Inspiring young artists to shape a greener future
Review of "Let's Get Creative" by Jessica Rose.
Let’s Get Creative: Art for a Healthy Planet
By Jessica Rose
Illustrated by Jarett Sitter
Orca Book Publishers, 2024
Jessica Rose’s new book encourages young people to embrace art as a powerful tool to raise environmental awareness and drive social change. Readers ages 9-12, as well as leaders, can consider practical, easy-to-follow steps for more sustainable creative practices and learn from artists who “work with the environment rather than disrupting it.”
With clarity and warmth, Rose addresses the potential environmental harm of many common artistic approaches while also offering alternatives. In a section on fast fashion, for example, she shares staggering statistics on the damage caused by cheap, mass-produced clothing. She then lists simple options to try, such as thrift shopping or mending clothes. For those looking to avoid materials like glitter, plastic and synthetic paints, she suggests eco-friendly options, including natural dyes made from fruits and vegetables.
Rose shares stories rooted in her hometown of Hamilton, Ontario, while also drawing from global examples to highlight a diverse range of creatives. She features artists using public spaces – such as Indigenous artists in Edmonton exhibiting work in a park – and makers who transform discarded materials, like those in India repurposing plastic bottles. She presents innovative projects that blend science, art, and design, including artificial coral reefs, rain sculptures and pollinator gardens. She also presents the concept of “craftivism,” where art becomes a tool for protesting injustice and prompting positive change.
Young people can read and reread this book, learning from others and trying out new, imaginative ways to use their skills and resources to shape a healthier planet. Even seemingly small changes can make a lasting difference.
“I was lucky enough to talk to passionate artists and organizers who are already making Earth a better place to live,” Rose writes. “And while their work is important, I was struck by how possible it is for us all to create change through art… You can start in small, meaningful ways by being mindful of your artistic practices and what your art is trying to say.”
Let’s Get Creative is a hands-on, faith-friendly resource for empowering the next generation to unite environmental stewardship with creative action.
