Reviving Waters WEBINAR: Artists Talk on Water Sustainability
In parallel with the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly and the Summit of the Future, we are partnering with the Arts for the Future Festival to ensure the arts play a key role in global solutions, are included in the development agenda, and are integrated into efforts to help accelerate progress toward the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Our latest efforts through Project H2O have been particularly focused on SDG #6: “Clean Water and Sanitation for All.”
WHY SDG #6? Water is the foundation for all SDGs because it affects almost every part of life.
Clean water and proper sanitation (SDG 6) are basic human rights, vital for health (SDG 3) by preventing diseases. Water is key to food security (SDG 2) since agriculture depends on it. Access to water also promotes gender equality (SDG 5) by reducing the burden of water collection on women and girls, giving them more opportunities for education and work. In cities, water management helps create sustainable, resilient communities (SDG 11). It also protects ecosystems and biodiversity, supporting life below water (SDG 14) and on land (SDG 15), while helping us respond to climate change (SDG 13). Water is crucial for economic growth, innovation, and sustainable industry (SDG 8 and SDG 9).
Without good water management, progress on these goals would be difficult, making water essential for a fair and sustainable future.
Come be part of an informative, solution-oriented online conversation that continues to explore the intersection of art and water sustainability, featuring select Project H2O artists and their thought-provoking works. Together, we’ll dive into topics like the impact of water on culture, gender, and well-being, while examining how the arts and culture sector can play a pivotal role in shaping the future of water. We’ll tackle questions like:
• How might a focus on sustainability influence or shape an artist’s creativity and expression? Could it be limiting or expansive?
• How can artists integrate sustainability into their creative processes?
• How can artists collaborate with scientists, policymakers, and the development sector to push forward sustainability initiatives?
Guest Speakers:
Marcela Montalvan, Visual Artist, is a painter and textile artist from Los Angeles, CA. Through art, she raises awareness for habitat and biodiversity preservation, the environmental impacts of synthetic textile waste and for environmental sustainability in communities that are most vulnerable to environmental degradation. Her work is influenced by her experiences growing up in a community that was impacted by environmental pollution and climate change.
She is inspired by the delicate harmony of nature. Her project “Reviving the Traditional Olla Pot” focused on bringing water conservation awareness to underserved communities in Los Angeles.
Maria Coletsis, Photographer/Multimedia Artist, works with issues concerned with identity and the environment. She incorporates photography, painting, digital media and computer installations in her diverse artworks. Since receiving her BFA from Emily Carr University and MFA from the San Francisco Art Institute, she has exhibited her artwork in galleries internationally.
Maria continues to investigate and photograph elements from nature to explore human nature.
Mentwab Easwaran (Mentu), Artist/Designer, grew up in Ethiopia, where water shortages were a daily reality. When the main water system shut down, they were sent to fetch water. For her as a child it was a task that was given but for those without easy access within the countryside, this often involved traveling miles and facing dangers from wildlife and human attacks. These perilous journeys consumed time that could have been spent on education or building a sustainable life. Women, in particular, endured these challenges by traveling in protective packs for safety.
Their unmatched resilience and strength are a lasting influence on Mentu’s art. Mentu graduated from Parsons School of Design with a degree in communication design.
Moderator:
Nil S. Navaie, Founder / Adviser of Arts for Global Development, Inc. is a strategist and mixed-media artist with 20 years of experience exploring the intersection of the arts with behavioral, societal, and environmental change. Her cross-disciplinary work focuses on how the arts can drive positive human and ecological development. As a published author, she has contributed to international platforms such as the UNESCO Observatory e-Journal, UCLG/Culture 21, and Arts Marketing book by Routledge.
An advocate for the arts and OneHealth, Nil has curated cause-driven, non-traditional educational exhibitions, led workshops, designed and implemented campaigns, and spoken at notable events across the globe, including the Popular Culture Association Conference, the Association for Cultural Economics International, Columbia College’s Arts Entrepreneurship Center, the Global Leadership Forum, and King’s College’s Social and Economic Research Council.
The Stories of Water international arts exhibition debuts virtually, continuing our mission to raise awareness about the state of global water resources, and inspire action. Our goal is to unite the development and arts sectors to recognize the transformative power of art in advancing sustainable goals, particularly in the areas of water, sanitation, and biodiversity preservation.