Middle-school students are just beginning to recognize their place in the world. That is why this author believes it is important to incorporate their world into their art. In this article, the author discusses the "Tree of Life" project, which she developed for her students in order to make them aware of various environmental issues, and how to use their art to make a statement about them. This project provided students an opportunity to learn about a great artist, other cultures, and the environment. They used problem solving and critical thinking to integrate three concepts--Earth Day, Gustav Klimt, and the mythology of the tree of life--into one work of art. (Contains 3 online resources.)