Cities Underwater, detail of New Orleans, Newark, Norfolk

Three bluish glass cylinders on a white shelf, all the same height but different widths. Above each is the name of a city and state, and to the right are listed percentages. Inside each cylinder is a piece of glass the same width at the bottom, but that ends in a point at the top.

15 bluish glass cylinders on a white shelf, all the same height but different widths. Above each is the name of a city and state, and to the right are listed percentages. Inside each cylinder is a piece of glass the same width at the bottom, but that ends in a point at the top.

Materials:: Blown glass; cut vinyl drawings; animation
Dimensions:: Dimensions vary
Made:: United States, Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Penland, North Carolina : 2018
Credit:: Courtesy of Heller Gallery

Artist(s):

Viviano, Norwood: born: 1972; United States

Selector Statement

The magnitude of the effects of climate change can be hard to fathom. Through Cities Underwater, Norwood Viviano offers a clear visualization of what’s at stake: nesting glass cylinders correlate with the amount of land that’s projected to be lost in cities across the United States because of rising sea levels.

–Chen, Aric