Xavier Cortada travelled to Antarctica in 2006-07 as a National Science Foundation (NSF) Antarctic Artist and Writers Program fellow. There, he created a series of works on paper by melting ice samples scientists gave me from their research on how human impacts on global climate are melting the Antarctic glaciers.
“Underwater HOA” depicts South Florida’s vulnerability to those melting glaciers: In 2018, the Village of Pinecrest, Florida encouraged its residents to install an “Underwater HOA” yard sign (similar to the 18” x 24” yard signs realtors use to sell houses) on their front lawn during the first week of December 2018. The yard signs showed how many feet of melting glacial water must rise before their property is underwater. Cortada numbered each yard sign from 0 to 17 feet, the land elevation range for the 6,000 houses in this upscale village south of downtown Miami. The signs’ backdrop show the watercolor paintings Cortada made in Antarctica by melting ice from the very glaciers that threaten to melt and drown Miami.