“Artivism is a portmanteau word combining “art” and “activism”. Artivism developed in recent years while the antiwar and anti-globalization protests emerged and proliferated.” -Wikipedia

Artivism is alive an well in Newfoundland.

The Joe Keefe Art Gallery opened a show on July 2 to continue to create awareness about the sunken vessel Manolis L.

Hosted by painter M’Liz Keefe, owner of the gallery, the show included many mediums and artists whose work was reflective of the possible disaster of an oil spill if the ship is not emptied of the bulk crude it’s been holding, and occasionally leaking, for 30 years.

Fogo Island painter Winston Osmond created a multimedium work called “Outport Oil Spill”. Living by the ocean in Shoal Bay, Winston knows what this may look like if the government does not soon act on removing the oil from Notre Dame Bay.

Carolyn Parsons Chaffey from the Manolis L Clean Up Effort Committee addressed the large crowd who attended the show opening and reception and explained that progress is being made slowly. Funding was announced in the Federal budget specifically to study the situation of the Manolis L.

While a study is important, action is what is needed.

Residents and visitors to Fogo Island attended the opening reception and may continue to view the show until mid August at the Joe Keefe Gallery in Fogo.

Artists from the Twillingate, Fogo Island, Change Islands and other areas of Newfoundland contributed works to the show which has also been featured in St. John’s.

Visitors are encourage to wear a black starfish and tell people about the Manolis L to increase pressure on governments to protect our fishery and tourism industry from this time bomb.

Global News  report 2016 provides more information as does a simple search for “Manolis L”