Jo Campbell Artist
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Small Steps, Monumental Task - Nelson 2010 

This year’s World Environment Day theme is, “Your Planet Needs You – Unite to Combat Climate Change.” The installation plays on this theme by creating a temporary monument to Climate Action Heroes – people in Nelson who are already taking steps towards the monumental task that lies ahead: 40% Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020.

120 brightly painted heart shaped stones, encased in ice, are placed in a pyramid shape on the steps of Nelson Cathedral. They serve as a fast-forward monument to climate heroes, here and around the world. They also mark this critical point in history (this decade) when we still have the opportunity to do something about climate change. They urge our government to seal the deal in Copenhagen – the crucial United Nations climate change talks in December 2009.

Is it a melting ice-berg or one of the pyramids? Actually it’s both. Yes we face the melting of the ice caps and the catastrophic impact this will have on our children (and ourselves). But we are also facing the chance to do something incredible: To be the best we can. The Egyptians will always be remembered for their incredible building of the pyramids. What will our generation be remembered for? For sitting back and letting climate change happen? Or for uniting together to combat climate change?

The hearts in this piece represent our capacity as humans to respond to great adversity with courage, compassion, tenacity and vision – to respond from the heart. As the hearts melt out of the ice they represent melting away the distractions that keep us from acting to save the planet. We melt away our fear of failure, our apathy, our denial and we begin to engage. 


See photos of installation