Group brings awareness to rising sea levels with art

The issue of rising sea levels is coming to the southwest MiamiDade village of Pinecrest in a big artful way.

From Dec. 2 to Dec. 9, parts of Pinecrest will feature murals painted along Killian Drive to show the impact of rising sea levels.

Called “Underwater HOA,” the exhibit was created by environmental artist Xavier Cortada.

Drivers will be able to spot the displays between U.S.1 and 57th, 62nd , 67th, and 72nd Avenues which will be called “Elevation Drive’’ for the exhibit. Each intersection will feature one of Cortada’s Antarctic Ice Paintings as a backdrop along with an number that represents that intersection’s elevation number of feet above sea level. That elevation number will increase as drivers move from one street to the next. Each display will also have an underwater marker yard sign along the road.

“I want residents across Miami-Dade County to understand this is not a political-partisan issue, this is a community issue,” said Cortada, a Pinecrest Gardens artist in residence who grew up in Miami. “Block by block, house by house, neighbor by neighbor, I want to make the future impact of sea level rise something impossible to ignore.”

The murals will be painted by high school art students from nearby Gulliver Preparatory, Dr. Michael Krop Senior High, South Dade Senior High and Westminster Christian School.

During Art Basel week, volunteers will also be distributing 6,000 underwater markers so that residents in Pinecrest, Miami Beach and Wynwood can post them in front of the their homes.

VILLAGE OF PINECREST PHOTOS/COURTESY From Sunday to Dec. 9, parts of Pinecrest will feature giant art installations that will show the impact of rising sea levels.

Drivers traveling along Killian Drive will see the exhibit called “Elevation Drive,” which will have four street murals capturing rising sea levels.