Published on August 12, 2025
Source: City of Cambridge
Cambridge, Massachusetts is getting crafty with its climate change initiatives, and “Heat BLOOMS”—an art installation in Harvard Square—is the latest addition to its Shade Is Social Justice program. According to a recent announcement, the installation features flowers that only open when the thermometer hits 85 degrees, a temperature the Cambridge Public Health Department marks as a high alert for extreme heat. These smart blooms, created by the collective Art for Public Good, use a memory alloy wired to react to temperature, essentially serving as a botanical heat indicator and a conversation starter about our warming planet.
The city-wide art program also includes other installations, like “Sun Block” in Jill Brown-Rhone Park, designed to provide shade and a respite from the blistering summer sun; and there’s another piece scheduled for Hoyt Field, with these artworks collectively highlighting the need for cooler community spaces and public engagement on climate issues. Funded initially by a $100,000 grant, the project’s purse has been bolstered by funds from the City of Cambridge and mitigation contributions from local developer New England Development, “Sun Block” stays put until this fall, no thanks to the relentless pace of climate change.
Designers and artists from the area were invited last spring to participate, and from 18 aspiring candidates, a panel of community members handpicked five based on their previous work and interviews—as per the details shared on the city’s official website. “Heat BLOOMS” is not just a decorative piece but part of a broader campaign to strengthen climate resilience in Cambridge, tying into other initiatives such as fossil fuel bans in large commercial buildings by 2035, electric vehicle charging programs, and better infrastructure for bikes and buses.
The team behind “Heat BLOOMS” collaborates closely with various stakeholders including the Harvard Square Business Association and local public health officials, all playing their part in a grander scheme that puts art at the forefront of climate activism and urban planning. Claudia Zarazua and Lillian Hsu lead this charge in Cambridge, alongside a multi-department project team, making up a strand of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council’s regional Resilience Community of Practice, which aims to cultivate better practices and clear the obstacles to environmental progress.
While art like “Heat BLOOMS” turns heads and starts discussions on the seriousness of heat waves, it’s also a crucial reminder that extreme heat packs more than just a punch—it can be downright dangerous. The city’s website urges residents to seek shade and hydrate regularly, because although Cambridge’s landscape may be changing with the climate, its commitment to keeping its citizens safe and educated remains steadfast.