Finding sage-grouse and finding your personal climate actions
Finding sage-grouse and finding your personal climate actions
Artist Joanne Orce's exploration of the sagebrush ecosystem is an example of using interests and skills to find rewarding action.
This week, I’m thrilled to share the work of an artist friend of mine, Joanne Orce, and also a helpful tool for finding rewarding personal climate actions.
Joanne is an artist in Steamboat Springs who loves to paint wildlife and the iconic places around this small town and big ski area in Northwest Colorado. She attended Pratt Institute in Manhattan for illustration but soon discovered a love for oil painting. Joanne designed the 2023 Steamboat Springs Winter Carnival poster and was voted Best of the ‘Boat Artist 2023. She is a mom to three children and also an athletic coach.
For its second year, Joanne is again participating in the Yampa Valley Sustainability Council (YVSC) event, Insight: Art for Climate Action. Insight is a fundraiser that aims to raise awareness and support for climate action through the power of art. And, disclaimer, I’m now working part time for YVSC as a Creative Climate Communications Associate. This led to me starting this newsletter to share some climate action ideas. I have so much enthusiasm for the subject, I needed an outlet, so thanks for reading!
Joanne was inspired to create a painting for Insight featuring the greater sage-grouse and highlighting their sagebrush habitat. A couple of years ago she accompanied her friend to several leks to count grouse to estimate the population. Leks are display grounds where male greater sage-grouse strut and show off in hopes of attracting a mate. The males fan out their tail feathers and inflate and deflate the air sacs on their chest making a popping sound.
To prepare for this painting, Joanne spent some time in Northwest Colorado amongst the sagebrush, studying and sketching the plant and its immediate environment including stones, fossils, cactus, and bones. According to her artist statement, “My Greater Sage Grouse painting emerged from these experiences and a longing to bring attention to the importance of sagebrush in restoring a resilient landscape. Respecting and restoring sagebrush meadow ecosystems will hopefully mean the future survival of these beautiful and iconic birds.”
Sage-grouse depend on large expanses of sagebrush habitat which have been reduced by more than half since 1965. These areas are impacted by oil and gas infrastructure, conversion to agriculture, and other human development. Invasive plant species, and wildfires made more intense by climate change are also challenges. Check out this lovely slideshow, The Golden Triangle, by Evan Barrientos of the Audubon Rockies to learn more about the sagebrush landscape.
Are you inspired by something- a landscape, an iconic species, or driven by a general concern and not too sure how to make a difference? Well, Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, a marine biologist, author, and environmental policy expert, has created a great Venn diagram to help you brainstorm and gain some direction.
As an example, I asked Joanne to fill out the diagram and here are her responses:
What brings you joy?
• painting and drawing
• hiking, exploring and observing nature
• the happiness of my kids
What are you good at?
• making art- drawing and painting
• physical tasks and journeys
• coaching/instructing
What work needs doing?
• protection and restoration of ecosystems
• local climate solutions
Next, think about the areas where the circles overlap and brainstorms actions:
• a series of paintings about the sagebrush ecosystem and its interdependent species
• environmental reforestation or restoration work with my kids
• work with a local organization to teach volunteers to do restoration work
• observe, record, or draw in a way that educates about environmental changes
Joanne is already well on her way in these personalized climate actions by sharing her interest in sage-grouse and their habitat, donating her painting to Insight, and also planting trees with YVSC’s ReTree event last fall.
Take some time to fill out the Venn diagram for yourself! I’d love to hear if it it gives you good ideas of actions to take. Remember that we all have talents, interests, and resources that make up a unique skillset. Working in areas that you love, or have a lot of curiosity about, can be a rewarding way to engage around climate change.
If you are in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, head to the Steamboat Creates Art Depot, 1001 13th Street, for ArtWalk on June 7, 5-8 pm to see all of the fantastic work created for Insight: Art for Climate Action, including Joanne’s painting. The art will be on display for the month of June, leading up to the main event June 29 at the Larson Barn. However, this year all of the artwork will also be online for you to see and bid on from anywhere! Check back here in June to see what the artists have created.