Cities across the United States are implementing innovative programs that combine artistic expression with practical heat relief measures, creating shade structures that both protect residents from extreme temperatures and educate communities about climate risks. These initiatives represent a growing trend as urban areas grapple with rising temperatures driven by human-caused climate change and seek creative solutions to communicate heat safety to their populations.
The inspiration for these programs often comes from personal experience with extreme heat. Sculptor Bobby Zokaites recalls his challenging introduction to Phoenix's brutal summers when he moved there in 2011. Walking the half-mile to his Arizona State University classes in triple-digit temperatures felt dangerous, forcing him to strategically navigate from one sliver of shade to another, resting wherever possible to avoid the scorching sun. "It was pretty crazy," he remembered. Those experiences directly influenced his current work as one of nine artists commissioned to bring shade to the Phoenix region through artistic installations.
Phoenix has emerged as a leader in combining art with functional shade structures in one of America's hottest cities. At Cielito Park, visitors can find relief under a large awning supported by panels painted with vibrant colors featuring whimsical alebrijes from Mexican folk art. The structure incorporates practical elements like a solar-powered misting system to provide additional cooling. Another installation at Sunnyslope Park features a decorative canopy adorned with colorful drawings, constructed using reflective paint and ultraviolet-resistant canvas to maximize protection from the sun's harmful rays.
These temporary public art installations are developed with significant community input and unveiled during special events that combine cultural celebration with heat safety education. Each unveiling includes informational sessions about shade and heat safety, along with the distribution of free cooling towels and sunscreen to attendees. "The more you know and the more you can recognize your own body's response, the better you can take care of yourself," explained Carrie Brown, deputy director for Phoenix's office of art and culture.
The artistic approach to shade creation is supported by scientific research showing that aesthetic appeal can enhance the cooling effect people experience. David Hondula, Phoenix's director of heat response and mitigation, emphasizes that "shade can be much more than functional. It can enrich our public spaces." A study co-authored by Hondula found that people rated aesthetically pleasing bus stops as feeling cooler than less attractive ones. Similar research from Hong Kong suggested that people demonstrated higher heat tolerance when they perceived their environment as quiet and beautiful.
The need for creative heat mitigation strategies is urgent in Phoenix, which has averaged more than 115 days annually with temperatures exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit over the past decade. Scientific studies demonstrate that shade significantly reduces both air and surface temperatures while decreasing the intensity of heat that people experience. In such extreme conditions, access to cooling shade can literally mean the difference between life and death for vulnerable residents.
Other cities are adapting similar approaches to their local climate challenges. In Cambridge, Massachusetts, a city more accustomed to harsh winters than extreme heat, a project called "Shade is Social Justice" uses creative installations to communicate heat dangers and safety measures. One notable installation features hanging flowers that automatically open when temperatures reach 85 degrees Fahrenheit, serving as a visual signal for people to seek water and shade for cooling, according to Claudia Zarazua, the city's art and cultural planning director.
Advanced technology is playing a crucial role in measuring the effectiveness of these shade art installations. Arizona State University doctoral student Muhammad Abdullah recently deployed an sophisticated mobile weather station called MaRTy 3D to study conditions at a shade art installation in Phoenix's Cielito Park. The device measures temperature, humidity, wind, and radiation levels while estimating the physiological impact on human bodies in both shaded and sunny conditions.
The data collected by MaRTy 3D reveals dramatic differences between sun and shade exposure. Abdullah's measurements showed that moving from direct sunlight to shade dropped the mean radiant temperature from approximately 145 degrees Fahrenheit to 88 degrees Fahrenheit. While core body temperature remained relatively stable, skin temperature decreased immediately upon entering shade and rose again when returning to direct sunlight. This technology allows researchers to collect real-time data in potentially dangerous heat conditions without putting human subjects at risk.
Jennifer Vanos, an associate professor at Arizona State University who studies heat's impacts on human health, explains that MaRTy 3D's ability to model how different people regulate body temperature is unique in the field. The device can simulate the skin and core temperature responses as well as cardiac strain experienced by elderly individuals or people taking specific medications. Researchers use these findings to make evidence-based recommendations to city officials about optimal shade placement and design.
Beyond creating shade, some projects focus specifically on highlighting inequitable access to heat relief across different communities. Edith de Guzman, a cooperative extension researcher at the University of California, Los Angeles, has spent years studying methods to increase shade access in communities most severely impacted by extreme heat. Her research with colleagues has quantified that adequate shade could prevent up to 25 percent of heat-related deaths in Los Angeles and reduce heat-related emergency room visits by up to 66 percent.
When the opportunity arose to curate an art exhibit addressing shade inequity, de Guzman and her husband created "Roots of Cool: A Celebration of Trees and Shade in a Warming World." The exhibit guides visitors through the past, present, and future roles of shade in Los Angeles using diverse media including textiles, paintings, mixed media installations, interactive maps, and suspended multicolored umbrellas. The goal extends beyond simply highlighting the problem to demonstrating that practical solutions exist for addressing shade inequity.
A particularly powerful installation by artist Leslie K. Gray invites visitors to consider the experiences of public transportation users across different time periods. The three-part piece features silhouetted women waiting at bus stops with varying amounts of shade available – none, minimal, or abundant. The accompanying bus stop signs include factual information about heat dangers, the benefits of shade, and the unequal access to cooling infrastructure across different neighborhoods.
The exhibit concludes in an interactive space filled with hundreds of postcards containing handwritten messages from visitors addressed to the past, present, or future. Visitors also create drawings showing how they would bring needed shade to bus stops in their communities. One particularly poignant message dated September 1st reads: "Dear people from the past. Take care of others among you. Take care of mother earth or we will be at fault for its destruction and ours. Sincerely – Someone (who's) watching the effects of our actions occur."
These innovative combinations of art, science, and community engagement represent a growing recognition that addressing climate change requires both practical solutions and effective communication strategies. As cities continue adapting to rising temperatures, the integration of aesthetic appeal with functional heat relief offers a promising model for protecting vulnerable populations while building community awareness about climate risks. The success of these programs demonstrates that creative approaches to serious environmental challenges can engage the public more effectively than traditional educational methods alone.
