Climate Change Interactive Sculpture
By Dr. Llinás, Science Department
In 2007, Miami artist Xavier Cortada
created works of art at the North
and South Poles to help address
environmental issues at every point
in between.
For this Longitudinal Installation, Cortada
placed 24 shoes in a circle around the
North and South Poles, each shoe serving
as a proxy for a person affected by global
climate change in the world. He placed
the shoes inches apart along the lines of
longitude crossing the places where these
individuals live, conceptually diminishing
the distance between them.
A decade later, Palmer Trinity School
students joined Cortada in dedicating
the Longitudinal Installation at Pinecrest
Gardens, where the sculpture became a
permanent exhibit. The participatory art
piece captures voices from 24 individual
across the globe who have been
impacted by climate change.
Before the ceremony, each student
selected a quote from one of the 24
individuals. During the dedication,
each participant stood behind their
assigned shoe, holding a quote in their
hand. Starting at 0 degrees and moving
clockwise, each student read their
chosen quotes, figuratively stepping
into their shoes.
The voices of the students were
impactful as they (symbolically) stood
in different places (longitude) around
the world and inches away from one
another. The interactive sculpture is
now on permanent display and shows
global problems for what they really are:
shared problems.
Below are three quotes
shared at the event.
ANDY SHODELL
+ + +
60E, Iran
"More than 90 percent
of our wetlands have
completely dried up."
Alamdar Alamdari,
environmental researcher,
Fars province
OWEN REYNOLDS
+ + +
120E, Philippines
"The disaster covered almost every
corner of this province, rampaging
floods, falling trees, damaged houses.
It happened very rapidly and many
people did not expect this because
they haven't experienced mud flows
in those areas before."
Fernando Gonzalez,
governor of Albay province
VANESSA MORALES
+ + +
105W, Colorado (USA)
"In Colorado, climate change means
less snow, less water, more wildfires,
less biodiversity and less economic
opportunity, as there is less water
available for development."
Stephen Saunders, president, Rocky
Mountain Climate Organization
palmertrinity.org
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BIRD'S EYE VIEW
