Jill Mullins Springstead Creek downstream of Koppers Superfund Site (Chemicals found in high concentrations: arsenic, chromium, copper, and varieties of carcinogenic, mutagenic, teratogenic dioxins)

Jill Mullins Newnans Lake (Algal blooms due to nitrogen and phosphorus runoff have led to decreased biodiversity and 90% domination of fish population by one species)

Jill Mullins Tumblin Creek (Consistently high levels of fecal coliform bacteria due to pollution and roadway runoff in this urban creek)

The strategy represented in “Snapshots of the Floridan Aquifer” involves abstracting images of local impaired waterways. The second layer of this strategy takes place in the text of the titles, which name the location and its ailment. The images are large and striking in color, inviting and enticing; they encourage the viewer to spend time with them. But the titles name ugly problems we tend to not want to spend with and serve to highlight the extensive water quality issues with our local waterways. Together, title and image paint a picture of an invisible problem.

-Jill Mullins

Melanie Richards Superfund Memories

Melanie Richards Superfund Memories

Melanie Richards Superfund Memories

I wanted to take advantage of how personal hazardous sites can become when we look on a list and see several Superfund sites in our hometowns, which we may have thought of as too small to be running much of a risk of contamination. I’d like to see how people respond to the condition of their cities—are they surprised, or did they expect to see the number of contamination sites they found on the list? What happens when people can see really how closely they live to Superfunds? Shock? Anger? Hopelessness? Or apathy?

-Melaine Richards

Mirelle Majas Untitled

Mirelle Majas Untitled

Mirelle Majas Untitled

The Cabot-Koppers Superfund Site in Gainesville has been the subject of worry and discussion in our Art & Ecology class for the majority of this semester. After delving into more research on the matter, an idea for my project sparked. I was trying, with much difficulty, to read through the chemical substances listed as “contaminants of concern” for the site, when I decided to focus on the ground water pollutants. I would examine and experiment with the rainbow color effect created on the ground by motor oil and water. In an attempt to comment on the ironic beauty of this effect, I spelled out the chemical formula representing three of the chemical substances (Dimethylphenol, Benzofluoranthene, and Acenaphthylene). On the asphalt of a parking lot, I drew the outlines of the formula using black puff paint. Once dry, the outlines would act as boarders containing any liquid they would gather. I diluted just enough motor oil in water and carefully, using a dropper, placed the water mixture into the letter formations. I wanted the overall arrangement of the photo to seem natural and subtle. I tried to make it look as if the water just happened to collect in such an exact way, that it would “spell out” the dangers of its chemical contents. Even though it was difficult to capture the sun hitting the water just right, so that the rainbow effect showed up on the photo, I proceeded to take as many varying photos as possible. From these photos, I cropped multiple square glimpses of the whole. For each collage, I found four squares that in some way fit together, which I then reflected and flipped to create quite hypnotic and abstract arrangements.