2007

Commissioned by UNT Art Gallery, University of North Texas, Denton. Supported by a grant from the Andy Warhol Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts. Curated by Diana Block and Regine Basha.

Of all the wonders in the world, water is unquestionably the most essential, arguably the most spectacular and often the most enigmatic. Where water flows life is possible.

The research and production of this project involved collaborating with professionals from different fields: scientists, including water-toxicologists and hydro-geologists, a Texas rancher who has developed methods for rainwater harvesting, engineers and plumbers.

I studied methods for collecting rainwater used by early settlers in Texas with Richard Heinichen at Tank Town, his rain-harvesting facility at Dripping Springs, outside Austin, Texas. I invited Richard to come to Denton (300 miles north) to install one of his signature rainwater collection systems.

A decommissioned dump truck carried a load of topsoil to the site, dropped it on the ground and remained suspended in the act. A garden of native Texas plants was planted in the mound of soil. I worked with rainwater collectors and gardeners Rodney Love, Eric Goodlet, Jason Gaspar and Matt Lippe to sculpt a rainwater pond using highway rubble.

Materials: Rainwater collection system, dump truck, pond, plants native to Texas, frescoes, garden labels, highway rubble waste.

Location: University grounds in front of UNT Art Gallery, University of North Texas, Denton.