Do we attend to the Aesthetic Environment of our home. Are the pictures, objects, settings conducive to creativity, joy and compassion?

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 what 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 Earth, which is ever evolving.

For us it meant creating a conducive environment for creativity to happen while also raising awareness on the disturbing effects caused to the protective ambience of planet. We have celebrated the significance of this day for a few years, initially focusing on the ecological implications but It is nice to see how the work continues to grow in interesting ways building upon the fertile grounds of our previous works.

This environmental day I sit back and look at the past events and compare it with the present journey so we can check the possibility of the most relevant way to move forward.

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 made puppets and were asked to study the animal and their habitats so as to create suitable backdrops. We discussed some and the moms helped much. Thanks to all moms and our friends for encouraging our experimental craziness :)

2025 events

Earlier this year, I read a passage in the preface of Dr Wei’s book, ‘The Legends and folklore of Vietnam’. The passage is in the graphic above. It was an honor to include this passage along with Dr Wei’s illustrative drawings in our collaborative Art show. Thanks to Dr Wei and the AACC for letting us work with them.

Inspired continuation

Dr Wei’s Story book was a reminder on how imagination flexes one’s mind and enhances creativity. Perhaps we can include more imagination and stories 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.

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 arising.

Some clips here. Foundly thinking of our friends Aditi Mishra and Ketki Bendre with whom I had a great time brainstorming and designing the weeklong camp. Thanks to our friendships and collaborations. We had plans to monetize further camps but that didnot happen. Maybe for good?!)

2025 events

This year our interdisciplinary work was graced with inclusion of our friend, Suci's photographs representing Scientific research at the UIUC campus. These Photo-graphs honor the work of Professor Emeritus Govindjee and Photobiologist and an eminent Scientist Rajni V Govindjee‘s work on Photosynthesis and serve as a tribute to Waters from local areas.

We are grateful to the (almost a centenarian) Scientists for permitting us to include their Science links as part of the exhibit and to Suci, who is herself a professor, for her valuable contributions to this exhibit.

Inspired continuation

We would like to continue working on ‘Leaves’ inspired by Govindjee's and Rajniji's work on Photosynthesis.

Sustainability for Environmental health

Sustainability has been at the center of our projects since our founding years. But we were fortunate for an opportunity to help with Pocket Prairie restoration at Scotts park water retention area with Dave Prairie Monk Here are some nostalgic moments from ED 2021 with Dave Monk

One of the earliest Eco-Art activities we hosted was the BTW School Wellness Rocks event 2015 when we created the slogan Environmental health = Our health which we continued to work on in schools till recent times.

2025 events

This year we were invited to host a table at Sustainapalooza, an Earth day celebratory event by Students for Environmental Concerns. 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

Sustainability is an outlook that is and will be interwoven into all our creative projects but we also like to continue working on interdisciplinary inspirations come across earlier this year.

Compassion building for Harmonious Global Environment.

Seeds of CARE

While all factors of development are present in some measures in all that we do, we haven’t highlighted Compassion building enough. Though not directly we might have encouraged compassionate outlook in almost all our activities, May it be puppet shows, nature hikes, art playdates, or virtual meets

This realm of development seems to be more emotional and also ‘Direction’ based. In the sense that all other developments are advancements of human faculties but Campassion (and all it’s related sentiments) will give that development an evolutionary edge instead of just blind advancements towards destruction.

It wasn’t this year but I am fondly reminded of Dr Stake and Dr Merel who on our Environmental day celebration last year shared their views on CARE based on their coauthored book, ‘Paradigm of Care’

We all use the work and k is what it means but this book highlighters Care with a wonderful depth to it.

As we speak of Sustainability it feels relevant to share couple of recent experiences. One of them is visiting Champaign-Urbana Spinners & Weavers Guild event at the Champaign Library this spring.. They had Raw wool, and Spinning tools including handlooms displayed as educational materials. It didnot look polished but was precious in its value to humans. Its wonderful to see our Public places still value these local resources while the world makes noise for landing on Mars. No issues with tech world but when it comes to Human or Humane or Humanity, what will matter is Life taking care of Life. This is where MATERIALS come into focus, especially of our daily use.

In stark contrast, i received gift with wrapping papers couple days ago from guest visiting us. The gifts were distributed in guest group but the sparkling waste lingered in our homes to be cleaned. Its a very minor issue that can be pushed aside but its creating microplastics at rapid speed. Can we do anything about it?

Inspired continuation
Its not just about the everyday materials that cannot be avoided in our designed systems, its about the attention and care and sensitivity that we lack, in our family talks, in school curriculums, or casual lifestyles that can be rethought about. Hopefully we are part of the solution not the increasing deuteration.

Aesthetic environment- Atmosphere creation in Art

Is this even a relevant topic to Environment? How? Why? More to come soon

What is an Environment.

Tribute to Sensei