Climate activist highlights fire crisis with a protest at the National Gallery

A climate activist brought attention to the growing issue of forest fires in Canada with a peaceful demonstration at the National Gallery of Canada at the end of August. Kaleb Suedfeld, 28, spokesperson for the advocacy group On2Ottawa, applied washable pink paint to Tom Thomson’s 1915 landscape painting Northern River, which was protected by glass and undamaged.

In a prepared speech, Suedfeld highlighted the devastating impacts of forest fires across the country this year, including thousands evacuated and over 37 million acres burned. He called on the government to take urgent climate action, such as establishing a dedicated national firefighting service of 50,000 members. His non-violent civil disobedience campaigns aim to pressure governments to meaningfully address the climate crisis. The group is calling for a citizens' assembly with the power to implement climate solutions within two years. While some methods of protest have faced criticism, On2Ottawa spokesperson Laura Sullivan noted this action gained significant media coverage. She said widespread attention is needed to succeed in their goal of encouraging climate leadership. The National Gallery acknowledged the "unfortunate" incident but confirmed Northern River was unharmed behind glass and would soon be redisplayed.

Moving forward, On2Ottawa expects further demonstrations in Ottawa to advocate for a just response to the climate emergency. The safety of participants and artwork remain top priorities, according to both the group and the Gallery. This case sparked discussion about how civic engagement can promote climate action while respecting cultural institutions.

What's more, the AAMD (Association of Art Museum Directors) released a statement in response to several incidents in 2021 where climate activists glued or tied themselves to famous paintings in European museums to draw attention to environmental issues. In its statement, it emphasized that art crosses cultural boundaries and represents shared humanity. It strongly condemned any attacks on artworks, saying the ends do not justify the means. The association, which represents many major art museums in the US and internationally, argued that targeting famous paintings for political purposes undermines the common bonds between people expressed through art.

It maintained museums have always been clear artistic works cannot be justified as political protest targets, regardless of the motivations behind such actions. Here are some alternative ways climate activists can raise awareness about environmental issues without targeting cultural works:

• Organize peaceful demonstrations, marches, and rallies in high-traffic public areas to get media coverage

• Conduct non-violent actions like blocking access to government buildings or specific projects

• Launch online campaigns on social media to educate the public and pressure politicians

• Do street theater, performances, or visually impactful protests

• Work with scientists to disseminate research on climate impacts and solutions through universities and conferences

• Support climate-friendly political candidates and lobby elected officials directly through meetings, calls, letters

• Partner with organizations already working on sustainability issues to amplify existing efforts