Moab Happenings Archive
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SUSTAINABILITY HAPPENINGS - February 2022

The role of art in sustainability education
by Richard Lory, Moab City Sustainability VISTA Volunteer


In the face of an uncertain future, sustainability means resilience, a thriving attitude, equitable communities and beauty. Working as a community and with nature, we can thrive as environmental pressures increase.

Demanding you to interpret scientific articles filled with jargon that ask you to change, is asking a lot. Instead, art can be used to represent that science in a more digestible, and beautiful, way. Art can pull at your heartstrings and show you the benefit, instead of telling you.

Imagine you are crossing Center street and the crosswalk is brought to life with bees and flowers. The sidewalk reminds you to help pollinators who will help us. Or you are walking to your favorite restaurant and a waterfall bursts from a mural, held at bay only by the trees giving you shade. The mural reminds you of the precious resource that brings life and the vegetation that tames it. Perhaps these artworks have a QR code that can bring more information for the curious. And for the passersby, they are reminded of what we are fighting for.

The byproduct of our community’s action and collaboration with nature will be organic beauty and resilience. A flower-filled and verdant walkway defends us from floods and the urban heat island. Gardens sprouting up using local compost give us colorful fruits and vegetables, even as they clean the air and reduce waste. The Milky Way enlivens the sky as it grounds you to the Earth, the only home we have. Art and beauty is not only a part of sustainability education but it is also a product of sustainability.

Dark skies, clean water, abundant life, local energy and food show us that a sustainable future is not about compromise but about thriving with nature. Art in all its forms can interpret science and inspire action. Art can tell us a story while giving us fruit.

Registration Open for Winter Art Classes

 

Join the Moab Arts and Recreation Center (MARC) this winter for another exciting lineup of art classes being offered for adults. Classes begin Monday, January 24th, and run through March 15th. Taught by local artists and makers, class topics include painting, papermaking, resin jewelry, tea blending, book binding, and more!

Are you needing a creative outlet this winter, but aren’t exactly sure what to try? Whether you’d like to channel your creativity into upcycling paper scraps into heartfelt stationary, weaving your very own basket from wooden reeds, or turning your favorite photograph into a beautiful cyanotype, we’ve got something for everyone. No experience is necessary, however participants must be 16 years or older.

Registration prices vary by class, ranging from $15-$150. Classes range from a single 1.5-hour session, up to five weekly 3-hour sessions. Materials are included in registration costs. Generous scholarships are available, based on financial need.

Contact marcadmin@moabcity.org to apply.

Due to COVID-19, Moab Arts staff will be following several precautions to ensure a safe environment for everyone involved. All classes will be held in one of the large rooms upstairs to allow for maximum social distancing. Classes will not exceed 10 students, and face coverings will be required for everyone while indoors.
Visit moabarts.org to register.


Desirae Miller - Intro to Tea Blending Riley Lubich - Landscape Painting Basics Elizabeth Tatera - Painting with Alcohol Ink Samantha Metzner - Cyanotypes

 


 
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