Unmasking Climate Justice: Voices from the Past, Present, and Emerging Generations
Affecting Climate Consciousness Through Art
Teaching Artist:
Raz Salvarita is a multi-disciplinary artist, creative activist and founder of Barry Balangaw Creative Initiatives.
- Location: Philippines
- Teaching Artist: Razcel (Raz) Jan Salvarita
- Years Active: 2021-2022
- Number of People Impacted: 174 (+9,000 audience members)
- Art Forms: Performance and Installation Art, New Media
Local Issue Addressed
Climate related disasters in the Philippines have been steadily worsening amid super typhoons and rising sea levels leading to widespread flooding.
There is an emerging appetite at a local level to understand what actions need to be taken to mitigate negative climate impacts, particularly within the fishing communities.
Project Overview
Unmasking Climate Justice was developed to help community members understand how climate change affects their region, and learn how to educate and advocate through creative engagement.
Through focus group discussions, workshops, interviews, and filmmaking, Raz worked with local community leaders, fisherfolk, and farmers to understand the impacts of environmental damage through
the lens of traditional knowledge systems. He also documented the efforts of local climate activists as an educational tool and an inspiration for younger generations.
The project culminated in a site-specific art installation that served as a public reflection of community members’ perspectives on the impact of climate change, and an articulation of their hopes for the future.
Activities
In phase 1 of the project, Raz trained five women farmers to facilitate public discussions about how climate change was affecting their natural environment. 120 community members were interviewed for the project.
During this phase, a short documentary film was created to share the life and work of 65 year-old local farmer, Ricardo Lindres. “A Day in the Life of a Farmer” shared Ricardo’s first-hand experiences of the effects of environmental change and his concerns for the future wellbeing of his grandchildren. Learn more in Raz’s case study, featured in the Teaching Artistry for Social Impact Course, on the
Kadenze learning platform.
Raz also worked with local artisans to create terracotta masks that would become the central focus of his public art installation. Earth clay, rice husks, and bamboo–materials central to the artisans’ craft–were utilized in a series of immersive workshops which enabled community members to tell their stories while campaigning for climate justice and advocating for their future. Some of these workshops included mask-making, mural painting, origami, and creative movement.
Social Impact Outcomes
The following outcomes were achieved:
Participants:
• Local stakeholders, farmers, and fisherfolk learned about current climate issues threatening their way of living.
• Youth in the community learned from the knowledge of the elders, and understood how to advocate for climate solutions.
• Teachers learned how to translate climate science into lessons that were easy for students to understand.
• Women farmers learned how to facilitate discussions in their communities.
• Attended by local councillors and representatives from the mayoral and tourism offices, the public exhibition drew unexpected levels of interest and was extended for a further three months.
Skills and Competencies Measured
- Knowledge about how climate change is affecting people locally
- Communication and advocacy skills
- Changes in beliefs and behaviours
Data Collection Methods
- Interviews with farmers and fisherfolk
- Surveys and evaluation forms
- Story circles