Cool Globes: Hot Ideas for a Cooler Planet
Encyclopedia
Cool Globes: Hot Ideas for a Cooler Planet is a public art
project dedicated to increasing awareness of global warming
.
A nonprofit corporation, "Cool Globes: Hot Ideas for a Cooler Planet" sponsored a Chicago
public art
exhibit of 125 5 feet (1.5 m) globes decorated with solutions to global warming
, placed in Grant Park
near the Field Museum of Natural History
, the Shedd Aquarium
, and along the lakefront bike path during the summer of 2007.
The project is similar to the popular "Cows on Parade" exhibit of 1999, but with a social conscience.
. In 2006, Chicago and world artists were asked to submit designs for solutions to global warming. Each globe was to be sponsored by an individual, company or organization. Completed globes were mounted along bicycle trails in Grant Park north of the Field Museum of Natural History
, on Navy Pier
, and along Michigan Avenue
. The project included an opening gala, environmental education in public schools, and a children's contest, "Cool Globes for Cool Kids", which exhibited in the Chicago Children's Museum
. After the exhibit ended in September 2007, some of the globes were auctioned off and the proceeds used to fund environmental programs in Chicago Public Schools
. The project was sponsored by the Clinton Global Initiative, the Field Museum of Natural History
, Exelon
and others.
and the organizers of Cool Globes presented Mayor Daley
with a check for $500,000 for environmental programs in Chicago's schools at the graduation ceremony of the Chicago Conservation Clubs, held on Northerly Island
on a restored prairie. Cool Globes were later exhibited in Washington DC and San Francisco, San Diego and at the Sundance festival in 2008, in Los Angeles, Houston and Copenhagen in 2009, and in Geneva, Marseilles and Vancouver in 2010.
Public art
The term public art properly refers to works of art in any media that have been planned and executed with the specific intention of being sited or staged in the physical public domain, usually outside and accessible to all...
project dedicated to increasing awareness of global warming
Global warming
Global warming refers to the rising average temperature of Earth's atmosphere and oceans and its projected continuation. In the last 100 years, Earth's average surface temperature increased by about with about two thirds of the increase occurring over just the last three decades...
.
A nonprofit corporation, "Cool Globes: Hot Ideas for a Cooler Planet" sponsored a Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
public art
Public art
The term public art properly refers to works of art in any media that have been planned and executed with the specific intention of being sited or staged in the physical public domain, usually outside and accessible to all...
exhibit of 125 5 feet (1.5 m) globes decorated with solutions to global warming
Global warming
Global warming refers to the rising average temperature of Earth's atmosphere and oceans and its projected continuation. In the last 100 years, Earth's average surface temperature increased by about with about two thirds of the increase occurring over just the last three decades...
, placed in Grant Park
Grant Park (Chicago)
Grant Park, with between the downtown Chicago Loop and Lake Michigan, offers many different attractions in its large open space. The park is generally flat. It is also crossed by large boulevards and even a bed of sunken railroad tracks...
near the Field Museum of Natural History
Field Museum of Natural History
The Field Museum of Natural History is located in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It sits on Lake Shore Drive next to Lake Michigan, part of a scenic complex known as the Museum Campus Chicago...
, the Shedd Aquarium
Shedd Aquarium
The John G. Shedd Aquarium is an indoor public aquarium in Chicago, Illinois in the United States that opened on May 30, 1930. The aquarium contains over 25,000 fish, and was for some time the largest indoor aquarium in the world with of water. The Shedd Aquarium was the first inland aquarium with...
, and along the lakefront bike path during the summer of 2007.
The project is similar to the popular "Cows on Parade" exhibit of 1999, but with a social conscience.
The Project
"Cool Globes: Hot Ideas for a Cooler Planet" was conceived by environmental activist Wendy AbramsWendy Abrams
Wendy Abrams is an American environmental activist and the founder of Cool Globes. In 2010 she was designated a Women's History Month Honoree by the National Women's History Project....
. In 2006, Chicago and world artists were asked to submit designs for solutions to global warming. Each globe was to be sponsored by an individual, company or organization. Completed globes were mounted along bicycle trails in Grant Park north of the Field Museum of Natural History
Field Museum of Natural History
The Field Museum of Natural History is located in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It sits on Lake Shore Drive next to Lake Michigan, part of a scenic complex known as the Museum Campus Chicago...
, on Navy Pier
Navy Pier
Navy Pier is a long pier on the Chicago shoreline of Lake Michigan. It is located in the Streeterville neighborhood of the Near North Side community area. The pier was built in 1916 at a cost of $4.5 million, equivalent to $ today. It was a part of the Plan of Chicago developed by architect and...
