Ana Teresa Fernández

Behind the scenes… play & exploration.
Thank you @swissconsulate_sf for letting us come together to move & investigate what is possible with Babatunji & Charmaine.
This wasn’t a rehearsal as much as it was a first date with the space & the work. It’s my favorite to test the material and see how much one can stretch it. I get to jump in to collect visuals as the direction gets worked out.
#behindthescenes #art #climatechange #dance

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On May 7th, 2026 Babatunji Johnson and Charmaine Butcher performed amidst On the Horizon wearing Logos and Pathos. On the Horizon is the embodiment of scientific predictions of sea level rise.
Here we danced, mourned and celebrated her ; the ocean.
We mourned and raged for all the histories and languages that will wash away due to sea levels rising and for all the cultures that will cease to tell their stories, because we fail to protect her.
It is through art and rituals of regeneration that we attempt to restore her faith in us.

Logos (Humanity-Destruction) is a cage skirt made with 50 mop heads. The mop, being one of the most ubiquitous domestic and mundane item -collects and holds the weight and filth a place collects, embodying how we as humans are left to absorb the aftermath of our actions after climate destruction. Worn by Charmaine Butcher.

Pathos ( Civic-Construction ) is a cage skirt made from over 500 feet of high-vis reflective seams cut to 10 and 12 inch fringes. This material is ubiquitous to construction wear, representing the built human environment. Worn by Babatunji Johnson @babatunji

Thank you @amykisch for curating Hidden Currencies; Water Justice in the Age of AI in collaboration with @swissconsulate_sf .

#climatechange #sealevelrise #ocean #art #dance

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Mareas is a permanent public artwork situated at the pedestrian entrance of the James R. Herman Cruise Terminal Plaza at Pier 27. As the inaugural permanent archway along San Francisco’s Embarcadero waterfront, the sculpture was commissioned by the San Francisco Arts Commission in collaboration with the Port of San Francisco. @sf_port

Upon receiving the invitation to propose a design for the waterfront, I observed a significant historical absence of the arch form within the public art discourse on the Embarcadero. The three primary existing permanent works in the vicinity are characterized by a specific phallic and red aesthetic and were exclusively created by male artists.

As the first Mexican woman artist to be included in the permanent public art collection, I am honored to Diversify the conceptual and structural landscape and Include the OCEAN within the critical environmental dialogue.

From a structural perspective, Mareas represents a significant fabrication achievement by @onehatonehand. The “wave” composition consists of three arches engineered with nine distinct radii; specifically, each arch transitions between three different radii. The project required machine-curving and subsequent hand-welding to achieve the intended design, as it lacked a singular reference point for guidance. To facilitate drilling into the curved, circular pipes, a ten-foot support structure was engineered to stabilize the machinery. Following the initial puncture, 231 holes were drilled, each accommodating a unique flat rectangular tile shifting in shape along the pipe to create an illusion of curvature using precise spacing.
The three connecting pipes, while appearing perpendicular, are positioned at an 85-degree using a CNC five-axis laser to ensure a precise coup joint fit.

If I lost you, you are not alone. All to say, arches are among the hardest structures to implement and require mathematical wizards.
The apparent simplicity of the Mareas is technically deceptive, with zero tolerance for imperfections, any misalignment would be immediately discernible.

Gorgeous capture of material & light 🎥 by @cesarrubiophotography

#publicart #art #climate

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Thursday, May 7th at 6pm Babatunj and Charmaine will perform at the @swissconsulate_sf Swiss Consulate for Hidden Currencies; Water Justice in the Age of AI ; instigating a visual dialogue with On the Horizon.

It has been a long time coming… I have waited years to be able to connect and collaborate with Babatunji, knowing his range of movements, the ways he’d be able to breathe life into this work.

It was an instant click and what followed was a transformation of my garage into an energetic force field. Wait until you see them both on site! They themselves are a wave, carrying you through a story, built on gestures & movements.

I hope you can join us this Thursday and experience the performance live!

@babatunji is wearing Pathos; Civic (made from 500 yards of high vis material)

#art #dance #climatechange #metgala

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Celebrating Earth Day!!! I honor the planet with my commitment to work for water justice. 🌊🌊

On April 11th 2026, a large community met up at 1 Mission to help bridge 175 gallons of sea water across .7 miles on the Port to give life to On the Horizon. Over sixty folks joined us, across all ages and backgrounds, to harness the collective power & create this social sculpture. We were the water! We brought life to the future statistics that our sea levels will rise 6’ in the coming 50 years (or less) due to accelerated glacier melt.
On the Horizon stands with us, amidst us, as our future.
Thank you @swissconsulate_sf & curator @amykisch for your courage & force in creating Hidden Currencies; Water Justice in the Age of AI . And allowing me to be part of the conversation.
Filmed by @minoosh_z
#climatechange #art #sealevelrise #waterjustice #earthday

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𝙎 𝙊 𝙎 – Chicago
On April 11th, 2026 hundreds of participants gathered along the extensive shoreline of Lake Michigan, framed by the dramatic skyline of towering skyscrapers encircling the lake. A social monument displayed the message: S O S, three dots three dashes three dots. This is the internationally recognized distress signal appealing for assistance. Our collective voice spoke on behalf of the environment. Individuals of all ages and backgrounds stood together in solidarity, speaking for one of the planet’s most ancient bodies, the water of Lake Michigan. Each person represented a single drop of water. As Rumi articulated, “there is an ocean in every drop.”

We stood cheering with optimism, demanding greater stewardship for our bodies of water, our environment, our people, our neighbors, and our planet. Moments of creation on this scale foster our resolve. The term “courage” originates from the Latin word “cor,” meaning heart. Courage historically signified “to express one’s mind by conveying one’s heart.” Our sincere gratitude is extended to all who participated and expressed their conviction with their hearts.

𝙎 𝙊 𝙎

Lake Michigan, the primary source of hydration for over 10 million individuals across Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana, is experiencing an annual reduction of four inches of water (equivalent to 3.2 trillion gallons). We must move toward taking decisive action to care for our most foundational bodies.

Our sincere appreciation is extended to the @explorenmma National Museum of Mexican Art for their partnership in this undertaking and to their exceptional team, which significantly contributed to the successful realization of this substantial project.

Thank you, Guadalupe Garcia @the.ant.project for your counsel, encouragement, affection, and steadfast hope.

Thank you to our exceptional pilot & editor 🎥 @jaimeortega_1

"This installation was created with the support of Laguna Art Museum, Laguna Beach, California." @lagunaartmuseum

#sos #climatechange #chicage #nmma #socialmonument

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Gracias @telemundo por invitarnos!!!
Y gracias @explorenmma por el gran trabajo de crear esta exposición juntos con @guadalupe.garcia.m !
Que honor y orgullo !
#underpressure

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