By Jodi Manz-Henezi
I feel hope for the future when I can engage in open-minded, thought-provoking dialogue that generates new, innovative ideas to address some of the risks we now understand to be real. I got into glass and mosaic art many years ago, as an outlet for my own creative expression, but over time it has morphed into something much more. It is now one of the ways I decompress and take care of my own emotional health and well-being as I find myself feeling overwhelmed and frustrated with the perceived lack of caring I sometimes see in the world around me. Now, my art has also become a way in which I can honour the beauty of the natural world for what it is and provide a glimpse of what lies ahead if we do not change. Many of my pieces are designed with the intent to inspire people to engage in that critical dialogue around our shared issues related to climate change, to innovate, to change, and to act.
This very large piece was done using a reclaimed window and a variety of hand-cut art glass. It now hangs proudly in the home of a local young historian, who is a knowledgeable, active change leader in her own right. It is my hope that it will continue to inspire her and her visitors into a more resilient and climate-caring future.
Bio
Jodi Manz-Henezi is the current President of CRHNet and the Program Chair for Disaster and Emergency Management at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT).
