Climate Hope by Monica Jahan Bose
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SEE & DO: Write a quick 6-word poem, pledge or illustration focused on climate change on a specially designed sari from the artist’s ancestral village in Bangladesh. In late May, be a part of a procession with over 70 feet of saris billowing with hope through the streets of Arlington.
MEET: Internationally exhibited artist Monica Jahan Bose, a representative from our community partner, EcoAction Arlington or the creator of an Arlington citizen developed project, Climate4Change.
LEARN: How climate change has affected many parts of the world and simple steps we can take to help address it.
Wednesday, April 3, 2024 – Barcroft School, not open to public
Sunday, April 7 – 9-1 pm - Columbia Pike Farmers Market, 2820 Columbia Pike
Saturday, April 20 – 8-noon - Lubber Run Farmers Market opening day, 4401 N Henderson Road
Sunday, April 21 – 11-5 pm - Earth Day, Every Day, 4500-4550 Cherry Hill Road
Sunday, May 5 – 9-1 pm - Fairlington Farmers Market opening day, 3308 S Stafford Street Special guest: Arlington Poet Laureate Courtney LeBlanc will be with us 9-11am to help you write your poem.
Thursday, May 9–RESCHEDULED TO MAY 16TH DUE TO WEATHER FORCAST – 3-7 pm - MoCA on the Move with MoCA Arlington at MET Park, South Elm Street between South 13th and South 14th Streets
Thursday, May 16–3-7 pm - MoCA on the Move with MoCA Arlington at MET Park,South Elm Street between South 13th and South 14th Streets
Saturday, May 18 – 10-1 pm - Family Fun Day in the Park, Alcova Heights Park, 901 S George Mason Drive
Saturday, May 25 – 11-2:30 pm - Shirlington Library, 4200 Campbell Avenue ; 11-1: activation outside-(drop by anytime), 1-2:30: artist talk in library and community performance/procession from library to Jennie Dean park. There is limited space for the artist talk indoors. Free. Sign up here.
Contribute to a community created art project by writing a poem, pledge, or an illustration directly onto a hand woven 18-foot-long cotton sari that is from the artist’s ancestral village in Bangladesh. The poems and pledges will complete the sari which has already been adorned with climate themed wood block prints. On the last day, the public can be a part of a procession with over 70 feet of saris through an Arlington neighborhood and by a waterway.
The community partner for this project is Eco-Action Arlington with guest partners Climate4Change. Learn how you can help slow down climate change by simple actions starting at home.
EcoAction Arlington advocates, educates, and acts to create a sustainable community by improving our natural environment, encouraging environmentally-friendly behaviors, ensuring environmental justice, and addressing the climate crisis. Climate4Change is an Arlington County citizen developed project where they provide simple adjustments in our everyday habits that will help mitigate climate change.
This is part of an ongoing project called ‘Storytelling with Saris’ by Monica Jahan Bose. Storytelling with Saris is a multi-layered collaborative art and advocacy project that uses woodblock prints on saris, writing, oral history, performance, and film to empower communities in the U.S. and Europe to address climate justice in solidarity with the women of Katakhali Village, an island community in Bangladesh on the frontlines of climate change. Through performance art and advocacy workshops and climate art actions in the U.S., Bangladesh, and Europe, communities are engaged to take action to fight against the devastation of our planet. Americans are learning about climate change and reducing climate anxiety through the project by writing poetry and making written commitments on saris in an act of cross-border solidarity.
Learn more about the artist
Video by Richard Howard for Arlington Arts
Final video documenting the entire project including the performance in Shirlington. Photography and editing by: Maps Glover.