Articulating the Value of Art in Protecting Our Natural World

As a signature member of the Artists For Conservation Foundation, I find myself explaining at times the connection between art and nature. What I think is often assumed, but never articulated, is the value of art in protecting our natural world. In short, I believe that value is in the unique communication which art provides us. Let me try to explain why and how that is…

The advantage of art over words

There is an ancient story told about the Chinese philosopher Lao-tzu who began his teachings one day with the following dictum: “Those who know do not say; those who say do not know.” The young monks sat in bewildered confusion eagerly awaiting explanation, at which point the master asked them a question: “Which of you knows the fragrance of a rose?” At that point every monk in attendance raised his hand. Lao-tzu then queried: “Now which of you can put what you know into words?” Every hand in the room slowly and silently dropped. The story is often told to illustrate the wisdom gained only by experience, but I tell it here because it also speaks volumes as to the limits of verbal communication.

Art, in a manner that words cannot, gives us a unique ability to stimulate awareness about, and appreciation for, the value and beauty of our natural world. Why is that? Well part of the answer is found in the concept and “purpose” of art itself. I explain the value of art as follows: If math teaches us how to think logically, and english verbal communication skills, and the sciences to develop our understanding of how things work, then what does art teach us? I believe that art teaches us how to perceive, interpret and appreciate our world. It increases our empathy, observation and intuition. In a sense, it connects the spiritual with the temporal. It can also have the effect of connecting emotions with purpose.

Art allows us to reawaken people to what is valuable to them

What one considers “valuable” is found in the thoughts, emotions, experiences and needs of that person. While we can’t address a person’s physical needs with art (except perhaps by using it to raise money), art does allow us to reawaken some of those other thoughts, emotions and experiences and bring them to the surface. Words are often inadequate because they too often simply devolve into labels, and it has been said in the course of human discussions, that “the moment a label is applied, understanding stops.” Simply look to our modern american politics for an example of that: “treehugger” and “science denier” put a quick end to what might have been a meaningful conversation. Yet, I believe that all of us have a shared value of how we act as stewards of the planet on which we live. Art communicates another way – by reminding all of us of shared truths, without labels or preconceptions. Illustrating the beauty and miracle of this earth places it higher in the collective consciousness.

To illustrate my point, let me offer a famous quote from Krishnamurti which is relevant: “The day you teach the child the name of a bird, the child will never see that bird again.” We all entered this world as innocent awe-inspired children, filled with wonder as we witnessed for the very first time the flitting colorful creature we may now know as a finch. But as we aged and grew in experiences over time, our brains categorize and labeled, and our natural joy and curiosity slowly dissipated, as did our original appreciation of the miracle of the bird above us. Sad but true, it all slowly becomes taken for granted – except for the nature artist, who seeks it out and attempts to shine a big bright spotlight on it through his or her work.

I was reminder of this a couple months back as I witnessed the annual dropping of the maple seeds in my yard. This is what I facebooked: “So I’m watching the maple seeds helicopter down to the ground in my backyard today and I think to myself: what an awesome idea – a seed with one wing that is so perfectly balanced that it rotates squarely on its axis at such a speed that it floats gently down on the available air pressure creating perfect opposing vortexes for lift. And what’s weird is that the silver maple came up with the exact same idea as the red maple? Go figure. Who says miracles don’t happen every day…”
Of the many amusing responses I received, this one stood out: “Rob, are you willing to take on Sweet Gum Balls?” The comment was a joke, but it illustrates the evolution in all of us from childish wonder to adult practical reality.

Unfortunately, these adult practical realities can sometimes cloud our vision, numb our senses and influence our decisions. This clouded vision creates an environment where the natural wonders of our planet become mundane and conversations about their protection, either predictably entrenched or simply lost in “the clutter” – as advertising execs like to say. The “unique communication” art provides, allows us to reawaken the senses of viewers to rediscover the beauty of our natural world, and in doing so reconsider prioritizing its value.

How so?

When people say my work is beautiful, I realize that it is not my work that is beautiful, for my work is simply a depiction of one moment of reality. What is beautiful is the moment of awareness which the viewer experiences through viewing my artwork. The recognition of beauty is within the viewer, not my painting. I have done nothing but remove for the moment the concepts and labels through which we all process our world. My artwork simply returns the viewer to that moment of childhood, where the stark singular focus allows the viewer for a moment to shed their concepts and labels and simply view the beautiful reality with the same wonder they had as a child. If I am really successful, they actually “feel” or experience beauty. Like most artists, I do this quite intentionally – directing the viewer’s eyes and perceptions using a wide range of tools including such things as composition, color saturations, lighting, physical proxemics, non-verbal communication and many others, to deliberately influence the perceptions of the viewer. But ultimately the viewer is the one who determines how it is perceived.

I know that everyone’s perceptions will be different. The reason is that people perceive both people and things not as the thing exists, but as THEY exist. Two people can look at the same thing and see quite different things. All I hope to reach are the people who appreciate the value of our natural world, but have “fallen asleep” over the course of their busy lives – and to reawaken them to the “saucer eyed” child they used to be. It is up to them to take it from there.

I started with a story, so let me end with one. On a cross country flight I was sitting by the window with my young daughter asleep next to me on my shoulder. As I looked out the window, I was struck by the incredible beauty of the landscape unfolding below me as we cruised over the Rockies near sunset. I nudged her awake with the following words: “Pssst Adeline, wake up! I want to show you something……”

And that simply describes what I hope to do with my art.

Rob Dreyer, AFC is a signature member of the Artists For Conservation Foundation. The Artists for Conservation Foundation (AFC) is a non-profit, international organization dedicated to the celebration and preservation of the natural world. Based in Vancouver, Canada, the Foundation represents the world’s leading collective of artists focused on nature and wildlife, with a membership spanning five continents and twenty-seven countries. The organization’s mission is to support wildlife and habitat conservation, biodiversity, sustainability and environmental education through art that celebrates our natural heritage. A portion of the sale of the original and prints of “Keeper of the Congo” will be donated to support the work of The Goualougo Triangle Ape Project. www.Congo-Apes.org

© copyright 2014 Rob Dreyer

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