Susan Altman: I am trying to walk a very delicate line and time will tell if I succeed or not in communicating the effects of climate change through art

MALDEN, MASS —Susan Altman, a mosaic artist based in Medford, Massachusetts, is deeply committed to environmentalism and has long been engaged in climate-related work before transitioning to full-time artistry. She was excited to learn that two of her pieces were accepted into Our Warming Planet: Visions of a Sustainable Future, as she has always sought opportunities to exhibit artwork that addresses climate change. However, she has found that exhibitions explicitly focused on this theme are rare. For her, this show represents a meaningful opportunity to contribute to the conversation on sustainability through her artistic practice.

Altman’s approach to climate-themed art is direct, yet she is mindful of how audiences engage with such topics. She acknowledges that many people resist being “preached to” and may disengage if they feel confronted or attacked. To navigate this, she strives to create work that is visually compelling and thought-provoking without being overtly didactic. Her goal is to strike a balance—ensuring that her message is clear without pushing viewers away. She employs a technique that allows people to engage on their own terms, using elements of humor or unexpected material choices to make her pieces more approachable.

For the exhibition, Altman submitted two works: Under Our Thumb and Golden Calf. Under Our Thumb is a mosaic of the Western Hemisphere, constructed from small pieces of glass, with a prominent thumbprint embedded within the design. The piece symbolizes humanity’s massive and detrimental impact on the planet. Golden Calf critiques the environmental consequences of industrial agriculture. The artwork features a cow inside a stark, sterile barn, its body composed of logos from major global meat production companies. The inclusion of gold elements alludes to the vast economic interests tied to the meat industry. Altman hopes viewers will initially find the cow amusing or visually engaging, but upon closer inspection, recognize the deeper commentary embedded in the piece.

Rather than developing rigid concepts in advance, Altman’s artistic process is more intuitive. She reacts to materials and discovers meaning as she creates, often realizing the full significance of a piece midway through its construction. Her ultimate aim is to prompt curiosity and reflection. She hopes that people will engage with her work on multiple levels—perhaps laughing at first, then questioning its elements, and eventually connecting the dots to the broader environmental themes.

By crafting pieces that are direct but not alienating, she seeks to encourage dialogue rather than confrontation. Altman acknowledges the challenge of changing minds on complex issues like climate change, recognizing that it is easy to deter people but difficult to shift their perspectives. With this in mind, she strives to create art that invites contemplation without demanding immediate agreement, walking a fine line between advocacy and accessibility.

Learn more about Susan’s work: http://www.glassandgroutarts.com/

References:

Creative Malden

Climate Action Plan (CAP)

CS Media Lab

mlab@saicollective.org

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