Art For Change: Brittany Ball-Snellen

The 2018 Anthropocities exhibit was the fifth annual collaboration project between art history and fine arts students that I have supervised at the University of Alberta (U of A). The main goal of this project is to bring together the two programs to create a professional catalogue and art show. Art history and fine arts students cohabit the same building on campus, yet we rarely have opportunities to work together. In this project, students learn about curating, critical writing, and exhibit installation. I am very proud to have been able to mentor students and facilitate this project for five years.

When I was invited to create an exhibition for the Cities and Climate Change Science Conference at the Shaw Conference Centre, I knew it was going to be a huge opportunity to explore an extremely important issue. For writers and artists alike, Anthropocities embodied an opportunity to share concerns about the future of our planet and open a conversation with both our local and global community. For myself, this particular exhibit allowed me to share my project with a global audience, and use it to bring awareness to the effect we all have on our planet.

The artworks and writing in this exhibit encourage people to consider what kind of footprint they might be leaving on the planet. From wildfires to the greenhouse effect, so many different examples of the negative consequences of our impact on Earth were brought to attention. All participants passionately urged their audience to consider ways to be more conscientious in their daily lives to hopefully reverse some of the damage already done.

The combination of writing and visual culture is such a powerful force. So often, visual art is written off as only aesthetic, and writing about art is assumed to be supplementary to the artwork. But each discipline holds its own power to evoke, enlighten, and inspire. Each historian’s writing is as unique and diverse as the artworks in the exhibit. Each artist’s work offers a different insight and experience of human impact on Earth.

I can’t emphasize enough how much this project has brought fulfillment to its participants and built a community for students as they practise the skills acquired through their studies. Anthropocities has also reinforced my commitment to keep using art and critical writing as a way to give back to my community. My time at the U of A wouldn’t have been the same without the relationships I’ve built with participants of the project and the experience of sharing our work with everyone. I am truly honoured to be a part of such a rich community of outstanding students.

This post was submitted by Brittany Ball-Snellen, an Edmonton community member and Master of Arts student at U of A. If you live in Edmonton and have a climate change story to tell, let us know! Your story could be shared here too.

Inspired by art? Make sure to check out The Works Art & Design Festival, running until July 3 at Capital Plaza on the Legislature Grounds.