"Specimens" from North America’s Most Polluted River

“Specimens,” from North America’s Most Polluted River explores both the New River and the common modes of information through which one comes to know the river. Scientific, journalistic and visual approaches of representation are presented within the project, questioning the hierarchical placement of each mode and their failure to deliver the ever sought after “whole story.” The image component of the project was produced along the access points of the river. The images, along with collected sample river water are contained within specimen bottles. The images connote referents of and around the river. In a reversal of the photographic experience, the viewer looks through the river water to access the photographic representation of the referent. Each bottle includes a specimen label containing an appropriated quote from a variety of media sources. Each “Specimen” piece is approximately 8.5”X4”X4” in size and sits on an individual wall shelf.