Reflection

Although climate change is a severe issue with catastrophic impacts, it can be easy to minimize those effects when living our day to day lives. Personally, my main experience with climate change is when I feel the extreme heat waves in my area. I express this in my art by showing a figure fighting the discomfort of the heat and in despair at their melting popsicle. The state of the popsicle, however, is a small problem that resulted from the more intense forest fire in the background. This more casual, less intense portrayal of climate change effects draws a more relatable connection between what we go through in our daily lives to the more destructive situations in other parts of the world. The heat I feel is just a hint of the wildfires, coastal flooding, habitat loss, etc. occurring that I do not directly relate to. However, through my art, I want to remind others that our personal experiences are a small part of the larger picture, and the little things that we notice are a sign of the larger issues of climate change that are still very real and cannot be ignored. Furthermore, taking notice of these impacts is necessary to take action. Combating the heat, my piece incorporates several occurrences of cooling water that interweave personal actions I have taken to help fight against climate change. Whether it be helping restore plant life, using solar panel-powered technology, or starting a compost pile, these little actions we take and the changes we make to our own lives can ultimately affect the overall state of the world.