Have you ever walked by the entrance to the Collaboratory and noticed the vibrant, glimmering art on the wall? If so, you’ve seen the work of Northbrook resident Alisa Singer. But did you realize her beautiful art also conveys an important message? If you look closer and read the information panel mounted next to the art, you'll see that her art illustrates the science behind the critical changes impacting our planet.
Alisa’s journey from law to climate change artist began in 2014 when she retired from a career as a corporate attorney and began looking for a project she was passionate about. After doing some research, Alisa noticed that climate change projections made by scientists 30 years ago were “startlingly accurate and almost too conservative.” She also recognized that graphs and data can often be difficult to digest, even when people care about climate change and the environment. So Alisa decided to put her artistic skills to use and translate climate change data into digital art. “It’s the perfect way to pull viewers in and allow them to take their time processing the data,” she explained.
Alisa’s Environmental Graphiti® art made its debut in 2015 at a Ravinia fundraiser but has since spread to global exhibitions and has even been featured on several UN climate reports. It is currently on display across the United States as well as closer to home at Loyola University Chicago, the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, and, of course, at Northbrook Public Library.
Our display at the library is unique in that it is Alisa’s only rotating exhibit. Changed every few months, the pieces come from Alisa’s own personal collection, which has been printed on metal using the ChromaLuxe process to help them retain their gleam.
When asked about the country’s current response to climate change, Alisa said that while she’s not wholly optimistic about the urgency with which it is being addressed, she’s encouraged that businesses and financial institutions are starting to acknowledge the threat it presents.
In the future, Alisa would like to increase awareness by having her art displayed outdoors around the community. Until then, you can experience it on our 2nd floor and on her website, environmentalgraphiti.org.
