Community Art and Data Visualization for Resilient Valley

At Resilient Valley’s inaugural community gathering in February, I created a live mural with attendees and volunteers. A data visualization project where Local nonprofit workers pasted their ideas of what makes a “resilient valley”. I organized and interpreted those ideas into illustrations- all live, in about an hour.

Using the ideas that came through in that project - intergenerational and safe communities, accessible art programs, more green spaces, celebrating youth voices, and more - we pulled six themes. At our second event, where Resilient Valley wrapped an incredible first year of collaborative fundraising, a second piece asks, “how can we make our resilient valley more…” accessible, sustainable, vibrant, safe & welcoming, equitable, and affordable. Folks representing businesses and organizations from all 3 counties pasted ideas, steps, and local resources under each, turning their hopes into action. 

The second piece itself is inspired by the rocks and water flowing through and forming the Connecticut River Valley, painted with acrylic and marker on paper.

Resilient Valley is a coalition of climate, food system, and farm justice organizations working together to collaborate around joint fundraising. We believe that by working together, we will emerge stronger and better able to obtain the sustainable, healthy, vibrant, and just future for Western Mass that we all need.