivation cycle

“As most of the world resides in lockdown, pollution in many cities has decreased, overall emissions are falling for the first time since WW2 and many people are picking up engaging, sustainable habits, such as gardening.” – Brittany Ganguly |

Image courtesy of Marianne Bickett ©️ 2020

Marianne Bickett (California, US)

Using printed words in a mixed media collage/pencil contour drawing from a photograph of myself wearing sunglasses and a mask with a baseball cap on. I have needed to protect myself with loving care. Inner Change is represented by the butterfly and how I took words out of context from the SF newspaper to create hope in the midst of sad news. I used a photograph I took of a fritillary butterfly to represent rebirth. Behind me is a partial photo of social distance circles from above. The music, which is mostly cut out due to the size constraints, is copied backwards and upside down from a piano composition by my husband, Brian, to represent how everything is being turned inside out and and forcing us to rethink everything. From this crisis we can begin again. And I believe the arts will express not only our emotional truths during this time but also lead the way towards healing of ourselves and our planet. 

Part of What's Next for Earth project Inner Change
Image courtesy of Claude Benzrihem ©️ 2020

Claude Benzrihem (Paris, France)
Photograph
Convivialité / joie de vivre /nature
Premier picnic entre amis, après 2 mois de confinement dû à la pandémie.
Retrouver le plaisir de la convivialité. Donner ce monde-là en héritage à nos enfants et faire le vœux pour les générations futures, que chacun puisse garder la connexion à la nature, qui va continuer à nous nourrir, si l’on accepte plus de frugalité, moins de surproduction, et de « pas tirer la nappe vers soi ». Pour cela les changements seront d’abord intérieurs.

Conviviality / joie de vivre / nature
First picnic with friends, after 2 months of confinement due to the pandemic. Rediscover the pleasure of conviviality. Give this world as an inheritance to our children and make the vows for future generations, that everyone can keep the connection to nature, which will continue to nourish us, if we accept more frugality, less overproduction, and “not pull the tablecloth towards you”. For this, the changes will first be internal. The changes will first be inner changes.

Part of What's Next for Earth project Inner Change
Image courtesy of Cynthia Fusillo ©️ 2020

Cynthia Fusillo (Barcelona, Spain)
Love Yourself
168cmx100cm 
mixed media on paper paper, wax, burning, sewing, dyeing.

 

Michele Guieu
Image courtesy of Michele Guieu ©️ 2020

Michele Guieu (Bay Area, California)
Photograph

In order to stay sane to face the collapse that has already begun, and to create a positive change, It is important to learn about the Human Predicament. Everything is deeply connected and one event can start a chain reaction that could lead to a systemic collapse. If we do nothing systemic collapse will happen, simply because our system cannot continue as it is. But knowing that it can happen, we can prepare and therefore we have a possibility to avoid it. Lucidity is key, not dangerous positivism.

Part of What's Next for Earth project Inner Change
Image courtesy of Jennifer Spencer ©️ 2020

Jennifer Spencer (San Diego, California)
Alone in a World on Fire

The technique is digital. I used a variety of filters and experimentations, something I love to do. I was looking for an image that would express the surreal times that we are in.

In regard to Brittany Ganguly’s article:
As an artist, such things probably don’t affect me the way they do most others. I’m used to being alone most of the time. I’m curious about strange things that happen. As unmarked time blends days together, the hideous effects that the COVID-19 virus has had on the world population is shocking and sad… Like a bad movie or dream you can awaken from. The world is being burned up by an unseen virus, making it difficult to deal with an enemy you can’t even see. Coping by creating is a way for me to deal with the stress.

Part of What's Next for Earth project Inner Change
Image courtesy of Marcela Villaseñor ©️ 2020

Marcela Villaseñor
The Healing Power of Nature
El Poder Curativo de la Naturaleza

Image courtesy of Andie Thrams ©️ 2020

Andie Thrams (South Fork American River)

During these strange and difficult times, I’d like to share words from mental health care professional, Brittany Ganguly, who discusses how essential it is to our humanity to “… acknowledge the PROCESS each of us will go through to adapt to the new changes…. Recognizing signs of distress, stress, anxiety and depression is the first step in the process.” I have been working with ink on paper and canvas, in black and white, indoors and out, inviting feelings of uncertainty, sadness, grief, and worry to enter into my process. Seeing the beauty, the mystery, and the horror of our times generates energy for taking action.

Ivan Sigg (Paris, France)
L’Art du confinement #25 : Plastic Ocean
Musique : @jamesblake – Retrograde

Each night since the beginning of lockdown I was giving a lightpainting show to my neighborhood. This is live digital animated painting on building.

The plastic ocean begins in our brain ! The continent of plastic generated by our behaviors and our ways of thinking is a danger. The ocean in danger: it’s you it’s me. By projecting bubbles and jellyfish, on the walls of the city, I show the imposing poetry of this vital lung of our atmosphere.

~Michele Guieu, Eco-Artist, MAHB Member and MAHB Arts Community coordinator~

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