In a pivotal moment for ecofeminist art, the novel Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler appeared on the New York Times bestseller list in September 2020. Its themes of sustainable living amidst societal collapse were especially relevant in the wake of 2020’s challenges. This relevance led art historian Jane McFadden and curator Catherine Taft to include Butler’s work in an ecofeminism seminar at the ArtCenter College of Design in California.
The course emerged from McFadden and Taft’s interest in the crossover between feminism and environmentalism. “Catherine had just become a mom, and I had just lost my mom,” McFadden said, explaining how ecofeminist ideas of nurturing the earth took on personal meanings during the pandemic and civil unrest in 2020. Butler’s symbol of a “sower planting seeds” also aligned with McFadden and Taft’s commitment to reflecting on activism through ecofeminist art.
Taft, a curator at LAXART since 2015, has been developing an ecofeminist exhibit since 2018. After a delay due to COVID-19, her show Life on Earth: Art & Ecofeminism recently opened, serving as LAXART’s inaugural display at its new location, The Brick. The exhibition, which is part of the Getty Foundation’s PST ART initiative, spans from the 1970s to the present and features 16 artists, including Leslie Leibowitz Starus and Aviva Rahmani. “Ecofeminism is a tool that anyone can use,” Taft remarked, explaining its potential to critique environmental and social injustices.
The exhibit highlights practices like urban farming and seed preservation. Colombian artist Carolina Caycedo’s installation Ñañay Kculli ~ S’oam Bawi Wenag ~ Kiik K’úum underscores ecofeminist values with wooden seed sculptures in hammocks, symbolizing Indigenous agricultural practices. Another artist, Alicia Piller, draws from Butler’s writings in her piece Mission Control. Earthseed, offering a space for visitors to experience the transformative philosophies of ecofeminism.
The exhibition also emphasizes ecofeminism’s global perspective, blending traditional Indigenous practices with modern ecological themes. Taft hopes the show not only honors nature’s resilience but also reflects the necessity of intersectional approaches to address today’s environmental crises.