Hello, and thanks for taking the time to read this article. My name is Marinella Montanari. I am a social entrepreneur, project designer, performing artist, and theatre educator. As a Climate Reality Leader, I was trained in Berlin and Los Angeles in 2018. In 2000, I had the great privilege of co-founding Jobel Group, an innovative art project that is my job, community, dream, and challenge.
Climate Change is a sign of our contemporary world. Climate change is our Planet launching us a clear message. We need to slow down, to change behaviour progressively, we need to make a deep reflection. In my experience, the arts can accelerate the transition towards a more sustainable lifestyle.
Here is why I have this conviction.
In 2000, in Italy, an independent artist and social entrepreneur, Lorenzo Cognatti, started to gather people committed to making a difference in local communities through innovative use of performing arts. Lorenzo named this group Jobel and designed a new artistic language. Environmental and social topics were presented in innovative artistic formats to reach out to Rome's communities, suburbs, for an inclusive and participated art that serves communities as a base for social innovation, inclusion, and sustainable development.
Art as education to empower youth and contributing in reducing inequalities in local communities.
Art as communication to inform and empower communities.
Art as inspiration to build and enhance resilience.
Jobel is the name of the sound produced by a ram's horn played in ancient times by the middle eastern population. Jobel announced peace and justice.
Jobel is the sound of change, the sound that gathers people together, a sound spreading all around without any barrier.
Lorenzo's vision is to communicate sustainability, environmental data science, social challenges through the arts.
The word ART's specific meaning comes from the Sanscrit root AR, to go, to move towards. The Greek word is technè, (craft or art mostly refers to the human ability to make and perform).
Art goes and moves towards the community, and technè put artists at the center.
The Inuit culture gives a meaning that profoundly connects arts and the earth as our Planet as our common home.
"There is no word for art in Inuit. We say it is to transfer something from the real to the unreal" Kenojuak Ashevak.
Jobel considers artists as privileged advocates and ambassadors to inspire individuals and communities in being aware, responsible, active, and caring.
During these twenty-one years of art projects all around Italy, Europe, Asia, the US, and Canada, I saw people deeply touched by artistic events. People of all ages and backgrounds asking questions about social or environmental issues, people willing to take action inspired by a piece of art.
As examples of art-fusion communicating climate change and sustainability, here is a link to The SmartTalk Project: The SmarTalk is a multimedia and multidisciplinary integrated artistic format. Professional artists, emerging artists, students, experts of specific fields of knowledge, and citizens are involved in one live experience.
In The SmarTalk Project, artists from different disciplines and guest speakers present one organic "edutainment-show" that is designed around a specific topic.
Jobel is implementing this original format with the specific intention to inform, inspire, and engage a broader audience in taking part in the cultural transition towards a sustainable present and future. The SmarTalk's primary source is the Seventeen United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (The Global Goals).
Find a new and concrete road towards a sustainable, peaceful, inclusive, and green future is not an easy path. That's why we try to cooperate with every level of society. Jobel believes that art and creativity can play a critical role in producing the global mindset needed to achieve the goals, inspiring, energizing, shaking, and spreading commitment and information among local and international communities.
JOBEL started from scratch. First, ten years were invested in travelling and creating our projects in Cities, Museums, public squares, theatres, historical buildings, streets.
Just call us, and we will be there with ideas, equipment, artists, technicians, managers, and we will engage your community in a unique experience in which the arts will create a bridge to re-connect with our environment and with the human family.
In 2003, we established the Jobel Center, an International Artistic Residency for research, education, production. Jobel Center is open to artists and students from all creative disciplines.
Here is Jobel Center, and you are welcome here!
We have five main artistic focuses. These five focuses are not listed by order of importance, but we see those as harmonically integrated.
A first focus is an art related to body language and music: from dance to classic pantomime, contemporary mine, nonverbal theatre. This art form allows Jobel to make artistic content accessible to a broader range of audiences. Since ancient times these art forms were performed with music. Music, with its rhythms, variations, and suggestions, is vital to open minds and souls to the beauty of the arts.
The second focus is visual art, video, photography and new media. The "living Image concept" is for Jobel a source of inspiration and part of the creative process. We create original plays starting form the concept to the realization.
In the creation phase, we do researches among painting, sculpture, photos, and videos. This research feeds creative processes.
Then is arts-related to verbal communication: acting, storytelling, spoken words, public speaking, and a fourth focus is on the script: writing texts.
During its twenty years of activities, Jobel has written more than one-hundred original texts. Jobel north Americas’ branch will collaborate with Canadian writers to develop and create new original art concepts. Jobel starts every creation process with reliable and effective storytelling.
Last focus is arts and craft: from local artisans traditions to creative up-cycling processes.
THE ART FOR EARTH ARTIST and the AWARENESS CHAIN
Jobel has specific programs for artists to become an Art For Earth Artist. The programs give artists tools to develop creative content, starting for verified sources. Content can be used to designing educational programs for youth or to create new pieces of art. The Art For Earth Artist is aware of his role as an advocate and agent of change for local communities and globally. Artist's presence in the different fields of the society can activate a new cultural behavior through the awareness chain: art create involvement, involvement generates emotions, emotions opens to reflection, reflection builds awareness, awareness inspires action, action brings change.
Working with Canadian artists is a new enriching experience. This multicultural and diverse ecosystem has excellent potential, and I feel lucky to be part of this.
The Covid-19 era brought us many new challenges and, hopefully, a reason to reflect on our humanity.
The whole human and natural family are connected. Nature knows water knows, the mountain knows, the trees know. They watch us everyday ad nit is time to show that we care.
Thank you again for your time and best wishes for all your projects, dreams, and challenges.