Who are you, what do you do, and where are you from?
My name is Devina (they/them) and I am a trumpet player, vocalist, and composer from Portland, OR and a 2021 graduate from Berklee College of Music! I regularly collaborate with interdisciplinary artists in many genres, and strive to be a versatile and passionate musician. I am also passionate about reading, knitting, teaching, baking, and being outdoors!
What does sustainability mean to you?
To me, sustainability is an awareness and conscientiousness of the environmental impact that you are making in your daily life. In the past few years I have tried to, and want to continue to implement small steps such as reusing scratch paper, recycling and composting, repurposing used jars or cans for another use, reusing plastic bags and aluminum foil, and supporting farmers markets. In the future I would love to hone my urban gardening skills, and connect with some CSA's as well as continuing to seek out local businesses.
How do you incorporate sustainability into your daily life as an artist?
When the pandemic hit, I had a crisis. The music industry was at a standstill, and I felt like I could not *do* anything enriching in my life that would further my artistic development. One of my friends recommended that I apply for an 8 week term with Americorp doing environmental conservation work. In fall 2020 I built beaver dams, removed invasive species, planted trees, and did fire restoration work in the PNW. It gave me a renewed energy and I realized I could incorporate this into my life without having it detract from my identity as a musician, in fact I felt more inspired! I am about to start my second term with Americorp on June 9th.
What impact can artists have on sustainability?
I think that artists can have a great impact on sustainability because everybody has some kind of emotional response to art in their lives whether it be music or another art form. Using that to create awareness about the environment is incredibly important! And, artists setting a good example in their lives can also be influential on others.
https://spacekani.bandcamp.com/releases