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Homestead, Florida
2019, Senior, Art
Reflection
Reflection
The moment I read this year’s topic for the Contest, I knew immediately what I wanted to create. My home is in danger. I have lived in South Florida my entire life; the ocean views are vivid in my childhood memories. It is a scary thought to hear that my home is estimated to be underwater by 2025. Six years. It is heartbreaking to think that the beautiful scenery I grew up watching with bright eyes won’t be around anymore. To think that I will never be able to visit the places that made my childhood so special. It makes me not only sad, but incredibly upset. As a Floridian born and raised, it hurts to think of a future where my children or grandchildren can never experience the beautiful paradise that is the Keys or the bold colors and feelings that arise from riding around Miami Beach. I created this piece to emphasize the loss that I, and many natives of Southern Florida, will feel when our home is no longer habitable. When it is all underwater, America’s very own Atlantis. I believe such cultural landmarks that lie within Southern Florida being lost to the ocean is not only devastating for those who live in the area, but also to the entire country. As it impacts me directly, I have a duty to do something about it. I strive to educate and demonstrate the impact of climate change to the world through my art. I find it very powerful for people to view a beautiful or intriguing piece only to be slapped in the face by the message it presents. I hope that by capturing people's attention with my art, I can direct them to create action and to hopefully save our Earth.