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In 2015, creative and campaigner Gustav Metzger initiated one of his final major projects. Recognized for pioneering auto-destructive art, Metzger had spent a lifetime to confronting global challenges from anti-nuclear advocacy to vegetarianism. Via a concise video message, he issued a call for a global day of action to remember nature.

“This is my appeal for your engagement in this international summons for a day of action to commemorate our planet on November 4th, 2015,” he declared, encouraging makers and thinkers to oppose the continuing disappearance of living beings. “The mission is to help the public recall of the abundance and sophistication in nature … and by doing so creativity will explore territories that are fundamentally innovative.”

The Inception of Environmental Reflection

Thus the environmental art day was established, a day when creatives nationwide developed works to the ongoing environmental crisis. Jo Joelson, who supported Metzger in his final years, notes his feeling of immediacy. “There was a profound sense of urgency for him at the close of his days,” she says. “I just said – don’t delay. No need to pause for sponsorship or for anyone to approve this. Take action immediately.”

Ten Years On

Ten years later, the initiative hasn’t quite sparked the widespread change across the arts that Metzger had envisioned, but Joelson believes its influence can still be felt in initiatives like cultural advocacy groups and climate activism networks, as well as in how creatives consider the sustainability of their work. This is the reason she is reviving it to celebrate its 10-year anniversary. Included in the key participants taking part currently are A Man Called Adam and Anya Gallaccio. Each has designed posters, shared messages, and developed pieces set to be revealed on the fourth of November next year.

Sowing Change

When speaking to the artist, she is out in a field in a rural area, assisting with planting apple trees that will develop into a circular grove. Working with schoolchildren, her project is part creative piece and half educational workshop. According to her, the preparation and sowing sessions have already included learning about maths (measuring out the planting intervals), science (studying the genetic makeup), and geography (researching the journeys of how various cultivars came to the UK).

Several the apples were picked because they’ve got amusing labels such as the Duck’s Bill. We have one apple that ‘bleeds’ crimson liquid

“Several the apples were selected because they’ve got funny names such as the Bloody Butcher,” says Gallaccio. “We have one apple that ‘bleeds’ scarlet-colored sap. They all have stories behind them. The ancient variety was brought over by the Romans. The Flower of Kent is the apple that dropped off a tree and hit Isaac Newton’s head.”

The artist aimed the children to be more consciously engaged of the natural world and the influence we have over it. “To many of them, apples were just things you buy from a supermarket, so I was prompting them, on their next shopping trip, to check the packaging and see their names and their origin. Hopefully it says Kent!”

Artistic Responses Nationwide

In London, one artist’s project on disappearance will engage visitors searching Tate Modern on a mission to find the ice masses that have been lost in the past decade. All formations will be illustrated on the gallery’s windows and walls using invisible ink. Whenever one is found, a chime will sound and a performance will be held to honor that particular glacier.

At the same time, up in Barrow-in-Furness, Maddi Nicholson will be hosting a free exhibition about our separation from nature, as well as holding a communal feast, made using sustainable ingredients. Further north, Uta Kögelsberger is streaming her musical project, in which community vocalists embark on a mission to perform for vegetation in a local park.

Youth Perspectives

Like Gallaccio, a featured creator will be engaging schoolchildren – on the day itself she is hoping to fill a cultural venue in children’s artwork that document their aspirations and concerns for the tomorrow. “Youthful expressions are powerful because they’re not as inhibited as mature perspectives,” she says in her call to action video. “The contributions of youth to the world is something quite unique and it may inspire a feeling of duty from us all. Kids are unbiased. They have fears about the future. But it isn’t meant to be about fear – it should be about optimism and making sure that they see a better world.”

Remembrance and Reflection

Paul Harfleet’s work also resonates for children. As a former drag queen, his avian project involves illustrating avians and then embodying them – and for Remember Nature day he is aiming to address a local symbol. He is also staging a itinerant journey of the city, visiting various sites that have been part of his long-term work over the past twenty years. The project started after he faced three incidents of discrimination on a one occasion. As a reaction, Harfleet decided to sow a flower at the site of each occurrence and document it – the project has since spiralled to cover events experienced by other people across the world. “I place the plants there but they are temporary,” says Harfleet. “Apparently birds consume them, so they’re a ephemeral memorial.”

Harfleet chose the pansy not just for the obvious reason – it has long been a slur – but also because its origin is the French verb, penser, to think. “People connected it with a man who is reflective, and that, of course, is a bad quality,” he says.

The project on 4 November is to sow flowers at additional sites and also refresh the memorials in places he has honored before, all the while talking to those on the guided walk about the incidents and his recollections. “I’ve recorded quite a few after my previous work,” he says mournfully.

Advancing Positively

The artist wishes his work – and