I was selected to paint one of the 124 fiberglass 5-foot (diameter) globes.  Last October (2006) I was invited to create and then submit a design for this exhibit. Actually, I came up with two designs, submitted them both, and promptly forgot about the entire thing.  Then in January I received a formal rejection for one of the designs, with a notation explaining if I had more than one design the other one may still be under consideration.  In mid February, just after that information had drifted out of my mind, I received a contract and a schedule for the delivery of a globe.” 

My selected design is called “First We Scream Then We Act”.  One side has a background of brightly painted concentric circles. Over these circles in a black outline is a drawing of Edvard Munch’s famous, “The Scream”.  On the other side more bright colors outline and cover the continents looking a little like the jet stream.  Over this colorful pattern is an outline drawing of James Montgomery Flagg’s Uncle Sam, challenging us to act now. 

My goal, my hope is a call to arms for Americans.  When this great country decides to do something, we can’t be beat.  It’s time to decide to take on global warming and win.

In addition to faithfully reproducing my design, I was confronted with the basic logistics of dealing with a 5-foot object delivered in a colder than normal late February with a two-month deadline.  My studio doors are too small so the world was sent to our garage, which of course isn’t heated

Before the 200-pound globe was delivered, I used heavy plastic, white painters tarp and a staple gun to create a painting habitat.  This mini studio was complete with two space heaters, carpeting, a TV and a thermometer.  Most days it was warm enough to allow Dickens, the parrot to help with the project.  At least once a day my husband, Doug would slip a steaming cup of coffee under one of the plastic sidewalls.  All in all this was a pretty civilized project.