Photography Series: Waste Water

April 5, 2024 Spire 2024 Issue

By Mariah Reading

 

A collection of painted litter and marine debris scattered throughout our Maine coastline. Through the extensive efforts of coastline cleanups, the Maine Island Trails Association has provided [Artist Name] with canvases ranging from a bike seat to a car door. All items were found within and around the Atlantic Ocean and repurposed into landscape paintings. 

 

 

No Drone Zone

Acrylic on broken drone/ digital print on watercolor paper

Drone found in Gulf of Maine by MITA volunteers. The Beehive, Acadia National Park, ME (Wabanaki Confederacy Land).  2023

 

 

Marshy Muck Boot

Oil on boot/ digital print on watercolor paper

Boot found in Gulf of Maine by MITA volunteers. Bass Harbor, ME (Wabanaki Confederacy Land).

 

 

Snowy Saw Blade

Acrylic on metal saw blade/ digital print on watercolor paper

Blade found in Gulf of Maine by MITA volunteers. Ship Harbor, Acadia National Park, ME (Wabanaki Confederacy Land).  2023

 

 

Coastal Car Door

Acrylic on car door interior/ digital print on watercolor paper

Door found in Gulf of Maine by MITA volunteers. Seawall, Acadia National Park, ME (Wabanaki Confederacy Land). 2023

 

 

Tidal Paddle 

Oil on canoe paddle found in the Gulf of Maine by MITA volunteers. 2023

 

Artist Statement

I have been contemplating my relationship with art and the vast amount of waste creating can produce. Classically trained as a landscape painter, I pivoted to eco art when the parallel between painting landscapes and feeding landfills became overwhelmingly apparent. The landscapes that so richly inspired me were being hurt by the waste I created in order to depict them. To rectify this unwanted connection, I have developed a zero-waste practice that involves creating canvases from debris found during my travels through National Parks and protected landscape environments. The physical pieces of trash are painted only on one side and intentionally left untouched on the reverse so the original piece of debris remains evident. Once completed, I photograph the painted object aligned with the physical landscape to both obscure and highlight the discarded object. My practice revolves around ways I can lessen my footprint upon Earth and leave it better than I found it.