Just Transition Artwork

Good Work Institute commissioned five local artists to create pieces representing GWI’s five principles of Just Transition.

 The artworks now hang in the Greenhouse. Individual prints are available for purchase, with proceeds going to the artist. For more info, contact us.

Artist: Mary Jane Nusbaum

Retaining and Restoring Cultural Diversity

Interwoven, Collaged paper and thread 2019

Interwoven uses prints of textiles from four continents each originally colored with natural dyes: Mud cloth and Kente cloth from Africa, Indigo resist from Asia, woven rugs from the Middle East and Native North America and an embroidered shirt from South America. Pieces are stitched together to represent how interconnected humans are with each other and the natural world—past, present, and future.

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The collage reflects Mary Jane’s passion for the beautiful ways people around the world feed, clothe and house themselves, unique to their geographies and cultures. The piece is inspired by MJ’s work with local plant dyes and her exploration of traditional fiber and weaving practices. 

Mary Jane is an artist, teacher and co-founder of Circle Creative Collective, a nonprofit working to connect diverse communities by sharing and preserving traditional crafts and skills. 

A long time resident of the Hudson Valley, MJ has been involved with art and community programs including Wild Earth, Women’s Studio Workshop, O+, Stone Barns, Harambee, Center for Creative Education, My Kingston Kids, and the 4th cohort of the Good Work Fellowship.

Advance Ecological Repair

Beth was inspired by permaculture for this image, specifically the Edge Effect, the concept that where vastly differing systems meet, there is an intense area of productivity and useful connections. She also wanted a lot of circles represented, connecting between people and ideas.

Beth is an artist and educator living in Saugerties, NY and is a part of the the 5th Good Work Fellowship cohort.

Democratizing Communities, Wealth & The Work

Wheels, spokes and water. Circles, waves, and reverberation. Resonance, movement, and the collective. Something sacred in the sharing. The flowing of freedom and the crashing force that both well from deep within and turn thoughts into words and words  into action. But these thoughts are not my own. Nor are they yours. Thoughts we borrow, or are gifted from a common source. Words not my own, nor yours, but ours, forming new language that speaks from the heart. Actions of the collective that honor us all. 

Micah is an artist and Worker Trustee of GWI as well as a Fellow from the 2nd cohort of the Good Work Fellowship.

Relocalizing Economic Power

Coming from a long line of printers and artists, Melissa Hewitt grew up in family print shops—obsessed with paper and color. She has spent her life designing, print­making, making paper, letterpress printing, exploring handcrafts and fiber arts, and is co-owner of VISITvortex, an online and print magazine celebrat­ing the treasures of the Hudson Valley. She participated in cohort 5 of the Good Work Fellowship.

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Melissa recently co-founded Circle Creative Collective to help preserve and share traditional craft, to create quality jobs, and localize production in a way that honors human connection, restores the value of handmade goods, and honors our Earth’s delicate ecosystems.

Her art piece is based on what could be produced locally at a fiber and dye farm or with local wild and indigenous plants in a slow and intentional way.

The paper is made from the byproducts of dyeing Goldenrod, Dahlia, Purple Loosestrife, Jewelweed, and local Indigo leaves. The fabric is hand-woven, the cordage is made from stinging nettles and the yarn, spun by Melissa, is from local sheep. There are endless production possibilities with fiber and dye and we have the potential to help create fulfilling jobs in the Hudson Valley that can greatly impact our economy and help our community to be more self-sustainable.

Driving Racial Justice & Social Equity