Heat Blooms is a climate art project installed in Cambridge’s Brattle Square that alerts viewers to extreme heat’s effects on local communities through a striking display of handcrafted, heat-activated flowers that inspire curiosity, cultivate empathy, and spark dialogue.
The piece was designed and executed by UMass Amherst Associate Professor Carolina Aragón, architectural designer Brynya Ablamsky, and their Art for Public Good team in collaboration with UMass Amherst students and design and engineering firms across New England. The project’s kinetic sculpture acts as a visual thermometer by using smart memory alloy wires that react to temperature changes. The wires hold the colorful, vinyl flowers in bloom when the temperature in Cambridge rises above 85°F, which the Massachusetts Department of Public Health considers a “High Threat” when for communities that experience this temperature for three days.
As the flowers transform throughout the day, Heat Blooms invites the public to witness what is happening in their environment and to reflect upon climate change’s effects on everyday lives. This project was commissioned by the City of Cambridge’s Shade is Social Justice program. The installation will be on display in Brattle Square in Cambridge until September 28, 2025.
Watch the video below to learn more about Heat Blooms from its opening reception on Saturday, September 7th at Brattle Plaza.
For more coverage on "Heat Blooms," please visit CBS News Boston.
