Do we attend to the Aesthetic Environment of our home. Are the pictures, objects, settings conducive to creativity, joy and compassion? And what about outside our homes and the billboards and the media.

Yard with Native prairies, looks untidy but is it a better environment for the creatures residing in them

The child grew up in a loving environment

That workplace has healthy work environment

Concerns are risinging over Environmental issues

What is your inner environment right now

The environment is clean in the mountains you are visiting

The above statements present environment in its varied references of atmosphere, space, habitat, condition, state.

What is environment for you?

‘Environment’ is such a wonderful concept and a vital one as it dictates the quality of product that will grow, be born, create, within its parameters. It's almost WOMB LIKE IN ITS NATURE and signifies the same GEO WOMB in which is protected the living planet, the ever evolving Earth.

We have celebrated the significance of this day for a few years, initially focusing on the ecological implications but now exploring the concept in a wider sense. Like-

2020 E.D - a virtual Animals’ Puppet show

2021 E.D. - STEAM camp ‘evolution of Life’

2021 E.D. - Prairie Restoration w Prairie Monk

2022 and then 2023- Environment- Inner and outer’ monthly virtual meets started

2024 E.D. - Book reading Event

It is interesting to see how the present work has been building upon the previous works. This environmental day 2025, it was good to take a pause with events and look back at the past works, comparing them with the present 2025 projects so as to determine possible ways for continuing further.

We had very few events this Spring semester 2025 but they were meaningful in many ways. We are grateful to all friends and volunteers, Guests and advisors and supporters without whom these events would not be possible. Special Thanks to AACC UIUC for their valued collaborations with “Waters of Asia” Exhibit and to Students for Environmental Concerns for making us part of their Sustainapalooza 2025 event.

Environment as Habitat and atmosphere creation

For 2020 E.D we came up with an idea for a virtual Animals Puppet show, as in-person events were stalled due to Pandemic. The aim was to let kids express their thoughts on environment and get creative with their imaginations. The prep work that went into it was the most fun (and educational) part of all. Kids were asked to make their puppets and study their habitats to create suitable backdrops. We worked some on Zoom but mostly moms helped. Thanks to all moms and our friends for encouraging our experimental craziness :) it created some joyful memories even during Pandemic distress.

Comparing 2025 events

Earlier this year, I read a passage in the preface of Dr Wei’s book, ‘The Legends and folklore of Vietnam’. Sharing a part of it, “I believe that Stories can help children open their hearts to the beauty of nature, to the goodness of the people and to the many virtues of the human race.. Through such tales we enlarge the world of children… .' More about Dr Wei on this UIUC link

It was an honor to have this book along with Dr Wei’s illustration prints as part of the Spring 2025 Art show at the AACC.

Inspired continuation

Dr Wei’s Book Preface was a reminder on how imagination and so stories, flexes one’s mind and broadens our understanding of the world. Perhaps we can include more Storytelling into our Project work for the next phase?

Environment building to promote Curious minds

The wonderful field of Science develops curious minds to search for answers and therein understand the nature of things around them in broader sense.

For ED 2021 we designed a virtual camp, ‘Evolution of Life’ to promote critical, lateral, creative and sustainable thinking. Some amazing discussions happened throughout the camp week amongst the kid participants giving a taste of the brilliant next generation..

Some clips here. Thanks to our friends Aditi Mishra and Ketki Bendre with whom I had a great time brainstorming and designing the weeklong camp and enjoying the Environmental Day 2021 concluding meet

Comparing 2025 events

This year the interdisciplinary work was graced with inclusion of our friend, Śuci’s Photographs honoring the work of Professor Emeritus Govindjee and Photobiologist and an eminent Scientist Rajni V Govindjee‘s work on Photosynthesis. Some of their publications can be viewed on this link. This Photo display also served as a tribute to Waters from local areas.

We are grateful to the (almost centenarian) Scientists for permitting us to reference their work in the field of Sciences as part of the same Spring exhibit at AACC and to Śuci who is a professor herself, for her valuable contributions to this exhibit.

Inspired continuation

It would be nice to continue our Colab Creative Inquiry inspired by ‘Photosynthesis’.

Sustainability for Environmental health

Sustainability has been at the center of our projects since our founding years but felt most fortunate for celebrating ED 2021 with Dave Monk. It was an opportunity to go a step further touching nature and creating native ecosystem at Scotts park water detention pond. An inspiring experience seeing a 90+ year Naturalist work on digging, planting and orienting us on importance of Prairies. Thanks to Dave for his dedicated work on our native eco systems and indirectly for the Well-being of all species.

