Jane Fonda to present new exhibition highlighting dangers of toxic oil drilling
Hollywood actor and activist Jane Fonda has partnered with the Gagosian Gallery for the second time for an exhibition raising awareness of the dangers of toxic oil drilling in neighbourhoods.
Fonda partnered with Gagosian and Christie’s earlier this year for a benefit aimed at preventing a voter referendum on California law SB1137, a 2022 law that states new oil wells cannot be within 3,200 feet of communities in California.
The benefit raised more than $14million, and the California Independent Petroleum Association withdrew the referendum. Reflecting on the outcome, Fonda told ARTNews this was “the biggest setback in the country,” one which took “millions and millions of dollars, and years and years of activism” to combat.
However, Fonda has no plans to back down just yet, recognising that this fight could last a very long time. “It’s not over yet because the oil companies are working on ways to try to advance their agenda. The proceeds from the exhibit are going to protect frontline communities from Big Oil’s next attempts at pollution because they’re going to keep trying,” she explained.
She added: “I’ll be fighting the oil companies until the day I die. They’re doing this all around the country. It’s happening in Colorado, it’s happening in Pennsylvania, it’s happening in the state of Washington. It’s happening all over the country. And if we couldn’t beat them in California, it was going to be hard to beat them anywhere else.”
The new exhibition, which will be running until August 30th in Beverly Hills, features pieces from Jackie Amézquita, Andrea Bowers, Shepard Fairey, Nan Goldin, Lonnie Holley, Jessie Homer French, Alex Israel, and more.
Larry Gagosian, founder of Gagosian, described the benefit as tackling a “crucial issue” that impacts “my home state of California.” He added: “I am incredibly grateful for the artists’ generosity in helping us ensure a safe and healthy California for generations to come.”
Fonda also explained that they “are the first generation to feel the effects of the climate crisis and the last generation that can do anything about it.” While discussing the ways oil drilling often impacts working class and minority groups, she added: “It’s an attack on democracy, it’s an attack on people’s health, children’s health. These communities really suffer, and they have fought back bravely.”
The actor has been dedicated for a long time to raising awareness of the climate crisis, describing the issue as “serious trouble,” adding that the population is also a significant cause for concern and that world leaders need to place more importance on empowering women and girls.
