THREE SUNS
I painted this picture to alert people to the devastation caused by global warming, with the hope that society will curb its use of carbon-producing products.
“Numerous scientific works have established that human connections to natural environments stimulate curiosity and foster flexibility and imagination. The spark of purpose—the feeling that we are meant to add to the total of humanity—has been called many things, but none more appropriate than creativity. Our drive to create makes the human species unique and unparalleled in all of nature. We are born with an impulse to bring something into existence that wasn’t there before.”
Years ago, I copied this quote without noting the author. Still, the sentiment has stayed with me—it speaks directly to my soul. I, too, feel the deep inspiration that nature offers, a pull toward creativity that finds form in painting and writing. In times of increasing ecological crisis and political distraction, creativity becomes more than self-expression—it becomes a lifeline.
Now, more than ever, art must come to the forefront. In moments of upheaval, artists, musicians, filmmakers, and writers become not just storytellers, but truth-tellers. Art speaks for those who are silenced. It transcends language, culture, and geography. It can express grief, joy, and the deep emotional undercurrents that often lie hidden beneath the surface of daily life.
Writers, in particular, are uniquely positioned to shift paradigms. They pose difficult questions and offer new ways of seeing the world. During dark times, they illuminate paths forward. Consider Mark Twain, whose The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn challenged the racial and moral conscience of 19th-century America. Or Dostoyevsky, whose Crime and Punishment delved into the psychological complexity of guilt and redemption. Charles Dickens exposed the injustices of Victorian England’s slums. George Orwell foresaw the perils of totalitarianism. The Autobiography of Malcolm X, as told to Alex Haley, reshaped how many view race, identity, and justice in America. More recently, The Kite Runnerbrought the struggles of Afghanistan’s people into global consciousness.
The same power extends to other art forms. Pablo Picasso’s Guernica, painted in response to the bombing of a Spanish town, became a searing symbol of anti-war sentiment. Contemporary Chinese artist Ai Weiwei uses his work to challenge government oppression and advocate for human rights. Television, too, can serve as a powerful platform: Orange Is the New Black brought attention to the realities of mass incarceration and marginalized women in America.
Musicians have long played a pivotal role in protest and progress. From the folk songs of Woody Guthrie and Joan Baez to Bob Dylan’s anthems of change, music has helped shape the course of history. The legacy continues today with songs like “Put the Gun Down” by Indonesian heavy metal trio Voice of Baceprot, “Tariffic” by Jesse Welles—an indictment of economic policy—and “Post American” by Dead Pioneers, which protests the whitewashing of Indigenous history. And still, “We Shall Overcome” remains a timeless anthem for civil rights.
In his book Biophilia, Edward O. Wilson described the innate human tendency to focus on life and living systems. His work on biodiversity, extinction, and ecological interdependence has helped many around the world better understand the fragile balance of our environment. By the end of his life in 2021, Wilson called for a new Enlightenment—one that reunites science and the humanities to heal our fractured world.
Art is that bridge. It affirms our humanity, expands our awareness, and awakens the courage to envision change. Where injustice, inequality, and environmental devastation persist, art is not a luxury—it is a necessity. It’s time for creators of all kinds to rise, using their voices, brushes, instruments, and cameras to challenge the status quo and help shape a better future.
By Pablo Picasso
Resources:
Website(2022) E.O.Wlson, Biodiversity Foundation. Retrieved from https://eowilsonfoundation.org/about-us/e-o-wilson/
Fortune, JK. (2020) In the darkest of times, Art is not an indulgence. https://janfortune.medium.com/in-the-darkest-of-times-art-is-not-an-indulgence-1bd01e687546
Website, (2025) Top 10 Writers that Changed the World. Digital Book.io. Retrieved from https://www.digitalbook.io/blog/top-10-influential-writers-that-changed-the-world/
Down, L. (025) . Artists as Agents of Social Change Past and Present. Arts, Artists, Artwork. Retrieved from https://artsartistsartwork.com/artists-as-agents-of-social-change-past-and-present/
The Ongoing History of Protest Music. 50 Best Protest songs of 2024Retrieved from https://www.ongoinghistoryofprotestsongs.com/2024/01/05/50-best-protest-songs-of-2023/
Kirsch, S. (2025) Unveiling the Power of Art to Create Social Change. Harvard Advanced Leadership Initiative Social Impact Review. Retrieved from https://www.sir.advancedleadership.harvard.edu/articles/unveiling-power-of-art-create-social-change
I look forward to hearing from you in the comment section of my BLOG SITE.https://www.eichingerfineart.com/blog/200866/the-transformative-power-of-art
Art is always for sale. Three Suns is an acrylic on canvas 36” x 24” painting, available for $685 shipped free within the continental United States. Purchase online at https://www.eichingerfineart.com/workszoom/1656739/three-suns#/or contact me at marilynne@eichingerfineart.com with questions.
The Rightfully Mine Series is written to inform, change minds, and inspire people to activism. Access to clean water cuts to the core of democracy. It is being weaponized, pilfered, polluted, traded, and sold at astronomical prices that poor people can’t afford. Water should be considered a human right and not a commodity.
The Water Factor is a Firebird International Award winner for best dystopian novel and a Literary Titan recipient for best thriller. Though fun to read, it carries a severe message about water scarcity. It is available in ebook, paperback, and audio formats. It can be purchased on AMAZON, Barnes and Noble, and as an audiobook on Amazon, Audible, and iTunes. Ask your bookstore to order a copy from Ingram. Please leave a review on Amazon after reading. Purchase while you can and invite me to Zoom into your book club discussion.
