On December 4th, 2023, artist Xavier Cortada and Adam Roberti, Executive Director of the Cortada Foundation, engaged hundreds of Miami Beach Senior High School students in implementing ‘The Underwater’ through interactive presentations and installations. Students learned about the human impacts on the climate, their vulnerability to rising seas, and actions they could take to involve the community in problem-solving. They then discovered their home’s elevation and drew that number on a yard sign. Joined by MDCPS Board member Lucia Baez-Geller, the students installed the elevation yard signs around the perimeter of the school. Facing the Miami Beach Convention Center, where the Art Basel art fair is underway, each yard sign represents the elevation of the property of each student — each sign is one voice, one home, one student, one future city of Miami Beach resident.”

*Part of the programming for this event was sponsored by the Miami Beach Education Fund.