FIU College of Architecture + The Arts artist-in-residence Xavier Cortada will be talking about Native Flags (See www.nativeflags.org). In his presentation Cortada will encourage FNPS members to use this participatory eco-art projects as a way of engaging others in caring for their environment. The project is based at FIU’s Office of Engaged Creativity (www.carta.fiu.edu/engaged) and being implemented with the FIU Office of University Sustainability and other partners including Deering Estate (both of which have/will have gardens with flags and labels profiling each of the 12 features native trees: http://www.reclamationproject.net/?SoFl_natives )

About Native Flags

FIU College of Architecture + The Arts Artist-in-Residence  Xavier Cortada created this urban reforestation eco-art project  to help restore native habitats for plants and animals in urban areas. Participating residents are asked to plant a native tree alongside the green project flag in their front yard and state:

“I hereby reclaim this land for nature.”

The project’s conspicuous green flags serve as a catalyst for conversations with neighbors, who will be encouraged to join the effort and help rebuild  their native tree canopy one yard at a time.

Ideally, as they watch each tree grow,  their interest in the environment will also grow.

In the presentation. Cortada will also profile the project’s 2008 North Pole launch (http://www.xaviercortada.com/?page=NFNP_index), the project’s 2011 Taiwan effort (http://www.xaviercortada.com/event/taiwan2011) and a 2009 project in which he worked with in Pinellas County and their local chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society to plant 750 trees in their community (see http://www.xaviercortada.com/?page=FBG  and  http://www.reclamationproject.net/?Pinellas_about_proj):

Garden’s digital paintings reference eco-art campaign

The one of a kind digital paintings (click below) at the Florida Botanical Gardens were created by artist Xavier Cortada to celebrate the planting of 750 native trees in Pinellas County through the Reclamation Project (a public art project commissioned by the Public Art and Design Program of the Pinellas County Cultural Affairs Department). The works highlights the six native species featured in the eco-art effort’s urban reforestation campaign.

Growing our Native Canopy 1 (Bald Cypress, Red Cedar, Slash Pine)

Growing our Native Canopy 2 (Green Buttonwood, Red Maple, Seagrape)

During 2009, participating residents were asked to plant a native tree alongside the green project flag in their front yard and state: “I hereby reclaim this land for nature.” The project’s conspicuous green flags served as a catalyst for conversations with neighbors, who were encouraged to join the effort and help rebuild their native tree canopy one yard at a time.