"Sink or Swim"
Provided by: Sea Walls|Published on: July 26, 2022|Last updated: September 26, 2026
Grades: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Type: Artwork
Subjects: Visual and Performing Arts
Authors: Tatiana Suarez
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 →
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 mural about sea level rise by Tatiana Suarez in Miami, Florida shows a woman clinging to a palm tree surrounded by the rising sea.
- The artist explains that this piece makes a statement about how the climate crisis is imminently threatening humans and the rest of the ecosystem.
Teaching Materials
Positives
- The image evokes a feeling of helplessness and desperation and is very direct about its meaning.
- This resource provides steps for taking action to reduce your carbon footprint.
- The artist statement includes a call to action and is a great example of how local impacts of climate change are felt.
- The simple imagery and direct message make this mural easily understandable for even young students.
Additional Prerequisites
- An understanding of sea level rise and its predicted rate of change is key to the meaning of this mural.
- It may be helpful to show students where Miami is located on the map.
- Slides 11 and 12 in the slideshow of photographs contain a more complete view of the mural.
Differentiation
- Science classes could research how tall a palm tree gets and how high scientists predict the sea level in Miami will rise.
- Art classes could discuss the symbolism in the mural. Students could consider what the flamingo, the woman, and the other figures represent.
- Students could think about how the title of the artwork impacts the viewer's interpretation of the image.
This art piece focuses on the impact of climate change on sea level rise. This impact is further exacerbated by our daily food choices and activities. Reducing meat and dairy consumption, calculating our carbon footprint and consuming a plant-based diet, and consuming energy from renewable sources can help fight climate change. The resource is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
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 →
