Xavier Cortada develops participatory eco-art projects aimed at restoring native habitats for plantsand animals in coastal communities. In 2006, he implemented the Reclamation Project to engage residents in the coastal and urban reforestation. Cortada also created art installations in the North Pole (2008) and South Pole (2007) to address environmental issues at every point in between.

“My work aims to challenge us to find deeper meaning in our present lives by exploring the paths of those who came before us and our relationship to the natural world.” – Xavier Cortada

Xavier Cortada created art at the Earth Poles to generate environmental at point in between: In 2007, the artist used the moving ice sheet beneath the South Pole as an instrument to mark time; the art piece will be completed in 150,000 years. In 2008, Cortada planted a green flag at North Pole to encourage reforestation in the world below.

The Miami artist has worked with groups globally to produce numerous collaborative art projects, including 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 Hawaii, Holland and Latvia.

Cortada has also been commissioned to create art for the White House, the World Bank, the Florida Supreme Court, the Florida Governor’s Mansion, Florida Botanical Gardens, Miami City Hall, Miami-Dade County Hall, the Miami Art Museum, the Miami Science Museum, Museum of Florida History, and the Frost Art Museum.

Corporations such as General Mills, Nike, Heineken and Hershey’s have commissioned his art. Publishers like McDougal and Random House have featured it in school textbooks and publications. His work has also been featured in National Geographic TV and the Discovery Channel.

Cortada, who was born in Albany, New York and grew up in Miami, holds degrees from the University of Miami College of Arts and Sciences, Graduate School of Business and School of Law.

www.cortada.com

MORE ABOUT “RECLAIM THE NORTH POLE WITH NATIVE FLAGS”:

As the Arctic sea ice melts, nations clamor to raise their flags over newly open waters to claim the natural resources that lie beneath them – oil, manganese, diamonds, fish – and to control shipping lanes. Meanwhile, rising sea levels threaten the world below.

On June 29th, 2008, Miami artist Xavier Cortada arrived at the North Pole and planted a green flag to “reclaim it for nature.”

Cortada created this NYFA sponsored artist project to engage people globally to help slow the polar thaw: Participants plant a native tree next to a green flag at home and ask their neighbors to do the same.

(Scroll down to participate)

Reforestation reduces the greenhouse gases that cause global climate change.

Native Flags: Participate by following these steps:

1. Purchase a native tree and the project flag.

2. Plant the tree and the flag in your front yard (and ask your neighbors to do the same).

3. Upload photo in the form on the Reclamation Project’s Native Flags webpage.

www.nativeflags.org

Event Type: Art & Discussion

Location: South Beach

Date: Saturday, April 6th, 2011

Time: 6:00 PM

Cost: Stay tuned for more details

Click here for 2011 Agenda: SVC-SE 2011 Agenda