Halloween is quickly approaching as I’m writing this, but so are the midterm elections. This time of year shows that ghosts aren’t the only scary thing — so is not showing up to vote. Residents of Lowell, Massachusetts seem to understand this memo as well. Halloween skeletons are usually meant to scare us, but in a new outdoor art installation in Lowell, artist Christina Cervantes uses them to explore a different kind of fear: climate change.

“Not Dead Yet” is a temporary art installation featuring oversized skeletons, atmospheric lighting, music, and signage to tell a story about ecological damage, grief, and hope. The showcase unfolds in three acts, starting with a sense of danger and environmental loss, moving to recognizing what we currently value, and ending with an invitation to protect and restore the living world.

The installation asks viewers to consider their own choices regarding the environment and how they can contribute to it’s restoration. Cervantes, the artist, who is also a former environmental chemical engineer, states; “Climate change is scary, but we’ve solved scarier problems together before. I wanted to create something that acknowledges what we’re losing while reminding people that there’s still so much worth protecting, and so much more we can do.” Even though the project is just up for Halloween, Cervantes hopes to continue exploring environmental themes through future artworks.

So, as the Halloween season comes to a close, instead of checking candy for needles, you should check if you’re registered to vote. Voting is a great benefit to many, especially when everyone does it. Climate change is just one of the many pressing issues currently, but certainly an important one.

Thank you for reading and happy Halloween and midterms!

-Phaedra