Climate Changes, And We Still Rise
Climate change and displacement are increasingly interconnected. As extreme weather events and environmental conditions worsen with global heating, they are contributing to multiple and overlapping crises, threatening human rights, increasing poverty and loss of livelihoods, straining peaceful relations between communities and, ultimately, creating conditions for further forced displacement…Addressing climate change as a root cause of displacement is crucial to breaking this cycle and finding lasting solutions.
The intersection of art and advocacy is where I find my passion and Serendib Creative delivers its purpose. I have always wanted to create art that has impact but it wasn’t until I became an artist that I recognized the true power that I as an artist can have. In October, I was provided with an amazing opportunity to bring art advocacy to the forefront of my work. The Center for Cultural Power (CCP) reached out to me mentioning that I was recommended as the artist that would work alongside the North Carolina Environmental Justice Network to create artwork for the CCP’s Rooted in Joy Campaign. “This climate campaign aims to highlight joy, cultural memory, and interdependence as crucial elements for climate justice, particularly in a world grappling with climate displacement and environmental injustice.” - CCP
Over the course of a few weeks I worked with the CCP and NCEJN to create this piece of art —>
Artwork Description
Communities across the globe have been experiencing displacement due to rapidly increasing climate change. Here in North Carolina (NC) displacement is no different, deeply impacting NC residents. This artwork aims to celebrate the collective efforts of BIPOC communities to thrive, build, and grow while nurturing the land to combat displacement for a brighter future.
To further celebrate the diverse NC landscape, this illustration is centered around the Dismal Swamp and its native plants and animals such as the pink lady slipper, bladderwort, hydrocotyle umbellate, trillium pusillum, bald cypress tree, prothonotary warbler, and the great egret. The answers we seek can be found in our communities and this illustration shows BIPOC communities of all ages and backgrounds coming together to share knowledge, food, and resources to build resilient and rooted communities. And We Still Rise is a celebration, a tribute, and a reminder that our communities are deeply connected to this land and play a critical role in North Carolina’s future.
I hope that I can continue to partner with amazing organizations such as these to amplify their work and make a difference in our communities. Together is always better.
Climate Changes, And We Still Rise by Mayanthi Jayawardena (Serendib Creative LLC)