"Sink or Swim"

• 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.

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.
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