By Jordan Diab.
When you think of sustainability, what comes to mind? Recycling? Turning off the faucet? Purchasing a reusable water bottle? While these are all helpful (and super easy to do!) for our Mother Earth, one could also consider art as a means to support and practice sustainability says Jill Roig, a local artist based in Scottsdale, Arizona. “Our homes should have art in them that makes daily life joyful,” Roig says. “Sustainable art is art that thinks not only about the intent of the artist, but also its social, economic, and environmental impact – think art in a greater sense.”
Glass and Crystals in Nature
Roig’s eco-pottery has been selected for 17 exhibitions including Art Intersection, Urban Southwest, and IceHouse. While she has been dabbling in pottery since the late ’90s, she has honed in on a specific technique in the past seven years. This technique, which she coins “eco-pottery” involves melting glass and crystals into clay. “I use recycled objects and things that I find when I’m out walking in nature,” notes Roig, who says she likes to explore the relationship between the clay and the crystals. One of her favorite pieces that she created is titled “Desert Awakening” which was recently displayed in a showcase at the Heard Museum in downtown Phoenix. “Most people would agree that nature is one of the most beautiful things in our world, and it’s not perfect,” says Roig.
Non Mass-produced Art
She believes that if we become more conscious of where we buy our art, we will feel a stronger connection to not only the piece itself but to our surroundings. “Most of the art in your home should not be mass-produced,” says Roig. “We should all strive to be better consumers of local art.” She explains that there is so much natural beauty around us that we are able to reclaim if we buy locally. When asked what tips she has for people who may be new to sustainable living and are wondering how to incorporate green living into their daily lives she says, “Start small. Pick one or two things to do each week and continue to add to that. Green living is a work in progress.”
Evolution
The concept of sustainable art has been around for a long time, but the expression of that concept continues to evolve. “I think the cornerstone of sustainability is the evolution from the old to the new and the new to the old. We are all works in progress and eco-pottery reflects that,” says Roig.
You can visit Jill Roig’s website at www.eco-pottery.com or follow her at www.instagram.com/eco_pottery. She is always looking to collaborate with others who share a passion for sustainable beauty in Arizona.
Jordan Diab is a Phoenix native who is currently studying Psychology at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California.
Photo credits: Photos courtesy of Jill Roig
