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Posted By Xavier Cortada,
Sunday, January 03, 2010
Updated: Sunday, January 03, 2010
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Planting A Flag In Thawing Region, Captain Declares "The Arctic is Russian"
Russian geologists claim that they have found a link between Russia and the North pole in the form of the Lomonosov Ridge, a geological feature on the sea floor. Because of this, they claim 460,000 square miles of ocean as Russian territory. However, their claims have been knocked back by the UN before, in 2001. There are reports that they are trying again, with some claiming that they are even sending a submarine to plant a flag 14,000 feet under the Arctic ice shelf. The motivation, as is often the way, is oil. The area is a potentially lucrative oilfield, and with the ice melting (ironically because of oil and the resulting climate change caused by its use), access will be easier. The expedition leader, Artur Chilingarov, is quoted as saying, "The Arctic is Russian. We are going to be the first to put a flag there, a Russian flag at the bottom of the Arctic Ocean, at the very point of the North Pole." ::The Daily Green ::The Guardian
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Posted By Xavier Cortada,
Monday, November 30, 2009
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Native Flags
As the Arctic sea ice melts, nations clamor to raise their flags over newly open waters to claim the natural resources that lie beneath them - oil, manganese, diamonds, fish - and to control shipping lanes. Meanwhile, rising sea levels threaten the world below.
On June 29th, 2008, Miami artist Xavier Cortada arrived at the North Pole and planted a green flag to "reclaim it for nature.”
Cortada created this NYFA sponsored artist project to engage people globally to help slow the polar thaw: Participants plant a native tree next to a green flag at home and ask their neighbors to do the same. (Scroll down to participate.)
Reforestation reduces the greenhouse gases that cause global climate change.
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Posted By Xavier Cortada,
Monday, November 23, 2009
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Hello Xavier et al, I hope you're all doing well. I just wanted to give you a quick update about the sequoia redwood tree we all ceremonially planted at the end of our Climate Change Symposium in April as part of Xavier's Urban Reclamation project. It is now leading a new and happy life!
After a cameo stint on the Exploratorium floor, our little tree had a lot of interest from local schools looking to adopt it. One Bay Area public school's eighth grade graduating class, however, wanted to present our little redwood as its class gift to the school (so we selected them to be the recipients).
I just heard from the school, where they successfully planted the tree and sent us a picture of the eighth grade graduating class with it! The e-mail from the school is below, and a picture of the 8th graders with their class gift is attached.
Thanks so much to everyone who participated and, of course, most of all thanks to Xavier who brought us such a wonderful, lasting symbol of the importance of environmental discourse.
All the best, Kate
San Francisco, California: On behalf of the San Carlos Charter Learning Center's 8th grade graduating class, I would like to thank you for the beautiful redwood tree.
I am including a photo of our graduates with the tree!
Many thanks!
Inga
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ECHO
exploratorium
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native flags
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Sequoia redwood
xavier cortada
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Posted By Xavier Cortada,
Sunday, November 22, 2009
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On July 17, 2008, Miami artist Xavier Cortada planted an oak tree native to Latvia with a green flag as an installation at the Pedvale Open-Air Museum in Latvia. Scroll down to learn more about the installation and to learn more about the Pedvale Open-Air Museum.
Pedvale Open-Air Art Museum
Pedvale, Sabile LV-3294
Latvia ____
Miami artist Xavier Cortada will bring his Native Flags intervention to the Pedvale Open-Air Art Museum in Latvia. Following his trip to the North Pole where he planted a Native Flag, Mr. Cortada is creating this installation to increase awareness of global climate change and the need to combat it through reforestation. Itinerary to and from the Pedvale Open-Air Art Museum 9.00 a.m. – Departure from Riga to Pedvale 10.30 a.m. – Arriving in Pedvale 10.30 – 11.00 a.m. – Coffee and talk 11.00 a.m. – 13.00 p.m. – Walk around Pedvale Open-Air Art Museum 13.00 – 13.30 p.m. – Coffee and preparing for planting tree and flag 13.30 – 14.00 p.m. – Action of eco-art project — planting tree and the green flag 14.00 – 15.00 p.m. – Meal 15.00 – 15.30 p.m. – Action of "Planting stone" in Pedvale 15.30 p.m. – Departure from Pedvale to Riga 17.00 p.m. – Arriving in Riga About the Pedvale Open-Air Art Museum
Pedvale is located near town of Sabile in Kurzeme province, only 115 km from Riga, the capital of Latvia. The World’s Cultural Heritage Fund has nominated Pedvale among the 100 World’s unique and most endangered monuments. There, you can enjoy the view of the deep ravines and flat slopes, vast arable fields and peaceful meadows, brooks, creeks and water springs with crystal-clear water. You will be surprised by the objects of art, modern installations and sculptures as well as the monuments of architecture. Enjoy the far vistas to the Sabile town and to the opposite side of the primeval valley of Abava River with an ancient castle mound of Curonians, the Hanging Hill and the famous Vineyard Hill, the most Northern open-air vineyard in the world.
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Posted By Xavier Cortada,
Sunday, November 22, 2009
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 | United States Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, 18th District, Miami, has teamed up with Xavier Cortada to participate in the Native Flags installation. Previously, IGLO has publicized Cortada's work because of the shared goals of raising climate-change awareness. So enthused by this urban reforestation project that aims to help restore native species, Rep. Ros-Lehtinen has written to fellow members of Congress urging them to partner with science centers and plant a native tree and a flag specially designed by Cortada. In addition to Native Flags expanding in the U.S. beyond Miami, Cortada is traveling to the North Pole and will display a flag upon his arrival on June 30. This event will kick off Native Flags on a global level - citizens worldwide are encouraged to plant indigenous trees as well as a flag. Institutions that have been contacted by their local congressmen should e-mail iglo@astc.org with any questions they may, or if they would like information on how to approach elected officials about participating in Native Flags. For a copy of Rep. Ros-Lehtinen's letter, click here. |
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Capitol
Congress
global climate change
IGLO
Native Flags
native trees
reforestation
Ros-Lehtinen
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Posted By John Constantinide,
Friday, July 11, 2008
Updated: Friday, July 11, 2008
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American Artist Xavier Cortada Talked About Eco-Art
--Helsinki, Finland
American Artist Xavier Cortada visited the U.S. Embassy and gave a presentation on eco-art on July 8. The emphasis in eco-art is on collaboration across disciplines—artist to scientist to public official and beyond. Eco-art also engages communities to address environmental problems directly, and in highly creative ways. Mr. Cortada emphasized how everybody - artists and individuals alike – can make a difference by small actions. After his presentation Mr. Cortada and Chargé d'Affaires Michael Butler planted a native tree and a green flag on the U.S. Embassy compound to encourage people all over the planet to help reforest their communities.
Courtesy of the the U.S. Department of State.
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Embassy
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Xavier Cortada
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Posted By Xavier Cortada,
Monday, May 19, 2008
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When posting your picture of your flag and tree, please upload a picture of your tree using the blog form. Videos of trees are optional. Also, please include the name of location where the tree was planted, the name of tree, and the date the tree was planted.
For example:
I assisted the Mayor of Miami in planting a Paradise Tree at the Miami Science Museum in the Coconut Grove neighborhood of Miami, Florida, on October 4, 2007. This served as the launch of the Native Flags exhibit at the museum.
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Native Flags
Xavier Cortada
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Xavier Cortada
Artist-in-Residence
FIU College of Architecture + The Arts
Miami Beach Urban Studios
420 Lincoln Road, Suite 440
Miami Beach, FL 33139
Xavier Cortada's participatory art practice is based at Florida International University.
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