Through the Wire, Lowveld Fire II

Artist

Kim Berman (South African, b. 1960)

Date

2004

Medium

Lithograph

Dimensions

Sheet/image : 22 3/4 x 30 1/4 in. (57.78 x 76.83 cm)

Credit Line

Purchased with funds bequeathed by Roberta VanGilder '53 Kaye

Object Number

2020.1.1

Label

Climate change is caused by rising levels of carbon dioxide and other so-called "greenhouse gases" that trap heat in the atmosphere and make the planet warmer. As the planet warms, some regions will become wetter, leading to more serious storms and floods, while other regions will become drier, leading to increased numbers of wildfires and droughts. Lowveld is the Afrikaans term for the large wilderness areas composed of grasslands, scrub brush, and isolated trees that make up much of the interior of South Africa. Fire is a natural part of the lowveld ecosystem and helps maintain a healthy balance of plant and animal species. However, as the global climate warms and rainfall patterns change, wildfires in the lowveld—and in other wilderness ecosystems around the world—are becoming more frequent and more intense. This print by Kim Berman reminds us that wildfires will occur wherever there is fuel, regardless of any boundaries or settlements humans construct in the landscape.