Nature’s Imprint Q+A with Featured Artist Mary Dalton

How Do You Incorporate Sustainability In Your Artistic Practice? What Challenges Have You Encountered When Creating Sustainable Art?

The research I am undertaking to ensure the traceability and sustainability of the materials I use is ongoing, in line with material science developments and more transparent material data. It has taken a wholehearted practice and lifestyle change over the last few years to get to where I am now, which is evolving and developing still, to push the boundaries of individual practice sustainability.

To the best of my knowledge, the materials I use in my practice are checked through MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets), online research and data analytics. I have eliminated various elements of the visual arts practices that as of yet do not adhere to the levels of sustainability I am happy with.

I have researched and developed completely new ways of thinking about printmaking that are not only ground-breaking in aesthetic, but highly sustainable and tread lightly upon the planet.

Printmaking, as an industry and within individual practice, has a reputation of being material heavy and chemical heavy, so it is a huge step to be part of the leading lights in developing an ecological approach to print.

I not only practice and develop this daily, but integrate it into my educational practice.

In Your Opinion, What Role Does Art Play In Addressing Environmental Issues?

Singing, dancing, poetry, object making, painting, printing, spoken word and much more has been at the heart of humanity for a long as we can trace back our existence. Artists of all genres communicate the inside of the world and with this comes the responsibility to care for that planet we communicate about. This can pose serious questions, particularly if you are a maker who uses many materials in their practice. Ensuring the traceability and sustainability of materials used is vital if artists are to ensure that the legacy they leave for this planet is positive and enacted with genuine care for those who will live beyond them.