The new art exhibition at Descanso Gardens, entitled “Roots of Cool: Tree and Shade Celebrations in a Warming World,” explores the challenges of Los Angeles’ climate and urban equity through the lens of shady access and environmental justice. Co-curated by climate researcher Edith de Guzman and artist Jolie de Guzman, the exhibition brings together works that reflect social and spatial disparities in access to trees, shade and climate resilience. As Marcos Magaña reported, the exhibition begins outdoors with installations like Leslie K. Gray’s “Past Bus Stops.”
Within the gallery, the exhibition advances through a vision of the past, present and future of urban life and vegetation. In the “Past” room, artists such as Kim Abeles and Diana Kohne show the results of plans that focus on historical inequality in green infrastructure and efficiency rather than comfort. The “Gifts” gallery immerses visitors in the real heat of the city and features installations such as “Every Bench Deserves Trees.” Finally, the Future gallery imagines climate-responsive designs through works such as Suspended Garden.
Throughout the exhibition, visitors are invited to reflect on their experiences in the shade and participate in data collection on the fever and equity of the neighborhood. The show aims to bridge science and art to engage the nation emotionally and intellectually. As Edith de Guzman says, this crossroads approach helps people imagine the city they want and the city they want – shades are not privileges, but a right to be shared fairly across the community. The Roots of Cool will run until October 12th at the Sturt Haaga Gallery and Boddy House at Descanso Gardens.
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