Loving Earth: Some starting points for Earthcare – an alphabet book from the Quaker Arts Network

Author: Quaker Arts Network. Review by Annette Gambin

The Quaker Arts Network, which hopefully is familiar to many readers, has a soul child: The Loving Earth Project. It comprises a series of fabric panels on an ecological theme, and everyone is invited to be part of it. I would personally describe it as creative campaign, using textile art as a reflective process (and almost as a therapeutic tool). Carefully-chosen prompts are given to contributors as inspiration to express their environmental – and often overwhelming – concerns for the sickness of our planet. This invitation is open to anyone – amazingly, making a panel seems to require only a level of artistic talent that we are all likely to possess – and has to date given birth to more than 400 pieces. These are available to view at an online gallery: http://lovingearth-project.uk/test-gallery.

Some of these panels have now been reproduced in this small, lovely book. I don’t envy the people who had the challenging task of choosing just twenty-six panels from the richness and vibrancy of the over 400 for this publication.

My personal favourites – for the moment at least – are: the ‘C for Cows’, clearly using a tea towel as back drop; the beautifully blue ‘O for Ocean’; and the impressive ‘F for Fire’.

The format is reminiscent of a children’s book: the entries are organised into alphabetically-ordered themes. This was a clever idea, I thought, as it touches a very fundamental part of our being: that of our inner child, which is perhaps the home of our creative passions.

We have known for some time that creative expression contributes to our wellbeing. But more recently we have also begun to recognise that even just the act of looking at art stimulates both brain hemispheres with an effect on psychological resilience. Given the seriousness of the environmental changes in our world, this is sorely needed.

In spite of its size and cheerful appearance, this book carries a serious and important message. Small actions matter.

Softly and gently, Quaker characteristics shine through the work. Once you ponder over how the things you love about our world have been affected, you begin to also consider just what it is that you, the individual, could actually do.

Here are many examples of how love can be a starting point for action to care for our wonderful, endangered world.

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Comments

How can we buy a copy please? It looks beautiful.

By suehampton@btinternet.com on 25th February 2022 - 14:11

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Is there a place I can order this lovely book?

By KRosenthal on 20th May 2023 - 18:08

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