What's the "Big Idea": Create

The creative expressions of artists can have a huge impact on the world. Their thinking might be controversial, uplifting, or leave us wondering about life in general. Their art can lead to political change and raise social awareness.

 Musicians:

• Sarah McLachlan, Dave Matthews and Sheryl Crow are just a few music artists who are committed to raising awareness about the environment.

• Moby (singer, songwriter, musician and DJ) runs a vegetarian café, Teany, in New York.

• The Ditty Bops tour on bicycles. Their touring gear travels in a biodiesel bus.

• Jack Johnson is the founder of Kokua Hawaii Foundation for environmental education. He is also a contributor for 1% for the Planet.

Photographers:

• Ansel Adams is famous for his striking images in nature. (Many of us probably have his black and white calendars in our homes or in our work spaces.)

• Gary Braasch's photography project, World Views of Global Warming document climate change.

• Edward Burtynsky captures recycling yards, mine tailing, quarries and refineries that provide for our comfortable existence.

Writers:

• Dr Seuss' "The Lorax" is considered one of the best written books of all times on environmental awareness.

• The Association for the Study of Literature & Environment recommend the following authors as environmental heroes: Edward Abbey, John Muir, Henry David Thoreau.

• The following recent authors are also in-the-know about the environment: Paul Hawken, Naomi Klein, Bill McKibben, Michael Pallean.

Who is your favorite artist who has had a positive impact on the environment? Leave a comment in the box below.

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This week's episode of "Big Ideas for a Small Planet" follows three artists who's creative expression raise awareness about the environment.  Join Gather in a live chat with Alyce Santoro @ 2PM EST. 

Tune into the Sundance Channel on Tuesday, June 5^th to learn more:

9:00pm e/p

“Big Ideas for a Small Planet: Create”:World-renowned photographer Subhankar Banerjee documents the biodiversity and indigenous cultures of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to demonstrate the effects of global warming in Alaska and the potentially devastating effects of drilling for oil; artist Alyce Santoro weaves together audiotape from the “technotrash” that is crowding our landfills, and creates a durable new material that has a “voice” of its own which used to manufacture clothing, upholstery and boating sails; and prolific green architect David Hertz takes on his most ambitious project to date: creating a house made from a retired 747 airplane in a remarkable show of sustainable reuse and "upcycling."

9:30pm e/p

Rivers and Tides: Andy Goldsworthy Working with Time(U.S. Television Premiere) – Directed by Thomas Reidelsheimer.  An award-winning study of Scottish artist Andy Goldsworthy, who works outdoors to create intricate sculptures made from natural elements like leaves, branches, stones and ice.  German filmmaker Reidelsheimer joins Goldsworthy in various locales, including a freezing beach in Nova Scotia, where he builds layers of stone into an elegant cone that appears and disappears with the tide; and at his home base in rural Scotland, where his artwork is integrated with the fields, forests and rivers.  Best Documentary Film: 2003 German Film Awards, 2002 San Francisco Film Critics Circle Award, 2003 San Diego Film Critics Society.