In the quest to build a better tomorrow, artists and performers are stealth change agents. Their power is both subtle and profound: They grab hold of hearts and minds, and reveal a whole new way of seeing things — a way that can inspire people to take action.
Every year, the Grist 50 highlights emerging leaders who are working toward a more sustainable and equitable future. These five artists are using their creative skills to show us a different tomorrow:
- After Hurricane Maria, filmmaker Cecilia Aldarondo kept the cameras rolling — capturing not only the disaster capitalists seeking to profit from the island’s misery, but also the ways Puerto Ricans began repairing their own communities.
- Louisiana scientist-artist-conservationist Brandon Ballengée’s artwork dives deep into Gulf ecology, dreaming up interactive exhibits that showcase local species — and the threats that put them at risk.
- Layel Camargo’s culture jamming and arts organizing builds a creative community that is focused on justice, sustainability, and solidarity.
- Playwright and cultural worker Erika Dickerson-Despenza’s new work, cullud wattah, set against the backdrop of the Flint water crisis, is scheduled to open at New York City’s Public Theater this year.
- Artist and arts impresario Beka Economopolous launched a traveling museum pop-up that, among other things, investigates how museums portray indigenous history.
There are 45 other folks doing great work on our list! Read about all of them on the 2020 Grist 50.
