Exploring Connections between Environmental Education and Ecological Public Art

Shifting Awareness: Recycled Plastic Bag Art

“…Learning about environmental issues through artists' works helps students gain a sense of shared responsibility for nature, while also instilling an aesthetic appreciation for the environment. Environmental educators have been developing innovative approaches that unite art, environmental studies, and other disciplines in order to foster powerful cognitive, personal, and moral development (Blandy, Cogdon, & Krug, 1998;Gablik, 1991Gablik, , 1995Krug & Cohen-Evron, 2000;Lankford, 1997;Neperud, 1997;Song 2008, Stankiewicz & Krug, 1997.…”

“…children can develop an appreciation for the environment, understand human interdependency, and strive for improvement in ecological conditions. This combination of disciplines and methods encourages increased knowledge, understanding, and awareness-both within children and within the larger community (Song, 2008). Environmental art serves as a vehicle for understanding an apparently small and limited subject as part of a very broad concept.…”

“…This type of thinking generated personal and intellectual growth, in that it helped the children reevaluate their understanding of humans' relationship with the environment in terms of stewardship, rather than of dominion (Song, 2008).…”

Tire Art: Environmental Education through Science, Visual and Language Arts

“…Song (2008), in considering environmental education today in grade s K-8, she has observed "three major problems with much of today's environmental education: first, an attitude of emotional detachment from nature; second, an emphasis on a reactive rather than preventive approaches; and third, the limited scope and perspective of environmental education in general. Each of these severely detracts from the potential positive impact of environmental education and merits remediation" (p. 13).…”

“…In addition, art brings an experiential dimension to environmental education, which can help build appreciation and awareness, and encourage a sense of shared responsibility for nature that students can carry throughout their lives. Environmental educators and art educators have developed exciting and innovative approaches that unite these fields, and together, they aim to foster powerful cognitive, personal, and moral development (Blandy, Cogdon, & Krug, 1998;Gablik, 1991Gablik, , 1995Lankford, 1997;Neperud, 1997;Song 2008, Stankiewicz, 1997.…”