A SUCCESSFUL ‘Day of Action to Remember Nature’, a participative ‘Art Action’, took place in Launceston Town Square to coincide with the UN COP26 taking place in Glasgow.

Throughout the day, around 50 members of the public aged three to 73 took part, adding their own animal, bird, insect, fish or tree to a giant painting laid out in Launceston Town Square.

At the end of the day, the exploitation of nature by humans was symbolised by spreading black paint over the wonders of nature with boots, a wheelbarrow and a folding bicycle.

Brought together by visiting eco-artist Phil Barton, local artists Karen Howse, Nev and Barbi Akroyd and Richard Sharland with the support of Roger Creagh-Osborne organised the event, heeding radical artist Gustav Metzger’s (1926-2017) call for all artists to remember the damage people are doing to nature by taking action on November 4 each year.

Gustav was a leading exponent of auto-destructive art and involved in artistic ‘happenings’ throughout the 1960’s. From 1990 onwards he became increasingly concerned about the human assault on the natural world.

“We were all delighted at the positive response to our Art Action in Launceston. Around 50 people took creative action by contributing to the artwork whilst many others stopped to discuss the important issues of climate change and the destruction of nature. It was heartening to see such support from local people,” said Phil. “As artists we have a responsibility to sound the alarm and we hope our call to action locally will create ripples and stimulate more actions to protect the precious planet on which we all depend.”

The artwork was on display at Launceston Library for the duration of COP26.

Phil has worked with local artist and gallery owner, Richard, to put on the art exhibition ‘Last Chance Saloon’ featuring 17 artists from Cornwall and the rest of the country for whom environmental concern is central to their practice. The exhibition, which is free, is at Terre Verte Gallery, Altarnun, open each Thursday, Friday and Saturday 10am to 5pm until December 4.