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Solastalgia includes works from various artists with one overarching message: acknowledging grief and overcoming environmental collapse for a brighter future. The exhibition invited us to sit with discomfort and recognize mourning the loss of ecosystems as a valid emotional response. Each piece offered a different perspective on what it means to experience environmental change. 

Check out Kleefeld Contemporary Museum’s full description of the exhibition and the works.  

“I found the exhibit to be an insightful and emotional exploration of the unfortunate reality of our environment. Many of the various forms of unique media and materials used in the exhibit were new to me so they provided an experience that was absolutely worth the visit.” - Uriel Richarte, Sustainability Graphic Design Student Assistant 

The Kleefeld Museum hosted an Interdisciplinary Panel on Eco-Grief, Habitat Loss, and Moving Forward with the Arts. The panel, moderated by Coryn Bray, an Environmental Science & Policy student and Sustainability Fellow, included guest speakers from different sectors on our campus.  

Panelists included: 

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• Dr. George Hart, Department Chair of English Literature  

• Dr. Kelly Stewart [Gabrieliño-Tongva/Payómkawish (Luiseño)], Assistant Professor in American Indian Studies, UCLA Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Fellow 

• Dr. Lily House Peters, Director of Environmental Science & Policy  

• Paige Emery, an ecological artist and herbalist  

Each point of view gave insight into how we can move forward and build a sustainable, hopeful future. It correlates to our relationship with the natural world, learning how to care for and love the earth. The panelists focused on the importance of feeling emotion for our world, as we do towards online media. To feel sympathy for the climate crisis and the ecological decline. We can overcome grief through togetherness and a collective commitment to care. 

“The concept of "eco-grief" was a completely new idea for me before attending Solastalgia. I really appreciated the importance placed on erasing the western idea of anthropocentrism from popular discourse in the sustainability space. I believe that incorporating traditional knowledge, emotion, and creating expression will add value to the mainstream environmental movement as we know it.” - Chloe Williamson, Climate Action Fellow, California Climate Action Corps 

For our Office of Sustainability, the panel and exhibition were a reminder that sustainability is not only about numbers or technicality. It is also about culture, storytelling, and emotional engagement. Solastalgia encouraged us to consider how art can help our campus community have hope while confronting environmental realities.