Aysha Rigby - 2021

She is Warmth

Some of the first words that come to mind when I think of my own mom are love, sacrifice, service, nurture, provide, hold, support, comfort, and above all, warmth. The Earth nurtures, provides, and sustains us similar to the way that a mother cares for her child. The terms “mother Earth” and “mother nature” are so fitting. I wrote the poem “She is warmth,” and designed this GIF to portray the warm nature of Earth, as well as the suffering of the Earth caused by the destructive behavior of the human race. People connect best to the stories of other human beings so I sought a more emotional appeal by personifying the Earth. I wanted to capitalize on the Earth being warm in a kind and inviting way, as well as the literal heat of global warming, to create more of a contrast between the warm nature of the Earth and the cold nature of humans. It is my hope that those who read the poem and look at the GIF will feel the appeal of the Earth and feel called to advocate for the Earth and start making the lifestyle changes necessary to become a part of the solution, rather than a part of the problem.