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During 2015, visionary and advocate Gustav Metzger initiated one of his ultimate important works. Famed for introducing self-destructive creations, Metzger had dedicated his life to confronting global challenges from nuclear disarmament to ethical eating. In a brief video message, he issued a call for a worldwide initiative to celebrate the natural world.

“This is my appeal for your participation in this international summons for a day of action to commemorate our planet on the fourth of November, 2015,” he stated, inviting artists and creatives to resist the ongoing loss of flora and fauna. “Our task is to help the public recall of the richness and complexity in nature … and by doing so art will enter territories that are fundamentally innovative.”

The Inception of Nature Remembrance

And so the Nature Remembrance initiative was established, a day when artists across the country produced pieces to the unfolding climate catastrophe. Jo Joelson, who worked closely with Metzger in his final years, notes his sense of urgency. “There was a profound sense of urgency for him at the close of his days,” she says. “I urged him – don’t delay. No need to pause for financial support or for anyone to green light this. Take action immediately.”

A Decade Later

After ten years, the project hasn’t quite sparked the widespread change across the arts that Metzger had envisioned, but supporters think its impact can still be felt in initiatives like cultural advocacy groups and climate activism networks, as well as in how makers handle the sustainability of their work. That’s why she is restaging it to mark its decade milestone. Among the key participants involved this time are Cornelia Parker and prominent artists. All participants have designed posters, recorded calls to action, and developed pieces set to be unveiled on the fourth of November next year.

Planting Hope

Interviewing one participant, she is working outdoors in a rural area, assisting with planting apple trees that will create a circular grove. Working with schoolchildren, her project is somewhat artistic and somewhat instructive. She describes, the planning and planting sessions have already involved learning about measurements (measuring out the distances between trees), genetics (studying the apple’s DNA), and history (mapping the stories of how different apples were introduced to England).

A lot of the apples were picked because they’ve got humorous titles such as the other unusual varieties. We have one apple that ‘bleeds’ red juice

“Several the apples were chosen because they’ve got amusing labels such as the other unusual varieties,” says Gallaccio. “We have one apple that ‘bleeds’ scarlet-colored sap. Each has histories attached. The ancient variety was introduced by the Romans. The local breed is the apple that descended from a tree and struck the scientist’s head.”

The artist aimed the children to be more thoughtfully connected of the environment and the influence we have over it. “To many of them, apples were just things you get at a supermarket, so I was urging them, next time they were out, to look on the bag and see what they’re called and their origin. Hopefully it says Kent!”

Creative Initiatives Nationwide

In London, a participant’s work about extinction will involve participants exploring a major gallery on a mission to find the seven major glaciers that have been lost in recent years. All formations will be drawn on the museum surfaces using invisible ink. When located, a chime will sound and a performance will be performed to honor that individual formation.

Elsewhere, up in Barrow-in-Furness, an artist will be hosting a open display about our alienation from the environment, as well as holding a shared meal, prepared with sustainable ingredients. Over in Newcastle, Uta Kögelsberger is sharing her musical project, in which community vocalists embark on a mission to perform for vegetation in Newcastle’s Jesmond Dene.

Children’s Voices

Following this approach, another participant will be working with schoolchildren – on the actual event she is planning to cover a cultural venue in children’s artwork that document their dreams and worries for the years ahead. “Kids’ art are compelling because they’re not as inhibited as adults’,” she says in her call to action video. “What children have to offer to the world is something truly special and it may provoke a awareness of obligation from us all. Children are innocent. They have concerns for tomorrow. But it isn’t meant to be about anxiety – it should be about positivity and making sure that they see a better world.”

Tributes and Thoughts

A participant’s work also appeals to children. As a former drag queen, his Birds Can Fly involves illustrating avians and then dressing up as them – and for the event he is planning to address an iconic figure. He is also conducting a guided walk of the city, visiting various sites that have been part of his ongoing series over the past twenty years. That ongoing series began when he experienced several events of discrimination on a one occasion. As a reaction, Harfleet decided to plant a pansy at the site of each occurrence and record it – the project has since grown to include incidents experienced by other people across the world. “The flowers remain there but they don’t often last,” says Harfleet. “Reportedly birds consume them, so they’re a short-lived memorial.”

Harfleet chose the bloom not just for the obvious reason – it has long been a derogatory label – but also because its name derives from the French verb, penser, to think. “People connected it with a man who is thoughtful, and that, of course, is a terrible thing,” he says.

The project on the event day is to sow flowers at additional sites and also refresh the memorials in places he has honored before, all the while discussing with those on the guided walk about the occurrences and his personal experiences. “There’s been quite a few after my previous work,” he says mournfully.

Progressing Optimistically

He desires his work – and