Join local Maine artist Ouda Baxter on Saturday, March 28th 11am-2pm in Augusta for gelli-printmaking and postcard writing to legislators! (Location will be shared after you register.)
Art in Climate Activism Workshop Series
Co-hosted by:
MEEA Changemakers
Just ME for Just US
Maine Youth Power
Community Organizing Alliance
About the Artist Facilitator
Ouda Baxter (she/they) is a multidisciplinary artist focusing on printmaking, fiber arts, sculpture, and sound installation. They currently teach at The Ecology Learning Center, and took last year "out of teaching" to pursue an MFA in Canada. Ouda lives on a little homestead in Wabanakik, the Dawnland, and they are working to get to know the land and animals that share this place with them.
Overview of Workshop
Overview of gelli-printmaking (materials provided)
Group conversation about winter as we remember
Group winter walk to lovingly collect sprigs after identification and going over respectful and reciprocal gathering practices
Circle conversation about our relationship to trees
Creative gelli-printmaking time inside
Send letters to legislators and talk about policy + advocacy with youth-led organizations in Maine
Postcard “love letters to the environment” writing to representatives, friends, family, or ourselves
About the Workshop
Winter time is a time of reflection, a time to turn inward. However, because of warming temperatures, it is uncertain how long we will have these winters, and how it will affect the tree population in this area. This project encourages participants to engage with the environment in a contemplative way, to see, smell, touch and walk amongst the trees.
We go outside for a winter walk, and lovingly collect sprigs after identification and going over respectful and reciprocal gathering practices. If the temperature allows, we will gather in a circle outside to share our experiences and give collective thanks to the trees. If not, we will gather inside to do this. Branches of pine, fir, hemlock and cedar will be gelli-printed onto paper and cut into postcard size paper.
Participants are encouraged to bring flowers, dried flowers, small nuts and dried fruit to offer to the trees and forest animals as an equal exchange before gathering material of the body of the trees.
Participants will then write postcards to representatives stating the need to protect the environment and back or reject specific bills. They can also write “love letters to the environment” to send to representatives, friends, family, or to keep for themselves as a visual reminder of their mission.
Participants are encouraged to make multiple pieces. We will print our pieces, and while they are drying, take a break, do our clean up, and discuss various initiatives we could write to representatives about, as well as gathering the addresses for each rep.
Participants will also have the option to take a “call break” to call reps and leave messages about these various initiatives. When the gelli-prints have dried, participants may sit with some tea or other refreshment, and collectively, we will take some time to write our “love letters” and then share a few with the group before mailing them.
Youth-led organizations in Maine will be present at this workshop to discuss policy and advocacy action that we can take to protect our environment.
Materials Provided:
Gelli plates
Printmaking ink
Brayers
Printmaking paper
Sketch paper
Postage Stamps
Collected evergreen sprigs (you can also bring your own dried flowers, nuts, etc. to print with!)
Linoleum Carving tools