filters and inverts, 2021

Made to collect sediment from the unprecedented turbid releases dumped into the Esopus Creek in spring of 2021

Climate change comes home to the NYC watershed, as we are again made aware of NYC’s amnesia in planning for resiliency amid increasing weather events.

There is more mud washing into the Ashokan Reservoir than ever before. NYC Department of Environmental Protection has chosen to release dirty water downstream while filtering clean water bound for NYC faucets. Mud-laden water released into the otherwise healthy creek severely affects water quality, reducing levels of light and oxygen within the water. Fine sediment also physically impacts the stream channel by filling in the natural voids and spaces in the stream bed. This reduces habitat for aquatic insects and smothers fish eggs and larvae.

I wanted to collect some of the mud coming down the creek and started making these in spring as we were witnessing the creek run brown for months at a time, as in recent years. The structures are unbleached muslin and steel, and mimic the appearance and behavior of resident filter feeding organisms like mayflies, snails, and leeches. The brown filters were in the water for a few weeks in spring 2021, the clean ones are for spring 2022.

Believing that water should be clean only for human consumption is an assault on the rights of nature.

For updates see: Riverkeeper.org/stopthemud

Riverkeeper logo

Esopus Turbidity

Esopus turbidity

The creek In January

The creek in January

Snail filter going into the water

Snail filter going into the water on Day One

Barnacle-Shaped Filter

Barnacle-shaped filter

Filters before going into the water

Filters before going into the creek

Filters after being in the creek

Filters after being in the creek

Filter structure, after

Filter structure, after

Filter structure, after

Filter structure, after

Filter structure, before

Filter structure, before

Filter structure, after

Filter structure, after

Right- and left-handed snail diagram

Right- and left-handed snail diagram

Left-handed Snail

Left-handed Snail

Right-handed Snail

Right-handed Snail

Barnacle before going into the creek

Barnacle before going into the creek

Barnacle in the creek

Barnacle in the creek

Barnacle pulled from the creek, covered in algae

Barnacle pulled from the creek, covered in algae

Filter structure, before

Filter structure, before

Filter structure, after

Filter structure, after

Filter structure, before

Filter structure, before

Filter structure, after

Filter structure, after

Leech and planaria diagram

Leech and planaria diagram

Leech, rotated

Leech, rotated

Planaria and Leech

Leech and Planaria

Planaria

Planaria

Planaria and Leech in the studio

Leech and Planaria in the studio

Filter structure sculpture

Filter Structure, photo by Katvan Studio

Caddisfly Larva Scupture

Caddisfly Larva, photo by Katvan Studio

Water Penny diagram

Water Penny diagram

Water Penny, detail

Water Penny, detail

Water Penny

Water Penny

Diagram of Species

Diagram of species

Pollution-intolerant species diagram

Pollution-intolerant species diagram

©christy rupp 1962–2024 | site by lisa goodlin design