Meet the new Eco Art Collective: 13 artists who came together with the goal of communicating important topics through their art.

The original group is comprised of Silas Axtell, Jill Bergman, Amanda Blickensderfer, Kiki Chanders, Juan Diego, Ann Feldman, Emma Friedland, Luisa Manriquez, Joanne Orce, Richard Reed, Sloane Speer, Simone White and Megan Williams.

The collective’s first exhibit – in a variety of mediums but all with the theme of climate and the environment – hung last month in The Alley Gallery & Art Studios. 

The collective came about in part because of the annual event, Insight: Art for Climate Action, which is put on by the local nonprofit, Western Resilience Center. The event invites Yampa Valley artists to explore themes of climate change through their artwork. 

“One thing we often find in our work is a big communication barrier with people understanding the issues,” explains Abby Vander Graaff, WRC’s communications manager. “It’s scientific but also emotionally complex. The artwork at the event allows you to enter the world of thinking about climate from a place that’s hopeful and inspiring. Our goal is that people leave with inspiration, but also tools and ideas of what they can do. Jill and I were talking about how we see the artists connecting on these issues – and that’s how the collective was formed.”

Currently, the 13 members explore how to reuse materials or use more sustainable materials for their pieces. And they share tips with each other, Ann Feldman points out. “The Depot Art Center has a basement full of discarded materials, like paint, that artists can use,” she says. “I wouldn’t have known that otherwise and now I can check there first before buying new paints. We’re supporting each other and collaborating.”

Its other purpose is to inspire – each other, as well as the broader community. “Art and humor are two of the largest driving forces in our political environment,” says collective member Richard Reed. “We are the most wasteful society ever to live on this planet and artists have a choice about how they can approach their work and drive the way that people look at our society. We need to reinvest ourselves in our society – we also need to encourage our civic leaders to do more than they are doing and art is a good way of pushing that.”

And, it’s meant to be collaborative. “Being a part of a collective like this is putting yourself with people who are like-minded,” says Simone White. “It can be kind of daunting and overwhelming when you hear negative news about the climate and the state we’re in. This is a place where we can come together and start small. Doing it together makes it feel more approachable.”

Community members will be invited to join the collective in March, when the group opens up to new artists. Founding member Jill Bergman anticipates many more members in the future. “I would like the collective to gather its own momentum and see where it evolves to,” she says.