[ECO]Big Artists vs. Big Oil.

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Artists vs. Big Oil: California communities get some big-name help in fighting Big Oil.

Los Angeles, CA – A new art exhibit is bringing together renowned artists, environmental advocates, and community leaders in a ****** against Big Oil. The “Artists vs. Big Oil” exhibition, hosted by Christie’s auction house, actress Jane Fonda, and art dealer Larry Gagosian, aims to raise funds to protect California neighborhoods from toxic oil drilling.

The Artists vs. Big Oil exhibit features works donated by over 30 artists, including Shepard Fairey, Charles Gaines, Frank Gehry, and Marilyn Minter. Christie’s will auction these pieces in May, with proceeds supporting community leaders battling oil companies for their health and safety.

Standing Up to a Goliath

“This is about everyone in California having the right to clean air and water,” said Wendy Schmidt, president of the Schmidt Family Foundation, which has pledged $10 million to match funds raised by the Artists vs. Big Oil campaign. She and her husband Eric emphasize the importance of prioritizing the health of families and communities over the profits of oil companies.

The Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria also joined the ******, contributing $5 million to the Artists vs. Big Oil campaign, which the Schmidts subsequently matched. This support highlights the broader environmental concerns surrounding oil drilling.

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Big Money vs. Community Power

The Artists vs. Big Oil campaign was created because California’s powerful fossil fuel industry has launched an intense effort to reverse a landmark state law that environmental justice advocates spent decades fighting to enact. The legislation, known as Senate Bill 1137 (SB-1137), was signed into law by Governor Newsom in 2022 to protect nearly 3 million Californians – many from low-income, ******, and Brown communities – from the well-documented health hazards of living in close proximity to active oil and gas drilling operations.

SB-1137 prohibited new oil and gas extraction within 3,200 feet of homes, schools, and other community sites across the state. This buffer zone was established to reduce vulnerable residents’ exposure to toxic air pollutants, carcinogenic benzene emissions, and other harmful byproducts associated with fossil fuel production. Environmental and public health groups hailed it as a historic victory for frontline communities that have disproportionately shouldered the health burdens of neighborhood drilling for generations.

But now, deep-pocketed oil and gas corporations are viciously fighting back. Estimates suggest they have already poured more than $53 million into a campaign to put SB-1137 up for a statewide ballot referendum this November. With immense profits on the line, activists think they could spend more than $200 million to effectively pause the law’s implementation. If most voters ******* SB-1137, it could permanently reverse this hard-won environmental justice achievement, clearing the way for drilling to continue in dense urban neighborhoods.

With its future hanging in the balance, SB-1137 has become a critical battleground, pitting petrochemical profits against public health and safety. The same fossil fuel companies driving the global climate crisis are now trying to sway California voters to bring hazardous extraction activities to locations near homes, playgrounds, and vulnerable communities. Environmental advocates like Artists vs. Big Oil warn this well-funded campaign by Big Oil could drown out the voices of those most impacted.

“For years, my art has focused on a healthier future,” said artist Shepard Fairey. He and other artists stand alongside community members facing the health risks associated with oil drilling in their neighborhoods. Fairey believes that the combined force of grassroots activism and artistic expression can protect this crucial law.

Fighting for Clean Air and Safe Communities

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unites health professionals, environmental justice groups, ****** leaders, and young people in their ****** against Big Oil. They aim to ensure that no Californian has to face health risks living near oil wells.

This art exhibition is a powerful symbol of unity between the arts community and California residents facing environmental threats. With the upcoming auction and continued activism, they hope to secure a cleaner and healthier future for the state.

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