ARTIST STATEMENT: Clean Water
by JENNIFER LYNN BATES
What is CLEAN WATER access?
CLEAN WATER = Drinking + Sanitation + Hygiene Zimbabwe is one example of over 100 countries worldwide struggling to provide clean water access. According to UNICEF in 2015 only 45.29% of Zimbabwe’s population has access to clean water.
What is CLEAN WATER (a piece of art)?
This installation is in the shape of a section of the Zambezi River in Zimbabwe, found using Google Earth. This piece of art is composed of 1,955 reused water bottles. 886 various shades of blue bottles represent the 45.29% of Zimbabweans that have access to clean water. The remaining 1,069 black, brown, and gray bottles represent the 54.71% of Zimbabweans with no or limited connection to clean water.
What does the river represent?
In film, music, literature, and religion, the river represents life and freedom.
Two drifters, off to see the world
There’s such a lot of world to see
We’re after the same rainbow’s end,
waitin’ ‘round the bend
My huckleberry friend, moon river, and me
Moon River by Johnny Mercer & Henry Mancini
Chased by both men and dogs, the three run toward the river and at last arrive at their raft. Everybody’s glad to be safe and free...
The Adventures of Hucklberry Finn
Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’
John 7:38
Who was involved?
Hawkeye Honors students 2017/18 - Kyla Leliefeld, Sarah Mangrich, Amanda Miller, Lindsey Taylor
Jenny Hirschman - Kingsley Elementary art teacher + Kingsley Elementary art students
Cub Scout Pack 17
Hawkeye Community College - Graphic Communications, Digital Mass Media, and Professional Photography students and faculty