Glastonbury is over—but what might it look like in the future? Artists are proposing a sustainable model

Glastonbury festival has concluded, and cleanup efforts are underway to address the estimated 4,000 tents left behind, alongside other waste. However, the Shangri-La stage offered a different vision: instead of traditional art installations, it featured allotments, plants, and seeds for festival-goers under the banner of "The Wilding." Creative director Kaye Dunnings led a reset focused on nature, community, and sustainability, with works like Sonic Bloom (a collaboration with charity Sounds Right) and Coral Manton's crop-circle-inspired installation Field Work. Shangri-La also purchased a nearby plot to tend plants for reuse in future festivals, aiming for a sustainable exhibition model.

New environmental art exhibition “ECHO” coming soon to Kirkby Gallery

Kirkby Gallery has announced the opening of "ECHO," a solo exhibition by environmental artist Julie Dodd featuring sculptural works crafted from recycled and reclaimed materials. The show marks Dodd's first solo exhibition in a decade and showcases her practice of transforming discarded books and everyday objects into intricate forms that mimic natural patterns. Alongside the main event, the Entrance Gallery will feature "Supporting Households in Crisis," a research-based exhibition by Patricia McDonald-Holmes exploring food insecurity and community resilience in Knowsley.

Sustainability at heart of new art exhibit in downtown Aurora

Aurora Public Art has opened a new exhibition titled "Re-Imagined: The Art of Sustainability" at the David L. Pierce Art and History Center in downtown Aurora, running through May 23. The show features works from adult artists like Jennifer Joiner, who creates art from trash collected on Lake Michigan beaches, and Ann Marie Greenberg, who repurposes household plastics and metal. It also includes submissions from students at East Aurora School District's Early Childhood Center, who used milk cartons, cereal boxes, and other recyclables. Curator Sangeeta Pande organized the open call, which drew 15 adult artists and numerous young participants, all exploring themes of environmental stewardship and creative reuse.

UP AND DOWN THE RIVER: Artivism: Eco Art exhibition opens at Batdorff Gallery

An exhibition titled 'Artivism: Eco Art' has opened at the Batdorff Gallery, featuring works that blend artistic expression with environmental activism. The show highlights artists who use their practice to address ecological issues and promote sustainability through visual art.

Artists wanted for Earth Day exhibition of reused materials

The Village of Forest Park is launching an open call for its inaugural Earth Day recycled art exhibition, inviting local residents of all ages to submit works created from at least 75% reused or trash materials. Organized by a coalition of local groups including the Forest Park Arts Alliance and the Public Library, the showcase will feature up to 50 pieces limited to 10 inches in size, with a submission window running from April 13 to 19.

NOBODY: The Latin American Project at Milano Design Art Week

DON NADIE THE LATIN AMERICAN PROJECT AT MILANO DESIGN ART WEEK

The design collective DON NADIE, founded by Ecuadorian industrial designers Lisandro Carrasco and Mono Alvarado, is presenting its project "1 m² / 1 second" at Milano Design Week. The installation, part of the IN BETWEEN collective at the Fuorisalone circuit, consists of sixteen folded-paper pieces within a cubic meter, each referencing native plant morphology. It translates the rate of deforestation into a tangible measure of time, representing one square meter of forest lost every second.