Sarah Koff, a woodblock printmaker and environmentalist based in New Hampshire, discusses her exhibition “Object Permanence” at AVA Gallery in Lebanon, which runs from July 11 to August 9. Koff, a 2024 Juror Recognition Award winner from the Alliance for the Visual Arts Gallery, creates intricate prints that explore local environmental issues, such as invasive species like Japanese Knotweed and chemical pollution. She describes her slow, tactile process of woodcutting and her commitment to non-toxic printmaking through her work with Zea Mays Printmaking.
The article matters because it highlights how contemporary artists are merging environmental activism with traditional craft, using art to foster public connection to nature and ecological stewardship. Koff’s focus on non-toxic practices and her background in natural resources underscore a growing trend in the art world toward sustainability and environmental consciousness, making her work relevant to broader conversations about art’s role in addressing climate and ecological crises.