Art of Protest Featuring Olamide Adedipe - Sep 25th, 2025

Written by Michael Coolidge

Hosted by the Calgary Climate Hub, the Art of Protest Workshop led by artist Olamide Adedipe invited participants to explore the theme of climate justice through the collaborative creation of soil-based art installations. Working with sand and natural pigments, the session merged artistic expression with reflection on the human relationship to the land.

The workshop was interactive and meditative. Olamide demonstrated his technique of layering sand to form visually striking striations of colour and participants experimented with their own sand terrariums while engaging in conversation about landfills, waste, and the increasing volatility of weather patterns linked to climate change.

The resulting miniature landscapes—dioramas representing deep geological time—captured a poignant sense of desolation and abandonment, yet they also shimmered with unexpected beauty. The dryness of the sand reflected the semi-arid terrain of southern Alberta, while the vivid colours introduced a note of magic and vitality, suggesting resilience within fragility.

Throughout the session, discussions turned toward ephemerality and impermanence, drawing connections to the Tibetan Buddhist practice of creating sand mandalas—ritual artworks destined to be dispersed. In this way, the workshop became a quiet meditation on the transitory nature of both art and environment, reminding us of the delicate balance that sustains life on earth