Brushes for a Better Planet Bloomington
Brushes for a Better Planet bridges art and climate research by uniting artists, academics, and communities in a hackathon and exhibition. It makes climate science accessible, centers lived experience, and fosters co-produced knowledge for climate justice. We are happy to be in Bloomington, IN working with great organzations!
CoLab: Art as Inquiry
Starting in Feb 2026, we partnered with IU, Artists for Climate Awareness, and Pillar Arts to put on Bloomington's first Brushes for a Better Planet: CoLab!
The CoLab started with the researcher taking the artist into the field with them
We went to IU Indy, the IU Greenhouse, and the Healing Garden, and so many more places!
We raised $1500 to pair 6 artists and 6 environmental researchers from IU to work together over the course of a month and a half. The pairs were:
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Ava Hartman, Canopy Bloomington & Lily Shan (artist)
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Olga Kalentzidou, IU Geography, & Madde Lesnewich (artist)
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Ellie Albin, Center for Rural Engagement & Joshua Hunter (artist)
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Sara Isgate, IU Biology & Grace Gonso (Artist)
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Luke Nikolov, IU Biology & Bridget O’Brien (artist)
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Leslie Turpin, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences & Christina Hollering (Artist)
Then, it was the artists' turn.
The pairs were required to meet to hear the artists' ideas and their creative process
The product was 6 visual pieces representing the researchers' work at IU and around Bloomington
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1. Grace Gonso
2. Bridget O' Brien
3. Josh Hunter
4. Madde Lesnewich
5. Christina Hollering
6. Lily Shan
We celebrated this work with a reception featuring composers and musicians from the Jacobs' School of Music, who worked and participated on a nature walk with Professor Roger Hangarter of IU!
The reception had over 70+ attendees, making it one of the largest ACA affilated gatherings in Bloomington
It was a beautiful night and wonderful celebration of climate justice in the Bloomington community! As a result of our efforts the Bloomington Arts Commission awarded us and ACA a grant to put this on again next year!
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Thank you to our Sponsors and Partners!
Our Past Events
Beyond the Academic Paper Workshop
October 2025
In Fall 2025, we hosted a workshop for IU staff, faculty, and students; bringing in Ava Hartman from Canopy Bloomington and Diana Ojeda from IU. The workshop focused on how to use art and community based research to move academia beyond inaccessible mediums.
Community Sand Art Mural at City of Bloomington's Earth Day
April 2026
With artist, Sara Steffey McQueen, we partnered with the City of Bloomington who sponsored us to put on a community art mural during the annual Switchyard Park event to celebrate Earth Day! We had over 100 people contribute to this mural, ranging from all ages!
