“I hope that the effort behind this mural can perpetuate more conversations about climate change and offer more public programming that can benefit the community.”
— Victoria Martinez 2023
“Take the Risk to Cool Down”
Victoria Martinez urges New Haven to combat global warming with her most recent mural.
Positioned between a rusted door and a boarded-up window stood an abandoned garage door framed by brick. Parachute fabric draped over the space with painted stripes and bohemian hieroglyphs. At first glance, the mural might have been mistaken for graffiti. However, this vibrant creation is more than just art—it's a powerful message from Mexican-American artist Victoria Martinez, urging the city of New Haven to take bold steps in combating global warming.
Martinez, a distinguished artist with national and international exhibitions, has left an indelible mark with her latest masterpiece, "Take the Risk to Cool Down." Situated on the corner of Mill Street and Saltonstall Avenue in Fair Haven, just 1.6 miles from the Yale School of Art’s main building, the mural is a culmination of 12+ months of dedicated work by Martinez, collaborators across Yale, and Daniel Pizarro, the Communications Design Fellow for the project.
Mural title located on the bottom left corner
The site was carefully chosen by a committee of stakeholders across New Haven and the University, outside the Manufacturing and Community Technical Hub (MATCH)—a nonprofit providing comprehensive manufacturing training, mentorship, support, and jobs to the New Haven community. Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, on a recent visit to MATCH, highlighted how the mural's inherent creativity reflects the organization's innovative spirit.
What’s especially unique about the mural is that it not only visually represents the impact of global warming but actively contributes to mitigating its effects. A scientific aspect of the project involves the application of cooling paint to a portion of the mural closest to the ground. This cooling paint, designed for use on asphalt, aims to reduce the surrounding environment's heat during the hottest parts of the year. The effectiveness of this innovative approach was tested through thermal drones flown across the city. Yale University, in collaboration with Martinez, conducted comprehensive data collection before and after the application of the cooling paint. This scientific endeavor not only adds a layer of credibility to the artistic initiative but also serves as a pioneering example of merging art and science to combat climate change. The results of this experiment could potentially pave the way for novel solutions in urban planning to counter the rising temperatures associated with global warming.
MATCH building sign & Martinez explaining the mural’s symbolism to faculty from Yale’s School of Art
Martinez's journey in creating this mural began with painting on parachute cloth at the Osborn Memorial Lab on Science Hill. Assisted by a dedicated team, the design came to life in early September before being transported to MATCH at 20 Mill Street in Fair Haven. The mural's installation, a collaborative effort, took place within a week, showcasing the efficiency and passion behind the project.
"The inspiration behind the mural includes various threads," Martinez shared. "Part of the visual was inspired by warming stripes, which are a simple visual representation of the long-term rise in global temperatures due to human-caused climate change."
As an artist deeply engaged in climate issues, Martinez's mural not only symbolizes but actively addresses the impact of global warming. The central theme revolves around abstracted vegetation meeting the warm sphere of a red sun, containing lotería cards representing eco-friendly means of transportation—bicycles, boots, and buses. Each card intricately connects to CTtransit bus routes, emphasizing the integration of sustainable transport into daily life.
A closer look at the symbolism portrayed in Martinez’s mural
Inspired by images of the sun's changing color circulating the internet, particularly during the forest fires in Canada that affected New Haven's air quality, Martinez brought attention to the urgency of environmental concerns. Her personal experience of poor air quality during walks became the driving force behind the abstract plants in the mural, symbolizing hope for more green spaces and trees in Fair Haven.
The mural also includes a chevron pattern, a result of workshops hosted at the Fair Haven Library, emphasizing Martinez's fascination with textile research. This pattern, selected by a local elementary teacher, serves as a vibrant representation of Latin American and Caribbean art and motifs, reflecting the diverse and colorful community.
Martinez featured with her colleagues and supporters
Victoria Martinez's engagement went beyond the artistic process. Community gatherings, painting sessions, and collaborations resulted in the permanent installation of the chevron pattern in a community room at Junta For Progressive Action, fostering connections and conversations about climate change.
“I hope that the effort behind this mural can perpetuate more conversations about climate change and offer more public programming that can benefit both the community and Yale University,” Martinez expressed. "Take the Risk to Cool Down" is not just a mural—it's a conversation starter, urging New Haven to face the risks of climate change and cool down for the sake of a sustainable future.