"Currents"
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Provided by: Jill Pelto Gallery|Published on: April 27, 2021
ArtworkScientist Reviewed
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Scientist Reviewed This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- This painting by scientist and artist Jill Pelto incorporates graphs of CO2 emissions, renewable energy consumption, sea level rise, temperature, and land ice.
- The painting was created for the cover of the July 2020 Climate issue of TIME magazine.
Subjects: Science, Visual and Performing Arts
Authors: Jill Pelto Gallery, Jill Pelto
Region: Global
Languages: English
Teaching Materials
Positives
- Students may see how graphs can have more than one use.
- Pelto showcases alternative ways of using data to make a point that is instantly relatable to a broad spectrum of people that may not relate to standard graphed data results.
Additional Prerequisites
- Students need to understand how to read a graph.
- The resource includes links to the datasets used for each graph.
Differentiation
- Art classes can use this as an example of line, composition blocking, and graphic labeling/symbolism.
- Students can discuss how artwork can be used to inform the public on important issues such as climate change.
- As a cross-curricular connection, math classes can use this to show the relevance of mathematical concepts in both scientific and artistic disciplines.
Scientist Notes
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
About the Partner Provider
Jill Pelto
Jill Pelto is an artist and scientist whose work focuses on communicating human-environment connections. She incorporates scientific research and data directly into her watercolor paintings — from local trends to global changes. Jill’s artwork was featured on the cover of TIME Magazine in July 2020 and has inspired online features in Smithsonian and PBS News Hour. Jill has created a science-art activity based on this idea and has worked with K-12 students across the U.S. and beyond. By pairing graphical information with visual imagery, Jill hopes students can learn about and connect to climate change topics (good, bad, and in-between) in ways that educate and are emotionally relevant. This data-art activity is flexible and allows students to make their own graph art to share topics they care about.
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
Learn about our review process →
