Extraordinary Earth Pop-Up at Arcadia Earth: A Celebration of Student Art and Climate Action

Running through June 30, this unique pop-up showcases art created by students worldwide, highlighting the power of creativity and collective action in addressing climate change.

The centerpiece of the pop-up is Benjamin Von Wong’s Giant Plastic Tap sculpture – previously displayed at the United Nations Environment Programme’s plastic pollution talks in Ottawa. Alongside the Giant Plastic Tap sculpture sits, a remarkable replica created by Toronto-based education influencer Monsieur Steve’s second-grade classroom. The pop-up also features climate-themed art made this year by young artists from around the world through the Students Rebuild program.

“The Extraordinary Earth Pop-Up at Arcadia Earth transports us all to a world where youth voices are centered in the debate surrounding the future of our planet – in a year where we’ve seen an unprecedented number of art submissions,” said Alex Manuel, managing consultant for Students Rebuild. “It’s a testament to the impact young people can make through their imaginations and collective action.”

“The Giant Plastic Tap project is not just about art; it's about awakening a sense of responsibility in young minds towards our planet,” said sustainability artist Von Wong. “Engaging young people in meaningful projects like this encourages their creativity and passion for change, making them active participants in shaping a sustainable future.”

The Extraordinary Earth Pop-Up celebrates the culmination of Students Rebuild’s 2023-2024 Extraordinary Earth Project. This year’s Project empowered youth to channel their climate and environmental education into actionable works of art, generating over $1.5 million in donations to global organizations — the National Wildlife Federation, Choose Love/Choose Earth, Little Amal, Eden Reforestation Projects and the Solgaard-Nyx Foundation.

This past April, students took on a bonus challenge to create their own giant plastic taps, inspired by Benjamin Von Wong’s iconic sculpture. We worked with Benjamin Von Wong to provide an instruction manual, template, and video, enabling young people, including Monsieur Steve’s class, to bring the spirit of sustainability to life through art.

Monsieur Steve’s (Steve Massa) second-grade class had the opportunity to preview the pop-up in May, before it opened to the public. The students were thrilled to see their artwork displayed alongside Benjamin’s impactful pieces, deepening their understanding of art’s role in environmental activism.

“My students were so excited to follow in the footsteps of an incredible artist,” said Massa. “Not only did they use their creativity to create art, they learned about global and local ecosystems and how they can make a long-term impact to address climate change.”

​On June 1, 2024, we also hosted a collaborative climate-themed art workshop at the pop-up. The event drew nearly 400 participants who engaged in creating art and learning about the importance of repurposing waste, deforestation, clean air, and protecting ecosystems! Participants contributed to a collaborative art project by responding to prompts about how they can protect our Earth. They created drawings on rainbow scratch paper, sharing their ideas and actions for a more sustainable future.

“The success of the art workshop during the Extraordinary Earth Pop-Up at Arcadia Earth was invigorating,” said Alexandra Manuel, managing consultant for Students Rebuild. “Seeing so many young people engage creatively and thoughtfully with climate issues highlights the incredible potential of art to drive awareness and action. This event reinforces our belief in the power of youth-centric initiatives to foster meaningful change for our planet.”

Because the Extraordinary Earth Pop-Up remains open until June 30, Toronto residents have a chance to immerse themselves in a world where art and activism converge. This exhibit not only celebrates the creativity and passion of young artists, but also underscores the importance of collective action in addressing the global climate crisis.

For those who cannot visit the exhibit in person, the Extraordinary Earth Project webpage offers an exciting opportunity to learn more and explore mosaics made from student art submitted this year. Visit the website to dive deeper into the remarkable contributions of young artists worldwide and see how their creativity is helping to drive positive change for our planet!