By Janet Eastman |
The Oregonian/OregonLive

The “For Love of Nature” project, which calls for environmental stewardship, was produced by Anima Mundi Productions and Rogue Climate under the mentorship of artist and educator Adrian Chavez.

Ethan Gans-Morse, co-founder of the Ashland-based Anima Mundi Productions, said their fire experiences set these participants apart. But he noted that other young people around the world “have equally valid and equally unique concerns and traumas caused by our changing climate.”

Susie Garcia, the Rogue Valley coordinator with climate justice nonprofit Rogue Climate, said teenagers feel unheard and disregarded by adults in their lives.

Creative projects give students the satisfaction of expressing themselves and making their environmental concerns obvious, Garcia said. Seeing something new come to life provides a sense of agency, she added.

Art can be used for creative problem solving and has the power to change people’s opinions, said Chavez, who was born, raised and remains based in southern Oregon.

“There are scientists using the artistic thought process and artist activists working with themes of environmentalism to bring awareness to climate change,” he said.

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