GLOBAL ISSUE
Global Temperatures
TITLE
World on Fire - A Vision of Global Warming
FACTS
15 of the last 16 years have been the warmest years on record. This global warming is caused mostly by increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and is causing climate patterns to change.
Take a closer look at global temperature changes on NASA's Climate Time Machine.
ARTIST
Cheryl Ann Lipstreu
MODELS
Megan Cunningham, Audra Tucker
For the World on Fire painting Cheryl Ann wanted to depict a world with dual sides, a yin and a yang, torn apart in the conflicts of oil ruling our planet. From wars fought over oil, to the direct poisoning of our environments, oceans, water sources and land, this resource has become our own worst enemy. Established in greed-rooted profit margins benefiting only a small few, these atrocities of the planet caused by oil affect everyone and every creature who call earth home. This is her vision for a future world that burns on slowly spinning out of control.
In 2013, the amount of carbon dioxide concentrated in the atmosphere reached milestone levels -- 400 parts per million (ppm). The last time so much greenhouse gas was in the air was several million years ago, when the Arctic was ice-free, savannah spread across the Sahara desert and sea level was up to 40 meters higher than today. Global average temperatures have already risen 1-2 degrees celsius and will continue to rise if we continue to release carbon dioxide and other green house gasses into the atmosphere.
Artist would like viewers to support the Natural Resources Defense Council.