Mario Rivera
Mario Rivera is a visual artist and dancer, and a resident curator at the RioChante Cultural Center in Monteverde, Costa Rica. Mario’s creativity and artistic generosity can be encountered regularly throughout this tiny cloud forest community in the form of his many public murals and art projects, and the regular performances and classes that he holds for residents. In November Mario donated his time and talents to design the Carbon Removal Leadership Act logo.
Mario Rivera is a visual artist and dancer, and a resident curator at the RioChante Cultural Center in Monteverde, Costa Rica. Mario’s creativity and artistic generosity can be encountered regularly throughout this tiny cloud forest community in the form of his many public murals and art projects, and the regular performances and classes that he holds for residents. In November Mario donated his time and talents to design the Carbon Removal Leadership Act logo.
How did you wind up linking up with OpenAir and working on the CRLA logo?
Over the last few years I have tried to offer a good part of my time, energy and art in ways that benefit the community where I live, Monteverde; but also different causes that I care about and that align with my values. And definitely this includes a variety of social causes, as well as ecological and climate related ones. OpenAir’s work to me represents a union of these different priorities. I found out about the community from Chris Neidl, one of OpenAir’s co-founders who lives here in Monteverde.
What inspired the logo design, and what was your creative process like?
Probably what inspired me the most was to learn how we as species are now becoming capable of removing carbon in new ways in addition to those existing ways that nature already has to offer. We are going to have to adapt and combine all of these processes in our approach in so many different ways that will have to add up in a big way, fast. So when I was thinking of different design ideas I was thinking of the cumulative flow of all of these different approaches – both natural and made or enhanced by humans – all combining and working together in one big emissions reversal. The design is meant t visually represent that reversal.
Were you familiar with carbon removal before you connected with OpenAir?
I was, but only in a very basic, general way. Being a Tico (i.e. Costa Rican) and now living in the Cloud Forest area of my country, I had already researched and directly experienced the significance of tropical forests in Latin America, both as a vital ecosystem but also as a carbon sink. Through OpenAir I have started to learn more about the broader set of existing and potential carbon removal approaches that are being researched and explored.
Are there other OpenAir activities that you plan to contribute to in 2022?
No plans yet, because I just joined. But I’m definitely excited to learn more and explore options. There seem to be so many!
