Sadie Leveque's "Borrowed Time"

"Living in a coastal town, it's almost impossible to ignore climate change. From the increasing frequency and severity of hurricanes and tropical storms and the flooding that comes along with them, to the more long-term threat of sea-level rise, climate change dominates local news headlines as well as everyday conversations. According to sea-level prediction maps, large portions of my town, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, are likely to be underwater within the next hundred years - and even earlier for some parts. I've lived here all my life; I know every backroad, every secret spot, every beach, every park, and the idea of losing this special place is extremely painful to think about. When I was brainstorming for this project, I found and printed historical photographs from my town in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Clippings of these pictures, depicting homes, people, and maps - evidence of the village’s history - are collaged onto the drawings, marking a connection to Woods Hole’s past. I specifically utilized the image of a house throughout this piece because the idea of home is something that everyone feels some sort of connection to: by placing a “safe” image, like a house, somewhere “unsafe” such as underwater, or on wobbly stilts above water, I sought to evoke emotion and create an engaging, unusual piece of artwork. The placement of the collaged photographs was also highly intentional. From the young couple outside of the underwater house to the images on the roofs of the partially submerged houses, these reminders of Woods Hole’s past are in danger of being lost forever. This town is small - only 700 people live here year round, and is only one of the many places around the world being affected by climate change - and that makes me think: if sea levels do continue to rise, what will happen to Woods Hole? Though I’m worried about climate change and part of me thinks it’s inevitable, another stronger part knows that we still have time to turn things around and prevent irreversible damage to the environment. I believe that one of the best ways to make change is to spread awareness, and art is a perfect way to do so. From film to photography to fine arts to graphic design and digital art, people have used art to enact change for most of modern history. As someone interested in illustration, my studies and experiences at Parsons would enable me to make posters, zines, or infographics to spread information about the climate crisis and help people find ways to enact change.“

·       Materials Used: Colored pencils, ink, and collage on paper