Rising Tide: We Have Been Warned

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change estimates that the rise in sea levels could be as much as 3 feet by 2100. Florida's expansive coastline is especially vulnerable to the degree by degree rise in the earth's average temperature.

In this scenario the houses in my neighborhood are nearly submerged. Unheeded warnings and calculations are barely visible beneath the murky water. The debris of inaction floats to the surface, birds watch from above and the setting sun is ever reflected in the rising tide.

This quilt is included in "Piecing Together A Changing Planet," a regional SAQA exhibit traveling to National Parks in celebration of The National Parks Service's centennial.The intention is to "bring greater awareness to climate change and other environmental issues."

Because of the constraints of exhibit venues, exact dimensions (52" H x 20" W were required. When on display it is as if the quilts are standing sentry to a powerful message.

My process:
Much of my current work is photography-based and for years many of my pieces have included birds. This quilt began with a photograph of birds sitting on a neighbor's roof and photographs of the sun reflected on the lake behind our home. These images were enlarged and printed by Spoonflower on cotton sateen (birds on the roof) and cotton voile (the water.) I also collected a series of articles about the effects of climate change in the Tampa Bay area printed in the Tampa Bay Times. "We Have Been Warned" was one of the headlines. I scanned and printed excerpts on cotton printer sheets using my inkjet printer. My goal was to place the words beneath varying layers of the water so that some words were more visible than others. Embroidery stitches were added to represent the debris of inaction floating on the water.