Underwater HOA | Press Release on November 7

#UnderwaterHOA Press Release

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Prominent Environmental Artist to Give Visual Lesson on Sea Level Rise to Students at Westminster Christian School on Nov. 7th

~ Xavier Cortada’s newly expanded “Underwater HOA” project aims to educate, spread awareness and prepare the next generation for the inevitable with visit to Westminister Christian School ~

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WHAT:

Over a decade ago, environmental artist, Xavier Cortada, visited Antarctica on a National Science Foundation Antarctic Artists and Writers Program fellowship. While there, the Miami-based artist, who was one of 12 artists recently featured on climate change in the New York Times, learned from scientists that the very ice sheets he was using for his art/science practice would eventually drown his beloved city. Cortada plans to use this stark knowledge to facilitate an eye-opening, participatory lesson to students during a visit to Westminister Christian School. Cortada will also be meeting with teachers at Pinecrest Elementary the day prior to discuss implementing the project.

Underwater HOA, which stands for Underwater Homeowners Association, is a participatory art project taking place during Art Basel. The project grew out of Pinecrest Gardens, where Cortada is artist-in-residence, and will now involve all residents in Miami-Dade County.

During his presentation to schools, Cortada will ask students to take out their mobile phones and visit the Eyes on the Rise toolbox, an endeavor by partner Florida International University. Using the application, students will be instructed to insert the address of their homes and then write the number they find on an index card to hold up to their peers. The numbers will allow the students to view sea rise projections for their particular address. Markers are numbered 0 to 17 to depict how many feet of melting glacier water needs to rise before the property is under water.

Students at Westminster Christian School will be involved in “Underwater HOA” in several ways, whether it be creating their own Underwater Markers or assisting with mapping the elevation of a major street intersection in Village of Pinecrest.

Recently, Cortada expanded “Underwater HOA,” to not only take place in Pinecrest, but to encompass all of Miami-Dade County. To add to the participatory component of the project, Cortada will encourage Miami residents to transform their political yard signs into underwater markers to illustrate rising sea levels instead of throwing them out after the midterm elections.

“The tragedy is that the family homes these students are set to inherit will be physically underwater and financially strapped. This is why it is important to educate the next generation and have them take an interest so they are better prepared for the big storm heading our way,” said Cortada.

For more information on the “Underwater HOA” project and to learn how to participate, visit http://cortada.com.

WHEN/WHERE

Pinecrest Elementary:
November 6, 2018
9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – Lesson plan with teachers about implementing “Underwater HOA” project
Address: 10250 SW 57th Ave, Pinecrest, FL 33156

Westminster Academy:
November 7, 2018
Check-in at office for escort to location
11:00 – 11:45 a.m. Presentation to high school honors art & science students who will be participating on the project
11:50 a.m. – 12:25 p.m.  Presentation to elementary students about underwater markers
Address: 6855 SW 152nd St, Palmetto Bay, FL  33157, United States

*On-site parking available at both schools; please make sure to have media identification

MEDIA CONTACT:

Suanny Garcia
305-632-8272 or suanny@PinzurPR.com

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ABOUT XAVIER CORTADA

Xavier Cortada is a leading environmental artist, collaborator of the McMurdo Dry Valleys LTER (Long Term Ecological Research) project in Antarctica, and was one of 12 artists recently featured on climate change in the New York Times.  Additionally, Cortada was just named chairman of the Miami-Dade County Cultural Arts Council. The Miami-based artist’s studio is located at Pinecrest Gardens, where he serves as artist-in-residence, implements his participatory art projects and oversees the Hibiscus Gallery.

Cortada works with scientists and groups globally to produce numerous collaborative art. Several highlights including environmental installations at the North and South Pole that generate awareness about global climate change, peace murals in Cyprus and Northern Ireland, child welfare murals in Bolivia and Panama, AIDS murals in Switzerland and South Africa and eco-art projects in Taiwan and Holland.

He has been commissioned to create art for CERN, the White House, the World Bank, the Florida Supreme Court, the Florida Governor’s Mansion, the Museum of Florida History, the Florida Botanical Gardens, Miami City Hall, the Frost Science Museum, Miami-Dade County Hall, Port Everglades and the Florida Turnpike. His work is in the permanent collections of the Perez Art Museum Miami (PAMM), the NSU Museum of Art  in Ft. Lauderdale, the Whatcom Museum and the Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum. Cortada’s art also has been featured on National Geographic TV and the Discovery Channel.

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Underwater HOA is a participatory public art project Xavier Cortada is implementing in tandem with his “Antarctic Ice Paintings: Global Coastlines & Underwater HOA” exhibition in Pinecrest Gardens Hibiscus Gallery from November 8, 2018 through January 13, 2018.