Freshwater mussels, glass vessels, sand, water pumped from the Delaware River, Vintage Mother-of-Pearl shell buttons, metal basins, plexi mirror and cables
Dimensions variable
Installation at Cherry Street Pier, Philadelphia, PA
Commissioned by Philadelphia Contemporary
Freshwater mussels loaned by The Discovery Center and Fairmount Water Works
By making visible the mussels’ incredible capability to filter the river, Freshwater is a public fountain that elevates these endangered native species’ role in restoring the blue infrastructure from collapsing. Juxtaposed next to the polluted river water pumped from Philadelphia’s Cherry Street Pier and the vast amount of unused vintage pearl buttons produced as a consequence of overconsumption, the project is an urgent call to care for the freshwater mussels as vital to our healthy, living ecology and our drinking water.
Hyperallergic: Jean Shin Wants to Change the Tide of Pollution and Extinction
WHYY: Sculptural fountain at Philly’s Cherry Street Pier is a 16’ glass bed of living mussels
Delaware Currents: Art exhibit underscores mussels’ vital role in the Delaware River