, and along Michigan Avenue
Michigan Avenue
Michigan Avenue may refer to:* Michigan Avenue * Michigan Avenue , a designation for much of both current and former U.S. Route 12 in Michigan...
. The project included an opening gala, environmental education in public schools, and a children's contest, "Cool Globes for Cool Kids", which exhibited in the Chicago Children's Museum
Chicago Children's Museum
The Chicago Children's Museum is located at Navy Pier in Chicago, Illinois. It was founded in 1982 by The Junior League of Chicago who were responding to programming cutbacks in the Chicago Public Schools...
. After the exhibit ended in September 2007, some of the globes were auctioned off and the proceeds used to fund environmental programs in Chicago Public Schools
Chicago Public Schools
Chicago Public Schools, commonly abbreviated as CPS by local residents and politicians and officially classified as City of Chicago School District #299 for funding and districting reasons, is a large school district that manages over 600 public elementary and high schools in Chicago, Illinois...
. The project was sponsored by the Clinton Global Initiative, the Field Museum of Natural History
Field Museum of Natural History
The Field Museum of Natural History is located in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It sits on Lake Shore Drive next to Lake Michigan, part of a scenic complex known as the Museum Campus Chicago...
, Exelon
Exelon
Exelon Corporation is an electricity generating and distributing company headquartered in the Chase Tower in the Chicago Loop area of Chicago. It was created in October, 2000 by the merger of PECO Energy Company and Unicom, of Philadelphia and Chicago respectively. Unicom owned Commonwealth Edison...
and others.
Afterwards
On May 13, 2008, Wendy AbramsWendy Abrams
Wendy Abrams is an American environmental activist and the founder of Cool Globes. In 2010 she was designated a Women's History Month Honoree by the National Women's History Project....
and the organizers of Cool Globes presented Mayor Daley
Richard M. Daley
Richard Michael Daley is a United States politician, member of the national and local Democratic Party, and former Mayor of Chicago, Illinois. He was elected mayor in 1989 and reelected in 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, and 2007. He was the longest serving Chicago mayor, surpassing the tenure of his...
with a check for $500,000 for environmental programs in Chicago's schools at the graduation ceremony of the Chicago Conservation Clubs, held on Northerly Island
Northerly Island
Northerly Island is a man-made peninsula along Chicago's lakefront. The site of the Adler Planetarium, Northerly Island connects to the mainland through a narrow isthmus along Solidarity Drive dominated by Neoclassical sculptures of Kościuszko, Havliček and Copernicus...
on a restored prairie. Cool Globes were later exhibited in Washington DC and San Francisco, San Diego and at the Sundance festival in 2008, in Los Angeles, Houston and Copenhagen in 2009, and in Geneva, Marseilles and Vancouver in 2010.
Participating artists
Notable participating artists include:- Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill ArchitectureAdrian Smith + Gordon Gill ArchitectureAdrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture , an architecture firm and design firm based in Chicago, is engaged in the design and development of energy-efficient and sustainable architecture. AS+GG designs buildings, cities, masterplans and components of these. It creates designs for an international...
- Jim DineJim DineJim Dine is an American pop artist. He is sometimes considered to be a part of the Neo-Dada movement. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, attended Walnut Hills High School, the University of Cincinnati, and received a BFA from Ohio University in 1957. He first earned respect in the art world with...
- Peter MarsPeter MarsPeter Mars is an American artist with ties to both the Pop Art and Outsider Art movements.-Early life and education:...
- Jaume PlensaJaume PlensaJaime Plensa is an Spanish artist and sculptor.-Biography:Plensa was born at Barcelona. Plensa studied art in his home city, in the "Llotja" School and in the Escuela Superior de Bellas Artes de San Jorge....
- Lee TracyLee Tracy (Artist)Lee Tracy is a Chicago-area artist. She was born in Maine.She has received numerous grants from the Illinois Arts Council and has had solo shows at the Lyons Weir Gallery, Artemisia Gallery, and Vedanta Gallery in Chicago. She appeared in "The Chicago Art Scene"...
- Tom Van SantTom Van SantTom Van Sant is a sculptor, painter, and conceptual artist. In his professional work he has executed over sixty major sculpture and mural commissions for public spaces around the world...
- Nina WeissNina WeissNina Weiss is a Chicago-area artist and teacher.She teaches at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She appeared in "The Chicago Art Scene"...