Artist: Julia Feldman
Title: 44.6 degrees Fahrenheit (7 degrees Celsius). A Consequence of Redlining
Attribution: 44.6 degrees Fahrenheit (7 degrees Celsius). A Consequence of Redlining, 2021, Julia Feldman
Year: 2021
Materials: Repurposed wool, linen, silk, ribbon, hand embroidery
Dimensions: 5 x 37 x 2in
Image Statement: "Redlining" - the term for refusals to give loans or insurance to entire groups of people based on racially-motivated concerns for safety and investments. Redlining resulted in densely packed urban neighborhoods for Black residents, while White residents were allowed to purchase and live in more spacious neighborhoods. These densely-packed urban environments also have fewer green areas and more man-made materials that absorb heat, leading to "urban heat islands." In these locations - to this day primarily populated by people of color and people with low socioeconomic status - surface air temperatures have been measured up to 44.6F/7C higher than nearby neighborhoods populated by primarily White residents and people of higher socioeconomic status.