On December 2nd, Xavier Cortada will deliver a 20-minute presentation, “Socially Engaged Art: Using Slow Activism to Tackle a Climate Emergency” to attendees of SciVizNYC 2020.

Talk Summary:
Understanding that Miami’s climate emergency is a race against the clock, in my practice, I double down on slow activism.

For instance, in my “Underwater HOA” project (www.underwaterhoa.com), residents find their property’s elevation and install a “marker” in their front yard, this marker being a yard sign that depicts the house’s current elevation above sea level.These markers function as a catalyst for conversation, prompting a passerby to question the sign’s purpose and ideally prompt further involvement. However, they are also literal markers, their installation effectively mapping Miami’s topography. The goal of this project is to inform citizens on the impending issue of sea-level rise while also facilitating discussions of change within the community by holding monthly “HOA” meetings.

Through socially engaged art projects like these slow activists engage in experiential activities that truly pique curiosity, instill a sense of responsibility, and encourage further exploration into environmental and climate policy issues. Working and learning together, participants learn to problem-solve, to infiltrate and change systems, and to elect responsible leaders and hold them accountable in a fight where we face an existential crisis.

To register for SciVizNYC, click here.