Beth Lemerand and Karissa Demotto, “Ecosystems of Communities”
Mentor: Jessica Meuninck-Ganger, Art & Design
Poster #92

Jessica Meuninck-Ganger and her team of Karissa Demotto and Beth Lemerand are working towards providing a framework for community-based art and science learning and action to foster environmental stewardship and collective healing through Printmaking and Papermaking techniques. Milwaukee has a history of environmental and public health disparities. Meuninck-Ganger and her team has been working with WaterMarks, an organization aiming to bring neighbors and communities together to inspire environmental stewardship and better understand the relationships between water, water issues, and water justice through art and science-based events, activities, and programs. In addition to this community work, the team has been working on the “Aesthetics of Loss” project which grew out of three artists’ studios and their conversations about using art to the depths of grief to capture the essence of life. The collective continues to grow and now includes nine artists who provide a space for people to gather, connect, and heal through empathy and care.  Both projects include artist/scientist/community member-led activities, which are designed to engage multi-generational participants in considering the conditions, characteristics, histories, and ecosystems of communities. WaterMarks has specific neighborhood focuses through workshops and events with local residents, scientists, experts, and other participants. WaterMarks activities include exploring current water-related environmental challenges and proposing solutions. WaterMarks and “Aesthetics of Loss” offer exhibitions and activities that draw on diverse perspectives, including lived experience, scientific knowledge, and policy expertise. The artwork and projects the team is working with help to amplify community engagement, often through the process of Printmaking and Papermaking.