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Hello Art Friends! As I write this, the air quality in my hometown, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, is “unhealthy” and the sun is eerie, beautiful and golden-orange. Several weeks ago, it’s likely that you heard about the smoke that covered New York City and much of the US Northeast. Wildfires in Canada drifted down and a toxic veil of smoke created a spooky, dystopian scene. On one day (maybe several), NYC had the worst air quality on earth. The event marked the first climate-linked extreme weather event to hit both New York and Washington DC at the same time since Hurricane Sandy in 2012, presenting bankers and lawmakers in the country’s economic and political centers with an in-your-face look at the impacts of climate change. Then of course just last week Vermont was inundated with rain and experienced massive flooding. And nearly one-third of all Americans - over 100 million people - were under extreme heat warnings just this past weekend. In Phoenix alone, nearly 60 heat-related deaths are being investigated. Deaths due to extreme heat as a result of climate change are not part of some abstract, futuristic scenario - this is happening right now. Now of course billions of people across the globe are dealing with the impacts of climate change on a daily basis, with floods, droughts, storms, and other extreme weather events disrupting their lives in ways that are often a matter of actual life and death. But we don’t hear much about this. Climate change represents and perpetuates a massive global injustice. The chair of the United Nations Development Program explains that “while climate change is a global phenomenon, its impact on countries and communities will be very different.” Although wealthy G20 nations have emitted 75% of all greenhouse gas emissions, the impacts are disproportionately felt elsewhere. Africa as a continent contributes (by far) the least to climate change, but is the most vulnerable to its consequences. According to the World Bank’s projections, the effects of climate change could push another 100 million people into global poverty in just the next seven years. By just 2070 (!!!!!) one-fifth of the planet could be too hot to be habitable. The media pays more attention when the victims are wealthier and lighter-skinned. It’s why we got non-stop coverage on the New York smoke blanket but didn’t hear a word about the cyclone in Mozambique earlier this year that killed thousands and displaced hundreds of thousands. This is really a microcosm for much of how our world functions, and it’s incredibly unjust and wildly unfair. But perhaps things are changing? Many Americans are now experiencing the direct effects of climate change. Maybe this will impact which politicians they elect. It’s so important to think of this personally, concretely and not abstractly. Look outside. Walk outside. Breathe outside. Think of what we stand to lose. Look at your partner, your children, your grandchildren, your friends. Everyone who is young now will suffer the effects of climate change. The question is whether those effects will be little or big. For the next five weeks (through the end of August), I will be donating 25% of all print sales AND 20% of all proceeds of the original paintings below to support Earth Justice and their incredible efforts in using the "power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people’s health, to preserve magnificent places and wildlife, to advance clean energy, and to combat climate change." If you’ve ever thought about purchasing one of my prints in the past, perhaps consider doing so now as we can collectively contribute to an impactful project. At the very least, I hope this inspires some interesting conversations with friends or a self-reflection on our changing climate, its disproportionate impacts, and actions we may be able to take in our daily lives to create change. Enjoy the summer months! With love. Julia A collection of recent worksSee a painting you love? Click on the 'contact' links below to email Julia an inquiry on the piece. There are prints available for some of these paintings as well, and if you are particularly interested in a print that doesn't exist yet, Julia may be able to make one for you. Price Range: $800 - $2,700
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