An Honoring the Future panel program on how artists can inform – and inspire – discussion and action on climate change will take place at the City of Hialeah, Florida’s Milander Center for Arts & Entertainment on January 19, 2016 from 10:00 am – 12:00 noon. The panel will explore how artists are calling attention to climate change and pointing the way towards creative solutions; it will be followed by a “Meet the Artists Reception.” The panel and reception are free and open to the public.
“We are proud to be showcasing artwork on climate change by some of America’s most visionary artists,” explained Fran Dubrowski, director of Honoring the Future. “Art has the power to move hearts as well as minds. We hope this art will inspire all who see it to take up the challenge of responding to climate change where they live, work, study, and play. Our children’s future depends on the energy and lifestyle choices we make today,” Dubrowski added.
The panel will feature two renowned artists:
- Peter Handler, creator of a series of sculptural pieces collectively titled “The Canaries in the Coal Mine,” which draw attention to the places and wildlife endangered by climate change. Handler’s work on this series earned him the prestigious 2015 Audubon Award for Art Inspiring Conservation.
- Xavier Cortada, internationally renowned Miami artist who collaborates with scientists to generate environmental awareness through art. The Apostolic Nuncio (the Vatican’s ambassador to the U.S.) hailed Cortada’s “magnificent artwork” in thanking him for Ichthys, a digital art image created to welcome Pope Francis’ climate change message and U.S. visit.
This program will be the closing event to Honoring the Future’s 7 week Climate Art & Action exhibition at the Milander Center. The exhibition, highlighted in a recent review by the Miami Herald, captures work from ten highly acclaimed artists in large (36” x 30”) photographs, developing a narrative theme that depicts melting glaciers, rising seas, and extreme storms but also showcases sustainable responses to climate change. Climate-related artwork by Cortada is also featured in a parallel CLIMA exhibition at the Milander Center. The panel and exhibitions are co-sponsored by the City of Hialeah as part of a series of arts events highlighting the urgent need to address climate change and sea level rise.
The Milander Center for Arts & Entertainment is located at 4800 Palm Ave., Hialeah, FL 33012. For more information, see http://www.hialeahfl.gov.
