“The Underwater” informs Calle Ocho merchants of climate risk
CERAMIC TILE MURALS ADORN ENTRANCES TO LIBERTY SQUARE
Miami-Dade County Art in Public Places commissioned Xavier Cortada to paint 36 ceramic flat tile murals for the entrances of buildings at Liberty Square, a new 753-unit residential complex in Liberty City in Miami, Florida. Cortada’s public art pieces depict the very native plants that he engages the public to reforest through his long-standing participatory eco-art projects: mangroves and wildflowers.
“Painting intertwined mangrove roots on these new buildings helps keep us grounded; it reminds us of Liberty City’s deep history,” said Cortada. “Flowers celebrate the lives of residents who through the decades helped grow and build community on-site at one of the nation’s oldest public housing complexes.”
BRITISH CONSULATE PARTNERS WITH CORTADA TO CELEBRATE QUEEN'S PLATINUM JUBILEE
On June 5th, 2022, Her Majesty’s General Consul in Miami Nicolette Brent and Xavier Cortada were joined by Pinecrest Councilmembers Katie Abbott and Anna Hochkammer in planting a Lignum vitae tree at Pinecrest Gardens to celebrate Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee.
To honor Her Majesty’s 70 years of service, seventy local residents were also invited to grow the Queen’s Green Canopy by participating in Cortada’s Native Flags urban reforestation eco-art project: 70 participants received a free tree and replica of the green flag that Cortada planted at the North Pole to launch a reforestation effort in the world below.
UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE IN BALI FEATURES CORTADA'S CLIMATE ART
The Platform on Disaster Displacement (PDD) worked with Xavier Cortada to engage attendees of the 2022 United Nations Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GP22) from 23-28 May 2022 in Bali, Indonesia. Cortada’s engaged climate art was featured as part of “DISPLACEMENT: Uncertain Journeys,” a project committed to bringing art research and practice to bear on international policymaking addressing displacement related to disasters and climate change.
MIAMI HERALD: INSIDE THIS HIGH SCHOOL'S CLIMATE CHANGE ART PROJECT
Xavier Cortada’s The Underwater is a social art project that teaches students about how the climate crisis would impact not just the city of Miami, but also their futures. “Art is a powerful tool for climate activism and community engagement,” Cortada explained. “A work of art can help people visualize an issue that otherwise may be invisible to them. It gives people agency.”
Cortada worked with Miami Senior High School students to engage Calle Ocho merchants in discovering their store’s elevation above sea level. Dozens of businesses created an “Underwater Marker” and placed it on their storefront windows. The Markers’ aim is to spark climate conversations across Little Havana, featuring a QR code so customers can learn more.
CORTADA COMPLETES 5 YEARS OF SERVICE AT UM ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
On May 19, 2022, Xavier Cortada attended his last meeting as a member of the University of Miami Alumni Association Board of Directors. As his term as Faculty Representative came to an end, the Triple Cane (B.A. 1986, M.P.A. 1991, J.D. 1991) asked fellow alums to celebrate his five years of service to their association by making a donation to their beloved Alma Mater.