New York Landmarks Glow with Indigenous Laughter and Climate Warnings
During Climate Week, New York’s cityscape transforms as Jeffrey Gibson’s vibrant art takes over iconic landmarks. Gibson, a trailblazing artist of Choctaw and Cherokee heritage, brings The Spirits Are Laughing—an 11-minute animated projection—out of the gallery and onto public facades like Union Square and the Brooklyn Bridge.
This immersive work weaves together Indigenous kinship, environmental awareness, and evocative text, inviting viewers to rethink their relationship with the living world. Originally crafted for The Hudson Eye festival, the piece now amplifies its message across the city, coinciding with the Creative Time Summit, a global gathering focused on land, property, and catastrophe.
Gibson’s installations don’t just beautify—they urge a reciprocal care for the environment, echoing traditions that see land as a living partner, not a passive backdrop. When art lights up the city, it’s not just spectacle—it’s a call to listen, reflect, and act.
#IndigenousArt #ClimateWeekNYC #PublicArt #Culture
