The Climate Affect — an initiative launched by the Department of Environmental Studies at St. Mary’s College of Maryland — invites students, faculty, and the surrounding community to join a network of events and collaborators to elevate arts engagement around climate resilience. The Climate Affect Collective fosters ecological and imaginative renewal through awe, wonder, and creative collaboration.

During the Fall 2024 semester, The Climate Affect explored the complex relationship between people and plants. Each student in the "Environment and Society" class studied a flower planted at the Kate Chandler Campus Community Farm by researching its science, uses, and cultural stories. Inspirational, hands-on workshops with visiting guest artists Saya Benham and Fay Nourani helped students create the art you see displayed on this gallery wall. 

In Spring 2025, The Climate Affect collaborated with visiting artists Jan Burger and Emma Skurnick of North Carolina’s Paperhand Puppet Project to examine how puppetry can challenge assumptions about nature, deepen connections between species, and create awareness across human and natural systems. Students and community members applied lessons about the philosophy, art, and design of puppets to investigating themes of beauty, belonging, biodiversity, and the evolving role of humans in a rapidly changing Chesapeake Bay region. Our combined efforts culminated in a giant puppet parade and Earth Day performance directed by Performing Arts faculty collaborator Diego Villada. Featuring live music by student, faculty, and community member musicians, Making the Invisible Visible exemplified how creative expression, community engagement, and environmental awareness can come together to inspire action and imagination in the face of ecological crisis.