View photos,* quotes, and links for “Heat BLOOMS,” a temporary art installation, August-September: *from two almost hot afternoons

“When temperatures top 85 degrees, the flowers of “Heat BLOOMS”—a new art installation in Cambridge’s Harvard Square—bloom, like a visual thermometer warning of extreme heat. Three consecutive 85-degree days or hotter are considered a high alert danger by the Cambridge Public Health Department.” ( Quote from Cambridge Arts News, 8/12/25)

“Visit “Heat BLOOMS” in Brattle Square, on Brattle Street, in Harvard Square. It’s designed by the Western-Massachusetts collective called Art for Public Good, which is led by UMass Amherst Associate Professor Carolina Aragón. The project team for Heat Blooms included architectural designer, Brynya Ablamsky, and UMass Amherst students, Nikolas Dombrowski, and Grace Kirkpatrick.” ( Quote from Cambridge Arts News, 8/12/25)

“Heat BLOOMS works as a visual thermometer. The flowers “bloom” when temperatures reach 85 degrees or higher. The flowers are made using a smart memory alloy wire. The wire remembers its original form, which has been designed to be in the “open” position. As the wire cools down it softens and the weight of the petals partially “close” the blooms.” (quote from Art for Public Good: Heat BLOOMS)

“The 67 “blooms” call attention to the number of heat-related 911 calls made in the City of Cambridge during the last 4 years.‘ (quote from Art for Public Good: Heat Blooms)

““Heat BLOOMS” is one of three temporary, innovative, public artworks that will be on display in Cambridge this summer as part of the City of Cambridge’s Shade Is Social Justice program.” ( Quote from Cambridge Arts News, 8/12/25)

IMPORTANT RESOURCES with valuable information, context, and photos:

Art for Public Good: Heat Blooms: https://www.artforpublicgood.com/work-1/heatblooms

“Art Installation’s Flowers ‘Bloom’ In Extreme Heat To Indicate Danger Of Our Warming World“,Cambridge Arts News, August 12, 2025: https://www.cambridgema.gov/arts/News/detail.aspx?path=/sitecore/content/home/arts/news/2025/08/heatblooms

UMass Amherst Team Brings Temperature Responsive Sculpture to Cambridge to Spotlight Extreme Heat Risks University of Massachusetts Amherst News, Aug 21,2025: https://www.umass.edu/news/article/umass-amherst-team-brings-temperature-responsive-sculpture-cambridge-spotlight-extreme