Recently various sculptures have been popping up around the Greater-Boston-Area that have inspired questions and intrigued onlookers. These sculptures are part of The Energy Necklace, a sustainable art and educational movement founded by Susan Israel. Principal and Founder of the Energy Necklace Project, Israel creates public works that inspire action and understanding regarding the environment at large.
In 2008, Israel decided that she wanted to create a positive change regarding how our culture faces the issue of Climate Change. “I wanted to do something to improve the environment that would have an impact beyond what I could do as an individual. I had been an architect for my entire career, and wanted to expand my influence beyond that role,” says Israel.
Israel earned an A.B. from Harvard College, a Master of Architecture from Harvard Graduate School of Design, and attended the Museum of Fine Arts School in Boston. Acting as both Founder and Principal, Israel began the project known as the Energy Necklace at studio2sustain.
“Energy Necklace” pays homage to Frederick Law Olmsted’s Emerald Necklace, the string of beautiful parks that surround Boston. “Envisioned to sustain a community a century into the future, the park system is a vital part of Boston nearly 150 years later, and the inspiration for our name,” explains Israel. In Israel’s words, the Energy Necklace Project serves “to connect a community that fosters awareness and action towards improving the health of our environment.”
Many other artists work on the project as well and their work can also be seen around the Greater-Boston-Area. If you happen to stumble upon one of these public works or the artists that created them then say something! These works are here to inspire a conversation regarding our planet and the community that we are all a part of.