Several local artists are among those whose creativity is being spotlighted on giant globe sculptures installed throughout Uptown Charlotte and beyond.

Cool Globes: Hot Ideas for a Cooler Planet is a free, outdoor public art exhibition featuring 35 globes, each sharing a simple way individuals or businesses can reduce climate change. These actions range from increasing energy efficiency in homes and purchasing products made with 100 percent post-consumer material to increasing recycling and greening urban landscapes.

The goal of the nationally recognized exhibition is to inspire participants to learn about small actions that can add up to large impact.

Seven of the globes were created locally by artists Norma Gely, Rosalie Grubb, Elisa Sanchez, Jackie London, Rosalia Weiner, Britt Flood, Max Dowdle and a group of students from Trinity Episcopal School.

Trane Technologies (NYSE: TT) and Discovery Place, in partnership with the City of Charlotte, officially opened the exhibition today. The primary exhibit space is located along North Tryon Street between Trade and East 11^th, with 31 globes spanning eight city blocks. The remaining four globes will be located at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, the U.S. National Whitewater Rafting Center, Truist Field and Camp North End.

“Cool Globes is a creative and unique educational opportunity for our community,” said Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles. “I urge everyone to visit the art exbibit and learn about small steps they can take to help make our environment more sustainable.”

In 2018, Charlotte was named a winner in the Bloomberg Philanthropies American Cities Climate Challenge. As a winning city, Charlotte received technical assistance and support valued at $2.5 million to implement the City’s strategic energy action plan and achieve their carbon reduction goals. So far, Charlotte has been able to advance a large-scale solar initiative, green workforce program and institute sustainable policies that will support the City’s transition to electric vehicles.

“We are excited to bring the exhibit to Charlotte, as the city has been a shining example of utilizing creativity and innovation to pivot toward a more sustainable way of life.” said Wendy Abrams, founder of Cool Globes, Inc.

Trane Technologies is the primary sponsor of the dynamic exhibit, bringing it to Charlotte through funds from the company’s charitable foundation and in collaboration with Discovery Place.

“Cool Globes is an engaging and experiential way to learn about environmental issues,” said Paul Camuti, chief technology and strategy officer for Trane Technologies, and incoming chairman of the board of directors for Discovery Place. “Keeping sustainability core to our strategy and being a good steward of natural resources is our every day at Trane Technologies. We’ve learned that knowledge is power and hope that the exhibit will educate and inspire our community to protect the health of our planet for generations to come.”

For Discovery Place, the exhibition is an opportunity to expand upon its organizational mission to make science learning accessible to everyone.

“The Cool Globes exhibition is an opportunity to showcase sustainability, along with the amazing talents of local and national artists, on a city-wide level,” said Catherine Wilson Horne, Discovery Place president and CEO. “This display also shares the important message of working together to create a better future for all.”

Other supporters of bringing Cool Globes to Charlotte include Local Artist Globe Sponsors: Charlotte Center City Partners, Bank of America, The Grubb Family, JP Morgan Chase, Lending Tree, Spectrum, the Springsteen Family Foundation, Samet, and an anonymous donor. Additional globe sponsors: Wastequip, Rodgers, Morgan Stanley, 525 North Tryon, Signature FD, Moore & Van Allen, Albemarle, Betsy Rosen and Liam Stokes, Foundation for the Carolinas, CATS, Charlotte Knights, and National Gypsum.

Cool Globes will be on display in Charlotte through the end of 2020.

The Cool Globes exhibition is an opportunity to showcase sustainability, along with the amazing talents of local and national artists, on a city-wide level. This display also shares the important message of working together to create a better future for all.”
Catherine Wilson Horne, Discovery Place president and CEO