The experience of making art together, especially for a shared purpose, is a bonding experience. Bringing artists together with those who think they have no artistic talent creates an amalgam of perspectives that brings out the best from all participants as we learn from one another. And it’s fun! That’s what we experienced during our Art Build in Santa Fe, NM, on August 21st (and will repeat in Santa Fe on September 14th).
Led by David Solnit – artist, organizer and activist – and Santa Fe artists Bobbe Besold and Jo Redline Christian, a group of approximately 20 volunteers from 5 to 75 years old created banners and flags to be used at all New Mexico Sun Day events:
- Taos Sun Wise Children on 9/20
- Santa Fe Sun Day for Earth on 9/21
- Sun Day Albuquerque: Day of Action on 9/21
- Taos Sun Day at Taos Ski Valley Oktoberfest on 9/27
Sun Day is being celebrated for the first time in 2025 – all over the US and perhaps in other countries as well, we are coming together to celebrate power from the sun – the rays that fall on those solar panels – as well as the wind that turns those majestic turbines.
David’s sister – author, activist and Third Act Board member, Rebecca Solnit – engaged the group through storytelling as they drew, painted, stapled, sang and danced.
If you have ever wondered about the large banners or puppets or street art that appear during rallies, they are probably the result of an afternoon or evening spent by activists working together. When people visualize bold messages in large form, they share the emotion that the artist felt during the creative process. Pam Nosse, TA NM member and coordinator of the Sun Day event to be held in Albuquerque, said, “We want our messages to reach people on an emotional level, to mobilize them to act. Art touches the heart as well as the intellect and has a powerful impact.”
And that is exactly what was done in Santa Fe in August! We made more than 25 banners in 4 hours (with a lot of prep work prior to the event). Below are some of them, as well as our creatives in action. Please click on each thumbnail to see the full image and any identifying caption.
