Chalk Art and Social Change
by Alicia Hodenfield
On Thursday, October 13,2022, in front of Schulz library and Darwin Hall, Justine Law's LIBS 320B: Climate Change and Society class took designs they had previously created and produced sidewalk art related to climate change.
Law advised, in the week prior to this activity,"... the class considering the role of art in social change and, more specifically, the efficacy of various forms of climate art. They read about climate art, looked at a number of pieces, and had a seminar that revolved around questions like: what can art achieve that data and reporting cannot? Is fear motivating or paralyzing? What types of messages and images would engage the SSU audience best?"
In response, the students created works that included an hourglass with the earth representing the sand slipping through and the words "Time Is Running Out" around this image; an image of flames melting the earth with the words "Global Warming is a Warning"; the earth shows up as the iris of a crying eye with the Evo Morales statement "Capitalism is Destroying Mother Earth and to Destroy Mother Earth is To Destroy Humanity." Their images are vivid and each send a message that there is a timeliness to act and that our current level of inaction is causing harm.
The students used nontoxic, washable chalk and/or tempera paint to create their pieces. They are still visible in person, and depending on the weather, may be around for sometime. If you miss getting out there, please take a moment to view the slideshow provided.