In this provocative, exquisitely designed new book, sculptor and educator Baile Oakes showcases the work of 35 internationally acclaimed environmental artists, all of whom believe that art can be a powerful social force, with the power to change attitudes, values, and ultimately behavior. Their goal is to motivate people to understand humanity's relationship to the planet, and to correct the negative impact of technology on the environment.

"One way to make art into a culturally useful tool," writes philosopher and critic Suzi Gablik in her introductory essay, "might be to infiltrate images of hope... In our present situation, reconnecting art with life and with the natural environment is a matter of absolute priority." That, she writes, is the primary accomplishment of the artists included here.

In his or her own words, each artist addresses the intentions and mechanics of their particular project, all of them having enlisted the participation of architects, planners, scientists, and other professionals. The resultant works break through traditional barriers to create stunning, inspirational systems that are themselves a part of the Earth, using for example, as they do natural forces in their structures - tidal flows, wind currents, and forest regeneration.