Big name artists like Chris Jordan have shown us that art and activism go hand in hand. Here in Portland, RIPPLE is taking advantage of that movement, hosting a great event on November 7th featuring artwork made with river debris collected at the recent We Love Clean Rivers river cleanup. The goal is to use this art as a medium for inspiring positive change within the local community.
From RIPPLE:
We put together a team of diverse artists to work with recovered river debris with the hopes of inspiring a community to make sustainable lifestyle choices. You don’t have to be an artist to inspire change. It is through the reformation of the thought process, getting people to think outside of the blue recycling bin and becoming an active recycler.
Being a local Portland project, and with an adventure/artist/activist focus, we’re really excited about RIPPLE so we caught up with RIPPLE’s event coordinator extraordinaire, Jenn Reilly, to learn a little more.
Wend: Why did you choose to start RIPPLE?
Jenn Reilly: Volunteering with the 2008 Down the River Clean Up committee, I was approached as an artist to create something from the trash. The idea really resonated me, turning recycling into an active endeavor rather than an impersonal chore. From there, the idea has really evolved. I have put together a strong network of motivated artists who are excited to be involved with the event and the development of Creative Re-use as an art form. As we gain awareness for the efforts of We Love Clean Rivers, the goal of the Ripple Effect is to expand this idea of sustainability, flesh it out, and develop a new way of thinking about the things we discard.
What does the name signify?
RIPPLE is about inspiration. The only tangible way to enact change on a large scale is to lead by example. It takes just one person, one action, one idea, to spark interest and inspire change. One person was inspired to clean up a river, and that individual’s inspiration has developed into an annual 325 person excursion down the Clackamas River. This immense effort has inspired a community of artists to push the ripples of action wider and expand awareness for a truly worthy cause. Over time, with enough support, the ripples will grow into tidal waves.
How do you see art and activism working together to create change?
Art allows us to see through eyes we seldom open. When artistic creation is inspired by something bigger and more important than any individual, the results can be radiant and open our eyes wide to a new idea. We live in a visual society where what you can show people affects them strongly, much more than what you tell them. Many of the artists I’ve met through this project are actively pursuing lives and careers that display the intrinsic value of a change in ideals. Create beauty out of what you have; see the beauty in what already exists; live by example.
One of your goals is to inspire people to become “active recyclers.” What are some tips/ideas for how people can do that?
Make your garbage can the last resort. When an item has reached the end of its usefulness, learn to see it as newly available raw material. If you continually notice yourself throwing a specific item away, try collecting it, discovering a new use for something you once discarded or reevaluating your need for it in the first place. Garbage is only trash if you choose to see it as trash. When you work with what you have to create useful items out of what would otherwise be trash, you can really add a lot of flavor and fun to life. You will discover a way of actively seeing, doing, and creating things that enlivens your sense of self worth. Don’t try to conquer the world with recycling, just live simply and sustainably, as an example of creativity and vibrant self empowerment that inspires change where it matters most: your own life.
