October 2018 – Cortada featured on BBC

Addressing Sea Level Rise

Xavier Cortada, “Antarctic Ice Paintings | Global Coastlines: A-1: Antarctica,” melted Antarctic ice, sediment and mixed media on paper, 9″ x 12″, 2007.

Art Against Climate Change
 
The BBC Cultural Frontline hears from artists who are speaking out against environmental damage and climate change through their work.
 
We meet the artist bringing climate change to the front doors of one small town in Florida, USA. Xavier Cortada explains why he’s creating public art to demonstrate the potential devastation of melting glacial ice. 
 

Pinecrest Is Getting An “Underwater Homeowners Association” To Help Respond To Sea-Level Rise

Cortada is a Miami native and artist-in-residence at Pinecrest Gardens. He calls sea-level rise “the crisis of our time,” and much of his art focuses on a central question: What is Miami’s response?
 
He’s working on a new project: an “Underwater Homeowners Association” in partnership with the Village of Pinecrest. Six thousand Pinecrest households will be invited to participate by putting up special markers — yard signs with their homes’ elevations — during Art Basel week in December.
 
“The important part isn’t just creating the marker; the important part is having citizens proactively decide that they’re going to put a marker in their home,” Cortada said. “It’s an art project, but the art-making is the community-making.”

During Art Basel week, households participating in the Underwater Homeowners Association will display signs with their homes’ elevations.

 

Listen to interview here: http://www.wlrn.org/post/pinecrest-getting-underwater-homeowners-association-help-respond-sea-level-rise

Miami-Dade County Cultural Affairs Council elects Xavier Cortada new Chairman

(Miami – October 13, 2018) – The Miami-Dade County Cultural Affairs Council has elected Xavier Cortada Chairman of the 15-member volunteer advisory board. Mr. Cortada, a professional artist, will lead efforts by the board, appointed by the Miami-Dade County Commission, to develop cultural excellence, diversity and participation in the arts by strategically creating and promoting opportunities for artists and cultural organizations throughout Miami-Dade County.
 
A member of the Council since 2005, Mr. Cortada is the first artist to assume the post of Council Chairman. He succeeds Adolfo Henriques, Vice Chairman of The Related Group, who served as Council Chairman from 2008 to 2018. “Xavier Cortada is the ideal leader to take the Council and our arts community into next era of great accomplishments,” said Mr. Henriques. “He is passionate, determined and persuasive about the power of the arts to change lives for the better.”
 
Mr. Cortada’s professional art practice is focused on social engagement and the environment. He holds three degrees from the University of Miami: Bachelor of Arts, College of Arts and Sciences; Master of Public Administration, Miami Business School; and Juris Doctor, School of Law. He also serves on national and regional arts advocacy boards including South Arts. “I look forward to working with our board and the cultural community to increase support for the arts at the local, state and national levels,” stated Mr. Cortada. “Cultural organizations and artists are change leaders and work tirelessly to make our community a great place for constructive civic dialogue and social and economic success.”
 
Read more here:

Miami New Media Festival, 13th edition

Cortada MNMF Exhibits:
 
Opens November 8, 2018 at 7:00 pm (and through January 13, 2019) at Hibiscus Gallery in Pinecrest Gardens
 
Open November 10, 2018 at 4:00 pm (and through January 15, 2019) at Concrete Space in Doral
 
 
Cortada MNMF Talks:
 
October 30, 2018 at 7:30 pm at GableStage
 
November 15, 2018 at 7:00 pm at Concrete Space
 
December 8, 2018 at 7:00 pm at Concrete Space

Science Art: Museum at Prariefire

In Search of the Higgs Boson
 
Xavier Cortada’s exhibition will remain on display in Kansas City’s Museum at Prairiefire through the end of year before touring across America’s heartland.
 
To learn more click here.

American Scientist: Artist Xavier Cortada represented each possible combination of decay products of the Higgs boson in these banners. They show Higgs decay into (from left to right) two W bosons, two photons, two bottom quarks, two tau leptons, and two Z bosons. The discovery of the Higgs boson was indeed a banner moment for particle physics, but since then, experiments have been less decisive. Artwork by Xavier Cortada (with the participation of physicist Pete Markowitz), “In search of the Higgs boson,” 5 meters x 2 meters each, 2013.

To see full calendar of events please visit: www.cortada.com/events