Chantee Benefield‘s “CoolCanopy” (2025) is among the pieces in the exhibition on trees and benefits of shade. (photo courtesy of Chantee Benefield)

Descanso Gardens presents “Roots of Cool: A Celebration of Trees and Shade in a Warming World” from July 12-Oct. 12.

The vibrant new indoor-outdoor exhibition curated by Edith and Jolly de Guzman spotlights the vital role trees play in climate resilience and urban livability. The show invites visitors to reflect on “shade equity,” the idea that access to cooling shade is not distributed equally across communities.

“When Descanso issued a curatorial call on the theme of trees, we were thrilled to apply and propose the topic of shade equity,” said Edith de Guzman, a cooperative extension climate researcher with the UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation. “Even with all of the good intent to improve the livability of neighborhoods in a warming climate, it is clear that the challenges to providing life-protecting benefits of trees and shade remain very significant.”

Featuring work from more than a dozen artists, the exhibition blends visual art, music and storytelling into a multi-sensory exploration of the past, present and future of shade in Los Angeles. Installations span from historical reflections on discriminatory planning policies to forward-looking, community-centered visions of cooler, greener neighborhoods.

“Everyone has experienced this theme viscerally,” the curators said. “We decided to slow things down … through the lens of art, in a manner that would enable people to tap into something they are already familiar with – but through an aesthetic, heart-first approach.”

Installations across the gardens include imaginative bus stops highlighting public shade disparities, suspended repurposed umbrellas as tree canopy metaphors and a “forest” of future-facing love letters encouraging reflection and action. A parallel indoor show in the Sturt Haaga Gallery and the Boddy House presents visual and musical works that guide visitors through the layered relationships between trees, equity and climate resilience. Artists include Robin Lasser, Leslie K. Gray, Chantée Benefield, Valerie Daval, Kim Abeles, Victoria Arriola, Pascaline Doucin-Dahlke, Cidne Hart, Diana Kohne, Lisa Tomczeszyn, Lois Keller, Sarita Zaleha, Yarn Bombing Los Angeles and Shoshana Ben-Horin.

One of the exhibition’s poignant works comes from Benefield, who rebuilt her piece after losing the original artwork and family home in the Eaton fire.

“This was a brutal reminder of why we are taking on the topic of shade equity,” the curators said. “Disasters like the devastating fires of January 2025 produced images that will forever be seared into our collective consciousness. Extreme heat is an invisible disaster, but it kills more people than all other weather disasters combined. Shade is a way to counter that disaster and make our neighborhoods livable.”

Visitors are encouraged to participate in hands-on activities and learn how to improve shade equity in communities. A special opening reception for “Roots of Cool” will be held on Friday, July 11.

Descanso Gardens is located at 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintridge. For information visit descansogardens.org.