Sculpture designed to provoke thought about water
in Subject: Science, American History, Government, Earth Science, The Arts, Social Studies, Environmental Science, Visual Arts
Age Level: K-2
Key Term: Environmental Issues, Legislation, Water Conservation, Floods and Drought, Geography
Story Type: In the News
Topic: Water, Geography
Age Level: K-2
Key Term: Environmental Issues, Legislation, Water Conservation, Floods and Drought, Geography
Story Type: In the News
Topic: Water, Geography
The newly developed CityCenter community in Las Vegas, Nev. recently added a piece of environmental art to its fine art collection. The 87-foot long, 3,700 pound sculpture hangs horizontally from steel cables above a registration desk. The sculpture depicts the Colorado River, complete with its meanders and swells at Lake Powell and Lake Mead. The sculpture was also made with environmentally conscious materials, being cast in reclaimed silver. It is aptly named "Silver River."
The sculpture’s artist, Maya Lin, reflects on her work by saying "Water is going to become more and more of a debate. I’m asking people to take a look at the natural world around them." Las Vegas’ major source of water is the Colorado River and with increasing droughts and demands for water, there is substantial concern that there will not be enough water to sustain the city in coming years.
This infusion of art and environmental consciousness is one of Lin’s trademarks. Growing up in Athens, Ohio during the 1970s, she was exposed to environmental issues at an early age. In 1969, the Cuyahoga River, located in Ohio, caught on fire as a result of its heavily polluted waters. This initiated a massive public response, making Ohio the focal point of national environmental awareness and legislation that would follow. In addition to her artistic pursuits, Lin also sits on the board of the Natural Resources Defense Council.
Her other environmental projects include "Storm King Wavefield," an environmental reclamation project at the site of a former gravel pit in Mountainville, N.Y. For this project she created waves in a field by forming earth and grass mounds. Her more recent work, "What is Missing," is a multisite international project that focuses on habitats and species that are extinct or disappearing and provides information on ways to help protect the environment. The main element of the project is a giant megaphone that plays the sounds of endangered species.
Related Resources:
Using the Landscape to Create Works of Art (Visual Arts, The Arts)
Fractals in Nature and Art (Visual Arts, The Arts, Geometry, Algebra I, Mathematics)
Representations of the Natural World in Art (Visual Arts, The Arts, Social Studies, Language Arts)
Photo: Sam Morris, Las Vegas Sun
