Seventeen years ago I stumbled into the position of "Director" of an international volunteer platform based in Beijing, China for artists and other creatives to raise public awareness about of pressing environmental issues such as plastic pollution, air quality and climate change called Greening the Beige.
I learned so much from that project: everything from event organization and production to public relations and artist management to establishing partnerships and training volunteers, it was the most rewarding labor of love project that has definitely impacted and shaped the direction of my life to this very day.
We hosted all kinds of events, from eco-fashion shows, to live art demonstrations, workshops, raindancing raves, bike parades, street sweeping, tree hugging performance art, reverse grafitti murals, and more! We partnered with all the best of the best working to make the world a better place, like Acupuncture Records, Agenda Magazine, Devin Allen – Artist, Kyle Benjamin – AVA Creative, Beijing Capital Library, Beijing Green Drinks, Beijing International Movie Festival, Beijing Performers, The Beijinger, The Bookworm, Stella Caban – Artist, Central Academy of Fine Art Student Volunteer Chapter, China Radio International, City Weekend Beijing, Clone (Neuron Crew) - visuals, Design China, Electric Shadows – green films, Global Sustainable Leaders Forum, Global Times, GoaProductions, Greenpeace East Asia, Hot Cat Club, The Hutong, Immersion Systems, Kocoon Spa & Lounge, Lane Change – global nonprofit bicycle gang, Local Noodles, Sarah Mattok – Graphic Designer, Migas, Jordan Thomas Mitchell - musician, NLGX Design Store, Emily Sajewski, Poster Designer & Featured Filmmaker (Coexist), Qiu – Veggie Might Musicians, Raffles-BIFT 3D Department – Sustainable Design Showcase, Nicholas Schultz – Graphic Designer, Roots & Shoots – Jane Goodall Institute China, The Schoolhouse Homes, Slow Boat Brewery, STC, TimeOut Beijing, Vegan Hut, The Veggie Table, We Impact, The World Health Store
Just to name a few!
Thanks to the help of over 100 participating artists, 300 participating volunteers and event sponsors, and thousands of event participants, we spent a decade of fun greening up the 'jing!
Were you a part of Greening the Beige in some way, shape or form? I'd love to hear from you and thank you, again and again xoxo
Music featured in the video from INTRO Beijing Electronic Music Festival theme song, ElvisT. (Acupuncture Records, 2010)