About the Exhibition

The idea for Earth Day Special: Sugar Coated originated from the book Before it’s Gone: Stories from the Frontline of Climate Change in Small-Town America by Jonathan Vigliotti. In the book, Vigliotti explains the story of John Mercer. Mercer sounded the alarm in the 1960s that the glaciers were melting at a startling pace due to the increased CO2 levels in the atmosphere. What happened next wasn’t a call to action to fix the problem. Instead, people spat in his face, called him an alarmist, and took away his funding. This set a precedent. Tell the complete truth of climate change, and you will become a pariah. As Vigliotti puts it in his book, this caused scientists to “sugarcoat” their findings leading to decades of sugar-coated and “easier” data for people to swallow. The story of John Mercer begs the question: how do you get people to listen to abstract and apocalyptic issues? In my artworks, I use glitter and flashy colors as “sugar” to tempt the viewer to take a bite and look deeper into dire issues.

The glitter holds another purpose as well. It is my way of screaming for attention for my artwork and its messages. The online landscape dominates the average life of a person, and clicks and views drive the internet. This leads to an online culture where whatever can outrage, shock, or disgust the most receives the most attention, often at the cost of content and the truth. How is a stationary, singular artwork supposed to compete with the nonstop content made for people to engage no matter the cost? I don’t know, but I hope that the flashiness and glitter may give pause for the viewer so they may spend even the briefest moment with physical work.

Sabrina Kliza

Sabrina Kliza is an emerging artist located in Metro Detroit. She graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in Art and Design and a minor in Environmental Studies. Her artwork has been exhibited at Artprize in Grand Rapids, Embracing our Differences in Ann Arbor, and at the Edsel and Eleanor Ford House. In 2025, her first solo exhibitions will occur at the Ann Arbor Art Center and CYNK Studios in Ypsilanti.

Sabrina’s artwork is a combination of object and painting inspired by decorative arts and historic jewelry. It explores contemporary color and material through holographic glitters, chromatic paint, and plastic modeling paste. She aims to tackle the question of how to package, frame, and convey information on climate change and other contemporary issues.

Opening Reception

Saturday, April 12th 6-8 pm

Ann Arbor Art Center
117 W. Liberty St., Ann Arbor

Join us for the opening reception of Sabrina Kliza’s show in the Spotlight Gallery on the 2nd floor of the A2AC.

Free