A Yale School of Art, Yale School of Architecture, and Yale School of the Environment project uses art to cool urban hot spots.
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Because of the distance between research data on climate change and the public, the Yale Schools of Art, Architecture, and Environment created a new communications project to bridge the gap. The project brings together community engagement, art, and new technologies to bolster climate communications and create cooling impacts in some of the most vulnerable and warmest neighborhoods in New Haven.
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In 2022, the schools launched the Climate Engagement through Art in Cities Fellowship. The inaugural fellows, Victoria Martinez ART ’20 and Daniel Pizarro ART ’12 supported the project’s mission through two interconnected projects. Martinez created a large-scale “cool mural” in Fair Haven, CT using new cooling paint technology capable of reflecting UV and NIR radiation. Pizarro crafted a complementary digital climate communications project. A full story on the launch of the fellowship and fellows is available at the Yale Daily News.
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The “cool” mural, entitled “Take the Risk to Cool Down,” officially debuted on October 2, 2023 at an unveiling event at 20 Mill Street in Fair Haven, CT. The installation adorns the facade of MATCH (Manufacturing And Technical Community Hub), an organization that supports workforce training, local manufacturing, and career pathways in Fair Haven. The site was strategically selected by stakeholders including the Yale Mural Committee. Infused with symbolism, the design pays tribute to climate change, the city’s history, the Fair Haven community, Latin American and Caribbean cultures, alternative transportation, trees, plants, and hopes for the future.
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The inspiration reflects the community-centered nature of the project. A chevron pattern emerged from community engagement sessions at the local library and books from Yale and community libraries. Warming stripes in the shape of waves drew inspiration from meetings at the School of the Environment and the city’s port history. An image of the sun references the impacts of the recent Canadian wildfires that made the sun appear red and imagery of trees reflects a disparity in tree access between Fair Haven and surrounding neighborhoods. Images of playing cards with boots, a bus, and a bicycle pay tribute to alternative transportation and to Lotería, a Mexican bingo game with ties to the artist’s background, the Latinx community in Fair Haven, and a deeper history of racism and colonization. More information about the mural design can be found on the Yale School of Art website.
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The mural features a QR Code connecting the installation to Pizzaro’s digital communications project: a website entitled Cities as Solutions. The website captures the project’s mission, emphasis on community, and cooling paint technologies. It also shares information about the fellows and project collaboration and will continue to be developed.
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The fellowships are funded by the Yale School of Art and the Climate Impact Innovation Fund. They are also supported by the Yale Planetary Solutions Project. Leadership for the project comes from Karen Seto, Frederick C. Hixon Professor of Geography and Urbanization Science at the Yale School of the Environment, Kymberly Pinder, Stavros Niarchos Dean of The Yale School of Art, and Annie Lin, Project Specialist at Yale School of Art.
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Image Source: Victoria Martinez, MFA ‘20. Take the Risk to Cool Down (2023). Photo by the artist.
