550 students and staff from Cascade Middle School in Eugene, Oregon, address the salmon crisis, Spring 2008

(Image by DDancer)

Art For the Sky is a unique project designed to bring diverse groups together, dissolve social boundaries and tackle the problems we face as individuals and society. Environmental artist Daniel Dancer has spent ten years travelling the world to create over 100 images using people, which must be viewed from above.

Rock art version of the endangered Sierra Big Horn sheep

(Image by DDancer)

Inspired by the Nazca Lines in Peru, Daniel’s colourful creations are intended to fire the imagination and inspire viewers to consider their interconnectedness with the world around them.  His sky art only works when viewed from above, and photographs are taken from cranes or – in this case – hot air balloons.

(Image by DDancer)

Using schoolchildren, their parents and teachers to act as the human components, Daniel has used up to 4,000 people for his artwork at any one time.  In the impressive picture above – created in between blizzards – 900 students and teachers from Alex Haley and Windell Smith Academy in Chicago created an image of then President Elect Obama a week before he took office.

(Image by DDancer)

Creating the Sky Horse Valencia, CA took nearly 1,000 students and teachers from North Park Elementary school.  The massive form of a running horse took shape in 2008.

(Image by DDancer)

Using red Georgia clay, topsoil, white beach sand and blue jeans for a border, 700 students and teachers from De Soto Trail Elementary in Tallahassee, Florida came together to form this spectacular endangered loggerhead sea turtle.

(Image by DDancer)

This 160ft floating loon was created by 750 students and teachers, made from 900 square feet of blue jeans found in local thrift shops.  According to Daniel: “Everyone knows where they are supposed to be standing and everyone knows that their tops must match the patch of paint that they are standing on. Then everyone gets down on their hands and knees, exposing their backs so that the largest amount of colour is given off.”

(Image by DDancer)

Appearing to soar high yet only visible from above, 1,300 pupils from Franklin County Schools in Florida teamed up with the Apalachicola Riverkeeper to form this giant Osprey.  In terms of sheer scale, this is the largest Art For the Sky picture created so far.

(Image by DDancer)

It may look terrifying, but this picture, using 1,000 students and teachers at Kate Sullivan School in Tallahassee, Florida, combined with white sand, top-soil and thrift-shop clothing, depicts one of the world’s most endangered crocodiles.

(Image by DDancer)

Last but not least is “350 Sky” – the largest Art for the Sky project attempted so far!  In this beautifully colourful creation, 4,700 participants from 21 schools in Uden, Holland created a picture of their local windmill, using tulips for blades to symbolize a new era of man’s relationship with the sky.  350 is said to be the most important number in the world, as it is the amount by which we must reduce our parts per million of carbon emissions if we are to survive the scourge of global climate change.

See Daniel Dancer’s “350 video” for more information, or visit 350.org.  All photos are reproduced with the permission of Daniel Dancer.  If you enjoyed this, check out the green Art & Design section on Webecoist.