The artist's role in creating cultural, political and environmental change: Artists have always presented new visions of reality. Today, environmental artists, in every media, present creative, alternative and effective solutions to both educating the public about environmental issues and restoring the landscape.

New College of California's North Bay Campus Center for Culture, Ecology and Sustainable Community in Santa Rosa, will begin three new program concentrations in Environmental Arts: Environmental Arts and Education, Ecological Woodcarving (January 2001) and Painting in the Landscape (January 2001).

The first of its kind in the country, this innovative program is offered through New College of California's accredited B.A. completion and M.A. degree programs in Humanities and Leadership. Students on both levels attend seminars one weekend a month in the Culture, Ecology and Sustainable Community emphasis, plus courses and thesis projects in one of these three concentration areas.

The Environmental Arts and Education Concentration is an intensive, holistic, interdisciplinary, and experiential program designed to integrate issues of sustainability, environmental education, multi-media arts, spirituality, deep ecology, and community activism. This program is for artists, activists and environmental educators alike, wishing to expand their vision of environmental action by integrating their personal knowledge, creativity, passion and life experience.

The Goal of the Program is to teach students to be informed and passionate educators and activists with effective, creative tools to take out into the community for cultural, political and environmental transformation and change. (please note that this is not a teaching credential program.)

The aim of the coursework is the development of environmental consciousness and interconnection by examining, expressing and healing our own personal relationship to the Earth and the ecological crisis. By engaging in the creative process, we honor the authentic, intuitive, sensory, playful aspects of ourselves in a transformative way. It allows a safe and productive channel for feelings and reactions to our relationship to these issues. Students can then take their experiences and skills and develop them into effective experiential education tools.

Julianne Skai Arbor is an environmental artist and pioneer in the field of Environmental Arts Education. She holds a B.A. in Theatre and History from Knox College, an M.A. in Arts and Consciousness Studies from J.F.K. University, and an M.S. in Environmental Education from the Audubon Expedition Institute.

Her professional focus is on interdisciplinary education, combining the creative process with deep ecology, spirituality, issues of sustainability and activism. She is an active member of the Association for the Study of Arts and the Environment, and the Women's Environmental Artist's Directory.

Julianne works in a variety of mediums: watercolor painting, photography, poetry, interpretive dance, performance art and street theatre. As a visual artist, her work focuses on creating medicine shield mandals for shamanic healing. Her visual artwork has been exhibited around the U.S. Contact: Julianne Skai Arbor at New College of California's North Bay Campus at 707-568-2558 ext. 2# or at skaiarbor@aol.com

Above: © Julianne SkaiArbor • 1999