"Pure" Michigan

For my project, I wanted to focus on what climate change means for Michigan, both in the way it has impacted us and how we can fix these issues. My inspiration for this idea was the slogan "Pure Michigan," and the many commercials seen about this. We like to brag about being such a beautiful, natural state, and yet we have many of our own problems--including oil spills, invader species in the Great Lakes, and a changing climate that has affected a large amount of our daily lives.

To represent all of this, I am creating an art project that shows both the "pure" version of Michigan, as well as the reality. The pure version not only represents what our state used to be, but what we describe it as. The reality is where we are headed if we continue with our actions. However, it is in a circle, meaning we are able to get back to the pure version if we try.

This article from last August from the EPA details many of the effects that Michigan has and will experience. It details each area that Michigan brags about, including the Lakes, our snowy winters, a diverse ecosystem, and great agriculture. I like this article because it also briefly details the general cause of climate change, blaming humans. However, it does not specifically articulate things Michigan does that generates a large amount of climate change. I would like to next find an article that describes this.