Final Project

I struggled with this one at first.  Though I wanted to do a very large and elaborate project at first, it took some time to come to that idea.  The initial idea was to incorporate one of my previously used themes of power, and the dichotomy of the box - the natural wood product but manmadeness of the glue around the seams.  I continued to stay with that idea until the very end. Though I am sure there were several spots that I could have improved upon, my final product was satisfactory and clearly delivered the message I wanted to deliver.

Public Art Drains

I chose to go with a topic that was not necessarily the positive image of the theme water.

This is a public art project highlight storm drains in downtown Meadville, Pennsylvania.  Human waste is a topic that is typically avoided, but one that needs to be brought to attention.  The theme of toxic waste was chosen to demonstrate to public and remind viewers how any polluting act can end up contaminating the water most important to the community.  In Meadville, people need to be aware that in the thousands of gallons of rainwater washed into French Creek every year, there are also molecules in solution, stemming from human activities that can be detrimental to this body of water.

For this design, the area on Chestnut Street, between North Main and Water Street was selected, making a total of eighteen drains to be highlighted.  To demonstrate this design, four of the drains were selected, located on Chestnut Street in Meadville, between Water Street and Market Street.  All of these drains are highlighted by painting on the sidewalk, the surrounding street and curbside, and the drain itself.  They each highlight a different aspect of the toxic waste theme.  Each drain should be assessed as an individual project first and foremost, as the drains are far enough apart to do so.  After the individual composition is assessed, the theme between all of the drains should be considered.

Toxic Waste -

The manhole cover is painted to resemble a drain pipe.  The pipe is leaking toxic waste, with mutated creatures and frothy bubbles on top of the puddle of waste

 Litter -

This drain has painted plastic cups, glass bottles, cans, cigarette packets and other miscellaneous waste is scattered to the side.  A slimy trash juice puddle overlaps the drain and litter.

Car Pollutants -

A car is painted onto the curb and sidewalk with exhaust gases spewing out of its tailpipe.

 Coal Plant -

The light post and streetlight pole are painted to resemble coal stack towers.  Coal is scattered around the drain, with a coal plant with smog painted on the curb and sidewalk.