Looking further back in the past to one of the earliest Eco-Art activities we hosted for BTW School Wellness Rocks event 2015, when we created the slogan ‘Environmental health = Our health’. Thanks to Jacqulyn Monroe for her bold initiatives and openness for new ideas. We have ever since continued to use the poster (and slogan) till recent years. *Note- we have come a long way NOT USING STYROFOAM boards since 2019 so this poster board might as well be an antique? lol

Comparing 2025 events

This year we were invited to host a table at Sustainapalooza event by Students for Environmental Concerns celebrating Earth day-month. We dropped out of table activities but worked on a flier display at the Art tables. The display was designed to be a Zero waste project avoiding new materials or printing as much possible but for convenience of all ended up printing a conventional paper flier. *It would be great idea to further work on these narratives of balance btw convenience-fun-sustainability. Thanks to Claire and SECS team for making us part of their event and to SECS member, Julia for her interest in further collaborations.

Inspired continuation

It would be helpful to further explore the concept of ‘Zero waste’, but that need not be a secluded Inquiry, rather a part of our Creative interdisciplinary works ( Arts, Science, Ecology, Humanities) based on inspirations we have come across earlier this year.

Compassion building for Harmonious Global Environment.

While all factors mentioned above are present in some measures in all that we do , we haven’t highlighted Compassion building enough. I felt this while listening to Dr Stake and Dr Merel Visse’s talks on thier Book. ‘A Paradigm of Care’ as part of our Environmental Day 2024 celebrations. Care is so commonly used but do we Care enough to understand this emotion in depth? At lest i lack that maturity or perhaps sensitivity.

Talking of which, comes to mind Mrs. Thiele’s compassionate dedication, as our 4H leader, and a Sewing project mentor. She has been helping our 4-H members in numerous ways and separately hosting Sewing sessions at her home for interested members. She and her home is wonderful example of a Compassionate space for Arts . We will ever be grateful to Mrs Thiele for her love and blessings to our community youths. Mrs Thiele was part of several of our events, like this talk on Repurposed fabrics

Also come to mind our Garden club at FSA. Thanks to Suzie and Joyce with whom i have the privilege of volunteering to keep it going. Watching the students touch the soil with love, plant, water, discuss about pollinator friends and more, all this felt a good example of Compassion and Sustainability going hand in hand. Sadly this Garden club has uncertain future, a letter was composed to bring attention to the holistic benefits of gardening.

Inspired continuation

Compassion and Care was indirectly touched upon in several past activities but not highlighted as much. in the present Global scenario, this virtue seems the most important. Hope we can all consciously bult upon and highlight the value of Care, at our homes, in School curriculums, in all sectors of work and all disciplines of study.

Environmental Day 2025

This year's ED celebrations call for action to end plastic pollution.

Is that even possible? Plastic is occupied the planet from micro to macro level. It has helped in many ways and now we deal with the repercussions of its over use in careless ways.

Couple of recent experiences to compare-

A gift received w neatly wrapped gift papers and topped w/tissue paper w/ sparkles on it, in a plastic coated colorful bag. Made me wonder if we are aware of our choices in everyday life. All 3 layers had plastic that would be difficult to recycle and maybe end up as microplastics. Could we choose differently while still retaining the beauty and fun of life?

In stark contrast felt the raw Wool, and educational materials displayed by CUSWG at the Champaign Library this spring. The wool did not look neat or polished but might be precious in its value to Sustainable planet not just for humans but all life to thrive? It's wonderful to see our Public places still value these local natural resources and products while also catering to high tech advancements.

We have moved on to explore the Psychological implications of Consumerism, yet are happy to continue advocating about REDUCING pollution of all kinds and maybe continue work on Environmental Day 2023 theme- 'Reduce Plastic, Increase Biodiversity'

Inspired continuation
The microplastics are capable of changing our genetics inside out. just one day of ED celebrations are of no use, and infact, if they are not mindful, they can actually deter the purpose, creating more pollution with mindless materials used. What can we do while also enjoying the fun of life!?

While creating samples or working on Paper as material, or helping curate exhibit, it was fun to explore the elements of Art and Aesthetic.

Aesthetic environment.

Is this even a relevant topic to Environment? How does Beauty help Environment- Inner and Outer? Not just by adding Art objects but the very Aesthetic of the space. I would like to continue working on this personal Inquiry through my Art practice. My thoughts and works might be added to this persona Inquiry page.

What is an Environment

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