Women Environmental Artists Directory

The Women Environmental Artists Directory (WEAD) focuses on promoting environmental and Social justice art. ^[1] WEAD was founded in 1996 by Jo Hanson, Susan Leibovitz Steinman and Estelle Akamine.^[2]

WEAD has been listed among the best projects relating to Environmental art,^[3] and has sponsored a number of exhibits about activist eco art.^{[4] [5] [6]}

One of the co-founders, Ms. Steinman, is considered a leader in the eco art field and has participated in roundtables and artists in residences programs,^{[7] [8]} and is listed in the sculptor directory of the International Sculpture Center.^[9] Another co-founder, Jo Hanson, was instrumental in founding an EPA Artist in Residence Program, which was aimed at educating the public about recycling. Another of the WEAD co-founders, Estelle Akamine, was also one of the artists in residence.^[10] Ms. Akamine's work has also been featured at the Museum of Craft and Folk Art museum store^[11] and has lectured at a textile lecture series.^[12] All three co-founders were featured in a discussion about women artists of the American West whose art was about current social concerns.^[13]

The directory lists a wide variety of Woman artists, such as Marina DeBris, a trashion artist, Betty Beaumont, often called a pioneer of environmental art, and Shai Zakai.

WEAD also published a magazine, which focuses on such topics as dirty water, and the legacy of atomic energy. A recent guest editor was Dr. Elizabeth Dougherty, founder of Wholly H2O, and speaker at events such as Pacific Gas and Electric Company conference on Water conservation^[14] and Toulumne County's conference on greywater.^[15] Linda Weintraub was a contributor to a recent issue of the WEAD magazine. Ms. Weintraub is the author of well known books on art and activism^[16] such as "To Life!"^[17] and is an eco art activist.^[18]

References