Five Eco Artists

The history of artists embracing the natural world is long and storied. One need only look at the work of naturalist writers, landscape artists, and hippie songsters to see the progression of creative patrons of the planet. And the trend seems to be picking up as more focus is placed on issues like pollution, climate change, loss of habitat, and sustainability. Modern artists are finding amazing ways to get their message of eco-conscious activism out to the public. While many ply their craft in an eco-friendly manner (by utilizing tour buses that run on biodiesel, studios powered with green energy, and practices that generally reduce waste and pollution), others support and donate to environmentally friendly organizations and causes (Greenpeace, Live Aid, etc.). But whatever their eco-bent, a number of artists are going above and beyond the call of duty to promote the health of the planet in ways that have a huge impact.

1. Green Day. Does it get any greener than proudly displaying your eco-sensibilities in the name of your rock band? These punk-rockers from Cali may look like they just stepped out of the emo rainforest, but they’ve done their part to support clean energy by teaming up with the National Resources Defense Council (which focuses on global warming, clean energy, conservancy, and sustainability) and urging fans to lobby Congress for a boost in eco-friendly job creation.

2. Andy Goldsworthy. If you’ve never heard of this nature artist/photographer, you are missing out on a goldmine of Goldsworthy. His works of art are truly transitional and support the spirit of sustainability. He uses only objects found in nature to craft his beautiful, complex, and temporary art (which he then photographs). And when he’s done, his masterpieces are left to be swept away by the very forces from whence they came

3. Joseph Beuys. A conceptual artist who espouses an idea of eco-artwork, Beuys has done several projects to bring attention to environmental problems as well as bust the myth that people and nature cannot co-exist. For example, one project required him to spend hours locked in a room with a coyote while another included planting 7,000 oak trees around the city of Kassel, Germany. His efforts serve to illuminate environmental issues in a creative way that demands attention.

4. James Cameron. Many would argue that commercial films are not to be considered in the same category as “serious” art. However, one look at Cameron’s beautifully imagined enviro-activist film Avatar (2009) blows that theory out of the water. Stunningly crafted CGI takes the audience inside a natural world that, much like the Earth, needs protection from the corrupting influence of industry.

5. Pearl Jam. No grunge group has done more than this Seattle standby to effect a change in the way our planet runs. They work to offset the carbon emissions of touring, protect the Earth’s valuable remaining rainforests, and have donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to the climate change cause. They even foster eco-awareness with songs like “Do the Evolution” and “Amongst the Waves”.

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