The River Liver is an on-going investigation into the creation of constructed wetland sculptures that aim to raise awareness to water quality issues, water pollution and habitat loss. The sculpture’s plants act as a filter, becoming a form of productive and protective infrastructure that actively break down some of the identified pollutants in the water.
In 2008, the River Livers were placed in Stowe Lake in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. For this iteration, we chose to create an interactive artwork, which could be towed by paddle-boat, to seek out changes in levels of PH and other toxins in the water. An LED “traffic light” would respond to changes in water quality. Navigators were encouraged to cast a River Liver off at it’s new location, where it could attempt to remediate the lake. These illuminated the islands, experiment with translating water quality and a variety of other environmental data into coded light and color.
- Commissioning Agent: COCA Center for Outdoor Contemporary Art
- Site: Stowe Lake, Golden Gate Park
- Size of work: 20′ x 30′
- Media: Polyethylene foam, native wetland grasses, water quality sensors, LED lighting, paddleboats, public participation
