Blog 4 – Dr Jo Lewis, Artist & Arts Council YPCE bursary recipient
Ghnóthaigh Jo Lewis céim Bhaitsiléara Ealaíon sa Mhínealaín in Coventry agus céim Mháistreachta i Mínealaín sa Dealbhóireacht ó Scoil Ealaíne Birmingham. Bhí stiúideo aici i stiúideonna SPACE Londan ar feadh roinnt blianta, áit ar oibrigh sí agus ar chuir sí saothair ar taispeáint agus í ag reáchtáil na bialainne veigeatóra 100 suíochán, Heather’s, san am céanna, in éineacht lena páirtí.
In 2002, d’aistrigh Jo ó Londain go Co. Liatroma lena páirtí agus lena gclann óg gur chóirigh siad seanteachín cloiche, chun ‘saol maith’ a bheith acu.
Le linn an ama seo, ghnóthaigh sí PhD ag SOAS (Scoil na Staidéar Oirthearach agus Afracach) as a cuid taighde ar Ealaíontóirí Mná na Botsuáine. Tá an tráchtas s’aici anois faoi choimeád Leabharlann na Breataine.
D’oibrigh Jo ar an tionscnamh BLAST (Ealaín Bheo a Thabhairt chuig Daltaí agus Múinteoirí) agus theagasc sí i scoileanna ar fud chontae Shligigh. Le déanaí, le haghaidh na mionchónaitheachtaí seo i scoileanna, dhírigh Jo ar na daltaí a thabhairt amach faoin spéir chun ealaín a dhéanamh agus inspioráid a fháil. D’úsáid sí tírdhreach áitiúil mar chúlra chun tumadh isteach in éiceolaíocht na háite tríd an ealaín.
In 2023, bhronn Comhairle Ealaíon na hÉireann sparánacht ar Jo chun rud beag taighde a dhéanamh ar an gcomhéadan idir an ealaín agus an éiceolaíocht san oideachas scoile mar bhealach chun spéis a mhúscailt i measc páistí i leith a dtimpeallachta.
How to engage children in the climate crisis through understanding ecology through an art practice.
Looking at the climate crisis is a challenge that all educators are having to learn very quickly to navigate. In the fourth and last blog in the series from artist Jo Lewis, Jo looks at how art and ecology can help to tackle this issue, minimising fear by harnessing positivity through a connection with nature.
Climate crisis is not something to be denied or even questioned anymore. As the terminology is bandied about and used on a daily basis educators are having to incorporate it into their teachings and find a balance between acknowledging the fear we have for the future and finding strategies to cope and cultivate hope.
Art offers a unique way to engage children with nature, allowing them to observe and connect with their environment on a deeper level. Whether it’s drawing, photography, or collecting specimens, art practices can help children “read” their surroundings and develop a sense of belonging to the land they inhabit. When students can identify plants or recognize patterns in the landscape, they form a more intimate understanding of the environment, which nurtures both curiosity and responsibility.
Art can give us an ‘in’ to ecology, through running art workshops in the landscape children can engage more readily with nature. It is not necessary for the art teacher to have an ecological background. This is where student and teacher can experience and learn together. The teacher will need to guide the class but does not need to have all the answers.
Here are a few ways to integrate art and ecology in the lesson:
- Drawing: Encourage students to sketch plants, trees, or other elements in the landscape. Whether detailed or quick sketches, this practice helps them notice the finer details of their environment.
- Photography: Use photography to capture the beauty of nature. This method encourages attention to detail and allows children to document plants and insects they might otherwise overlook.
- Collecting and Pressing: For non-protected plants, collecting and pressing specimens offers a tangible way to engage with nature. Pressed plants can also be used for art projects, enhancing their connection to the environment.
By engaging children through art and ecology, we not only help them understand the world around them but also empower them to take action. Art fosters creativity, observation, and a sense of responsibility, while ecology teaches children the importance of preserving and protecting the planet. Together, these practices can inspire hope and equip the next generation to face the climate crisis with resilience and a renewed connection to nature.
Some useful resources:
- An Taisce run summer courses to give teachers resources: greenschoolsireland.org/an-taisce-summer-courses-2024/
- Take positive Action: NASA Citizen Science program
- Jess Farraday Teach Your Kids About Climate Change Art
A special thanks to the Arts Council for their YPCE grant, which enabled me to research and document the intersection of art and ecology in the classroom. This work has been both inspiring and enlightening, and I hope it encourages educators to incorporate creative environmental practices into their teaching. If anyone would like more information on this research, please feel free to get in touch.
Image 1: Mermaid’s path project with Rathlee National School, Co Sligo
Image 2: Field trip to Clooneen bog, Geevagh National School with Jo Lewis artist.
Image 3: Art and ecology at Saturday studio at The Dock, Co Leitrim. Artwork on tiles of trees, leaves and seeds.
Images left to right: Beach art at Mullaghmore, Ballinatrillick NS, Sphagnum moss at Clooneen Bog, Geevagh NS and Mermaid’s path project, Rathlee NS
All photographs courtesy of Jo Lewis
