Join us in celebrating Mia Mulvey’s Albedo Effect at an outdoor reception at BMoCA!

Albedo Effect is the result of Mulvey’s field research during The Arctic Circle Residency (2019) in Svalbard, Norway. The triad of ceramic sculptures are modeled from 3D scans of glaciers Mulvey generated while in the Arctic. The work is a visual representation of the effect of albedo, the measurement of the proportion of light a surface is able to reflect or absorb. As the glaciers warm, their reflectance reduces and their color darkens, which further accelerates the heating process because darker surfaces absorb more light. The feedback loop between glacial melting and global warming has implications that affect us across the globe.

The sculpture is affixed on top of three wooden pallets that signify the notion of time and transport, symbolizing the vast distance between the origin of the glaciers and its present installation site. During the creation of the piece, Mulvey periodically exposed the unfired clay to the outdoor elements, which created permanent imprints in the glazed clay and resulted in a sculptural piece that is a direct reflection of our local climate.

Presented in conjunction with Mia Mulvey: Albedo Effect in BMoCA’s InsideOut.

Image credit: Installation view of Mia Mulvey, Albedo Effect, 2023.