The David Brower Center invites Northern California artists to apply to Art/Act: Local 2024, our annual juried exhibition showcasing four local artists whose works explore environmental concerns and topics. For this year’s exhibition, inspired by the work of Planting Justice, we are soliciting artwork that engages with the slow, patient process of building sustainable change. 

Sustainable change takes time. Although the current stage of the climate crisis can make us feel an overwhelming urgency, we have seen meaningful change brought about by dedicated, thoughtful organizations like Planting Justice, an Oakland-based organization that heals communities and develops local power through its nursery and community garden. We are seeking art that inspires action and encourages people to recognize their own power and responsibility to act on behalf of the earth.

In addition to growing food sovereignty and green jobs, Planting Justice has created a vibrant place to work and heal for people transitioning from prison. Planting Justice’s profound positive impact on those who find their way there is apparent in the short film Sol in the Garden. In this documentary, Sol Mercado tells her story of healing by finding community at Planting Justice and by reconnecting with herself through tending the earth. We encourage all applicants to watch Sol in Garden here to better understand the exhibition’s framing before preparing their submissions.

Like the steady work of gardening, transforming our communities and the environment begins with small, tangible steps. By first setting down strong roots, we ensure our efforts can eventually flower and bear fruit. We encourage artists to be expansive in approaching this theme.