60.067 - Collaborative Art and Activism for Eco-Justice Education

Session Type: Symposium

Abstract

This symposium expands the notion of justice at the heart of the AERA conference theme, Toward Justice, to include ecological justice. Through diverse, creative, and generative examples and theoretical positions we consider the place of activism in the 2015 call to “change the world—toward more justice.” In framing this symposium around research and teaching that is explicitly activist and ecological, we contribute to the EE SIG’s call to “provide promise and hope to meet the challenges of our times.” The five presenters consider a range of ecojustice issues (i.e., Idle No More, climate change, food systems, uranium mining, campus development) through a range of arts-based activist practices, including round dances, museum installations, collaborative art, public performances, and site-specific art.

Sub Unit

• SIG-Environmental Education

Chair

• Julia Kathleen Ostertag, The University of British Columbia

Papers

• Flash Mob Round Dancing as Indigenous Place-Based Pedagogy - Tracy L. Friedel, The University of British Columbia

• Vanishing Ice: Interpretive Activism About Climate Change in Museum Practices - Elsa Lenz Kothe, The University of British Columbia

• The Farm - Andrew Bieler, University of Saskatchewan

• Public Art and Eco-Justice: Community Collaboration and Civic Engagement With Freshman Undergraduates - Nora Timmerman, Northern Arizona University

• Fireweed: Toward a Pedagogy of Solidarity Through Gift-Giving, Love, and Activism - Julia Kathleen Ostertag, The University of British Columbia

Discussants

• Olivia Gude, University of Illinois at Chicago

• Margaret Jean Somerville, University of Western Sydney