MSLK’s Watershed project installed on Governor’s Island
As designers we feel compelled to use our talents towards helping the public visualize and comprehend complex information. Recently we, at MSLK have become keenly interested channeling those skills to help people understand the effects of society’s mass consumption of plastic. It seems that the things that are most transient such as disposable bags, silverware, applicators, packaging and bottles are made from plastic, a material that is very enduring.
However, whether out of complacency, lack of information, or confusion, the general public hasn’t taken to condemning these practices.
MSLK conveyed their message by visualizing our immense plastic consumption
We believe that one area where we can quickly and succinctly eliminate the need for additional plastic waste it is in our consumption of plastic water bottles. In an effort to help the public visualize this issue and inspire change we created a graphic statement on a grand scale. Our solution, “Watershed”, an eco-art installation made out of 1500 plastic water bottles, the equivalent of one second of US consumption, was recently exhibited at the Figment Art Festival on Governors Island in New York City.
The installation will also be exhibited again this September 25-27 at the Dumbo Arts Festival.
These facts helped to bring home the weight of the issue
Whether “Watershed” was experienced at a distance or up close, the impact of its message was monumental. 42 strands, each 12 feet in length, swayed suspended from the branches of an immense oak tree and created a forest of bottles that viewers could walk through and interact with. Facts such as: “17 million barrels of oil are used in the production of bottled water each year” and “Despite recycling programs, 80% of water bottles are still thrown away” hung from the bottom of the strands. The combination of the colossal visual and the compelling facts behind it expressed the severity of the issue at hand, and sought to get participants to shed the urge to buy bottled water in hopes of bettering our environment and ourselves.
Watershed allowed for people to interact and take in the volume of consumption
This installation is MSLK’s second eco-installation, visualizing these alarming statistics. Last year, our installation, 2663 Urban
Tumbleweeds featured 2663 plastic shopping bags linked together in a 1/2 mile chain that also visualized one second of US consumption. As a result of the exposure from the installation, several of our friends, fans, and colleagues made significant changes to their behavior switching to reusable canvas totes. In addition, cities, states, and countries passed many plastic bag reform policies in 2008. We hope that Watershed will cause similar reform for bottled water practices and policies. Just today a town in Australia was the first in the world to pass a ban on bottled water. Now that’s progress!
But the tap water on Governors Island is non-potable. Sometimes you need bottled water. Sometimes.
When planning to bring water to an event, or an island, we suggest bringing a reusable bottle. It’s more economical and studies show, better for you. At Governor’s Island, Watershed offered a water bottle refilling station complete with potable water we brought out in advance.
Great point though!
I hate to buy bottled water, but also use reusable battles, but I was just very thirsty on The Island and had to buy some because I thought there would be fountains.
Where is the potable water you bring over to the Island?. I will be going back and would like to use it.
Also the Water Taxi hot dog and hamburger stand sell soda on tap. I wonder where they get there water. I drank some and I am still alive.
Sadly our installation, and the water bottle filling stations, are no longer there.
Funny story, while scouting the location for Watershed, I actually refilled my personal water bottle from the tap on Governors Island. I didn’t know that the water wasn’t potable, I drank it and survived. I later found out they have installed a filtration system and are working on making it potable, they just haven’t passed the quality standards test yet.