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Desirée Patterson: The Tip of the Iceberg Top 5

A headshot of a smiling woman in a T-shirt with long earrings and long dark hair with text that reads "The Tip of the Iceberg - top 5 Desirée Patterson @desireepatterson_".

Our current exhibition The Tip of the Iceberg visualises issues related to global climate change, featuring work by artists from across BC. We’ve invited three artists: David Ellingsen, Jordan Schwab and Desirée Patterson to share resources that they find inspiring as they create artwork addressing climate change and its impacts.

1. Mission Blue

This first resource instigated my journey on the path of environmental awareness, which soon permeated every facet of my life and inspires my art practice. While watching Mission Blue (a documentary by marine biologist and oceanographer Dr. Sylvia Earle), I realized the dire state of the world’s oceans and I could no longer continue living a lifestyle that contributed to this degradation. Blue Living Guide helped me transition to a more eco-friendly lifestyle. 

2. Edward Burtynsky

As I learned more about our current environmental crisis, I developed a yearning to make artworks which addressed these concerns; however, I was terrified to tackle this subject matter. Serendipitously, Edward Burtynsky’s,  A Terrible Beauty, was shown at the Vancouver Art Gallery in 2014. I was astounded by this exhibition (and by Burtynsky’s compelling work). A short time after, I gave myself permission to explore environmental themes in my art practice.

3. Films

As I created artwork depicting environmental narratives, my thirst for knowledge increased substantially. Films have always captivated me, and I feel like they’ve inspired me the most. A few of my all-time favourites are: Blue the Film, The Minimalists: Less is Now,Chasing Ice, and Plastic Paradise.

4. Climate Reality Project

It was after watching An Inconvenient Sequel, that I found my call to action as an activist. Through this documentary I learned about the Climate Reality Project, an organization dedicated to giving people the tools, know-how, and network to take on and win climate and justice battles. I  received training through the organization in 2018. For anyone interested in joining this community of climate leaders, training is now being offered virtually and there is one up-coming for Earth Day 2021, on April 22nd.

5. Cristina Mittermeier 

Lastly, a renowned British Columbia based photographer that is doing incredible work to raise awareness for our oceans and biodiversity loss is Cristina Mittermeier. I find her work incredibly inspiring and I have followed her organization SEA LEGACY for years now.

Additional Resources

Here is an additional list of organizations that are doing exceptional work and offer excellent resources:

I also have a blog where I share resources and information. I have been on a blogging hiatus for the past while, but I hope to get back into my environmental blogging soon. desireepatterson.com/blog

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