Creative Women Leading Climate Action Virtual Symposium, Call for Art and Participation

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AMHERST, Mass. – The Creative Women Leading Climate Action Virtual Symposium (CWLCA) at UMass Amherst continues with conversations, workshops, installations, a virtual exhibition and an invitation for public participation in an installation at the Augusta Savage Gallery.

“Elements of the symposium focus on women and nonbinary people; however, climate change is affecting us all, and we welcome all people to take part in two ways. First, we invite submissions to an online juried exhibition, open to those who work in any media including music, performance, poetry, short stories, spoken word, film, as well as visual art. Second, we invite people of all ages to fold paper canoes, cranes, or horseshoe crabs that will become a part of JuPong Lin’s installation at the Augusta Savage Gallery at UMass Amherst. The gallery will feature a webcam, so people can watch as their work becomes a part of the installation,” said Dee Boyle-Clapp, director of the Arts Extension Service.

Artist and Arts Extension Service instructor, JuPong Lin, describes how her Taiwanese ancestors’ knowledge of waterways was eroded by martial law that imposed control of the coasts for decades through poetry. Her work draws parallels between the suppression of Indigenous ecological knowledge and traditional wisdom traditions around the globe. Those interested in learning to fold paper canoes, cranes or horseshoe crabs can request a paper and a booklet of JuPong's instructional poetry.

CWLCA includes Intergenerational Conversation: Art, Climate, Action, takes place from noon - 1:30 on Wed., April 14, with intergenerational women/nonbinary panelists discussing how they use their art to address the climate crisis then facilitating discussions with participants to explore how they can use their voice to make an impact. “The questions we will ask in this discussion are very important, providing women and nonbinary people of all ages the opportunity to share their ideas, brainstorm, and network,” said Hind Mari, Director of the UMass Women of Color Leadership Network-CWC.

The Creative People Leading Climate Action Juried Virtual Exhibition is open to all in any media and should address the broad possibilities regarding climate change. Works can explore climate justice, activism, mourning species loss, capturing places of beauty, or envisioning a better future. Cash prizes will be awarded in the following categories: UMass Alumnus, Current UMass student, Best of Show, Innovative Solution and Climate Justice. Full details including an upcoming schedule of events for the coming months can be viewed at www.umass.edu/aes/cwlca.

Creative Women Leading Climate Action is presented by the UMass Arts Extension Service, Augusta Savage Gallery, Women of Color Leadership Network, College of Humanities and Fine Arts Advising and Career Center, department of history, Feinberg Family Distinguished Lecture Series and the department of theater. CWLCA is made possible by support from Women for UMass Amherst, and UMass Sustainability Innovation and Engagement Fund, Massachusetts Cultural Council, and the Arts Extension Service’s Arts Entrepreneurship Initiative.