Oil paintings, photographs and pieces made with alternate material will explore the effects of modern civilization on the Earth at a new art exhibit debuting at SF State this week.

“ECO: Art About the Environment” will feature over 30 works from 14 Northern California-based artists.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity to see interdisciplinary programming,” said art professor and Fine Arts Gallery Director Mark Johnson.

The exhibit, located in the Fine Arts Gallery in the Fine Arts building, opens at 12 p.m. Sept. 17 and will run through Oct. 15.

Some of the featured artists will speak in a panel moderated by San Francisco Arts Commissioner Leonard Hunter, as well as a meet-and-greet with the directors of films that will be screened.

“ECO” has been a student-run project from beginning to end. In the spring, an upper-division art class organized and helped curate the exhibit, while students in Art 619, Exhibition and Design, put the finishing touches on the exhibit this semester.

Senior Becky Kelley called her experience in Art 619 “truly wonderful.” She said the SF State art gallery supports and promotes a wide range of art, encouraging students and patrons to enjoy art through unique exhibits throughout the year.

“It's great to break out of any stereotype, and this exhibit really explores many ways to use the environment - not only art as a visual medium, but also in music and films,” said Kelley, a 26-year-old photography major.

In June, the cinema department organized The Green Screen Environmental Film Festival, which showcased environmentally focused films at the Castro Theatre.

Johnson said “ECO: Art About the Environment” will feature two of those films to give viewers a second chance to see them. Director Taggart Siegel’s “The Real Dirt on Farmer John,” which was introduced by former Vice President Al Gore at Green Screen, will be shown on campus.

“This is a film that the director started when he himself was a student,” said Johnson, who described the film as “cutting-edge.” “It’s interesting for us to see a film that was started as a student project finally come to fruition.”

Johnson added that he would invite students to discuss the film, which tells the story of a Midwesterner who revives his family farm by embracing alternative farming techniques.

A screening of the film “Nature’s Revenge,” which documents environmental damage in the Swedish countryside, is scheduled for Oct. 8.

“Nature’s Revenge” director Stefan Jarl may make a guest appearance at the exhibit as well. Another artist’s panel will be moderated by Hunter, who is also an art professor at SF State.

“We especially invite all of our students from SF State to come, because it’s a wonderful art gallery and this is a young generation of exciting artists who are addressing the environment,” Johnson said.

Johnson also said there will some hands-on opportunities for people to work with a recent SF State alumnus, Josh Short, who is hosting a workshop for all ages, encouraging people to make terrariums.

“If you live on campus, you can come make a little urban terrarium for your dorm room and … if you live off campus you can take it home,” Johnson said.

By scheduling different kinds of activities, Johnson said the art department faculty is hoping to encourage everyone on campus to check out the exhibit.

“Even if you’re not an art major, or a music major, the arts are important to everybody’s human side,” Johnson said. “These are energetic young people, and if you’re a student, we hope that you’ll take an art class down the road and show your own work in the gallery, because the next show is an exhibition of student work.”

Even though the exhibit deals with a serious subject, Johnson said he is looking forward to a fun-filled day with a big turnout.

“We hope it engages people and engenders dialogue,” he said. “Some people don’t believe in global warming, some maybe can talk about science issues, film issues, art issues and music issues and hopefully, represent the best of the university.”

SF State graduate Kim Munson helped plan the art exhibition and said she hopes it will help build environmental awareness throughout SF State.

“I hope that it will inspire people to think about how they interact with the environment and to realize that choices they make themselves can make a difference,” Munson said. “I think bringing in ideas and images about the environment from other parts of the SF arts community enriches things for everyone.”