It was a whirlwind of activity during the COP28 Climate Conference in Dubai, which took place in early December 2023. I was invited to participate as an Artist Delegate by the inaugural Entertainment & Culture Pavilion, which was led by Samuel Rubin.  Our pavilion was in the governmental Blue Zone where all the national pavilions and the main meetings and negotiations were located.  I arrived in late November so that there would be time to create the installations and help with set up.  I did two installations for COP28 , gave two talks and film screenings, and was also on a panel for the Nature Pavilion. Two blue climate justice saris were installed at the Entertainment and Culture pavilion, where I also did a performance for the inauguration of the conference.

I created a large installation of 10 green climate justice saris at Hope House, which was set up in a gallery in the Alserkal Arts District.  Hope House was outside the COP28 official zones and open to the general public.  I activated the Hope House space during their evening Climate Disco by setting up a climate counseling booth for young and old.  I also did a pop up climate sari workshop during other sessions at Hope House.

I was also invited to do a film screening, talk, and mini sari workshop at the Bangladesh Pavilion.  It was wonderful to participate in a panel discussion on how art can advance climate objectives, organized by the Nature Pavilion.  I met so many climate activists and leaders, including high school students and indigenous elders from around the world.   I was also interviewed and featured in the BBC live climate reporting.  It was reassuring to be with others who are similarly concerned about the state of the our planet. There was grief commingled with hope.