Precious Water
2010
Pier 62/63 on the Seattle waterfront Seattle Parks & Recreation,
Seattle “Big Print” Arts Grant
Cardboard, paint, staples, weather
1000 square feet
A site-specific art installation by Carolyn Law and Ellen Sollod was on view September 13- 23, 2010 at Seattle’s Pier 62/63. The temporary artwork unfolded over the course of 10 days. The site of the work, what became a transforming 1000 square foot image, was chose because it resided at the nexus of land and Puget Sound. Importantly, it could be seen from many populated vantage points: Pike Place Market, Victor Steinbrueck Park, the Alaskan Way Viaduct and offices and condominiums overlooking the pier as well as by people who walked the waterfront.
The constant evolution of changes to the artwork referenced the delicate status of the health of the water of Puget Sound. The artists believe that understanding the importance of the Sound and all water gives rise to a culture of caring. The goal was to encourage people to pause to consider the importance of clean water to the ecology of Puget Sound, and by extension, to their daily lives. Through genuine caring, we will steward what is so important to us. Without aggressive, direct action, on the part of government and the larger community to alter the process of environmental degradation of this important body of water – it will “disappear” as an environment that can sustain healthy life.
According to People for Puget Sound: “ Puget Sound’s health is our health– the key to our region’s quality of life, our economy and the legacy we leave our children and their children. But the Sound is in trouble. Together, we can protect and restore the Sound to health for future generations. Working together to make this happen is what People For Puget Sound is all about.”
Precious Water represented Law and Sollod’s response to this call to action.
