– Survival Architecture by Katie Kehoe

Recently, during an artist residency at the Santa Fe Art Institute, I created a series of five portable wildfire shelters. These were created in direct response to the increase in wildfires resulting from climate change. And inspired by the understanding that a year before, NM experienced its largest wildfire in recorded history, when the Calf Canyon and Hermit’s Peak fires burned over 340,000 acres east of Santa Fe.

Taking inspiration from the wildfire shelters people who fight fires use, I derived of a material combination that achieves a similar textured and reflective surface. And conceived of design that is lightweight, portable and gives the appearance of protecting from heat, flame, and smoke exposure.

These are not functional wildfire shelters. And instead intended as sculptural objects engaging the viewer to question where we are at with respect to the climate emergency. Are we approaching a time when it will be necessary to carry these sorts of life saving devices around with us from day to day?

Additionally, I reflect on these shelters as examples of Survival Architecture, and use the term “survival architecture”, to describe sculptural objects I design and create that give the appearance of providing shelter and protection from the negative impacts of extreme weather.