Global Climate: Protect the Sacred

When I arrived at the Civic Center Plaza in San Francisco last Saturday morning the streets were blocked off for the Rise For Climate, Jobs, and Justice march and groups of people were painting the streets in colorful designs illustrating our need to protect our precious planet and its people.

I started right away sketching the liveliest group, and found myself wishing I could pick up one of the big paintbrushes and join in. (Of course they were using earth-friendly non-toxic paints that would wear away quickly when traffic resumed.)

Agana here seemed to be everywhere and directing the show, so I talked to her and found out that she was/is the designer of this circle piece and a member of Few and Far Women . She offers her considerable artistic talent in murals, film, jewelry and more!

I got the feeling right away that this day was no procession of gloom about global warming (although lord knows there’s plenty of that!) but a celebration of our planet and people and the desire to make us all wake up to the threat of global warming and figure out how we can help protect all that is sacred.

Our group of urban sketchers Sketching Climate Stories had a table under the tents along with all the other groups represented at the event. Our mission was to sketch and listen to the stories of people who had gathered for this event; to ask them how global warming was effecting them in their home community; and to find out what they are working on. No sooner did I show up at the table, then I was connected with my first story sketch.

I sketched Kamurra while while Cathy interviewed her. Kamurra introduced herself as a 75 year old who had been marching for 50 years and would continue to show up for these causes as long as she lived.

I barely got some of her words written down before the next person showed up, ready to be sketched.

Barbara Chan from El Cerrito had fashioned a hat with recycled materials including the plastics her group is working to ban: “Skip the Straw”.

Our Sketching Climate Stories table was getting really busy at this point with the marchers arriving and more sketchers on hand. The finished sketches were immediately placed in clear protective sheets in binders so that passersby could see them. And many of them stayed to be sketched.

At this point a polar bear arrived. She had clearly lost her way or maybe given up trying to find any ice! Another lifelong champion of environmental causes, Sharon had driven down from Laytonville for the march.

At this point things were moving pretty fast and I didn’t get much of the interview points down. Unable to draw with the right side of my brain and at the same time, write with the left side I guess!

(note the bear nose/mouth around her neck!)

Just to give a flavor of the day. . .these circles on several blocks around the Civic Center were 50 feet across. This one says “Immigration is a Right!” and behind it you see the music amplifiers and City Hall.

Later in the day, when the crowds had cleared, you could get a better look at the art! I have more sketch stories to share, so stay tuned.

Tomorrow evening the Contemporary Jewish Museum is hosting a pop up exhibition of the climate story sketches. The Museum is located on the opposite side of Yerba Buena gardens from the Moscone Center, where the Global Climate Action Summit is happening today through Friday. I’ll be there doing some more Climate Story Sketching!

The SF Chronicle did a great article on the project. See it here.

Advertisement