…no beginning no end/circle the earth/blessed water/blood of life…
Jane Tsong
Brightwater
Three poems in three locations bestow blessings upon the water, air, and earth at Brightwater.
Installed in three locations at Brightwater, Jane Tsong’s artwork blesses the elements of the treatment plant: water, air, and biosolids (earth). Blessings are activated as each element departs from the treatment process and continues its life cycle in the natural world. Visitors can impart the blessings by speaking the title of each artwork.
The water blessing, no beginning no end/circle the earth/blessed water/blood of life‚ is a poem rendered in steel and located at the disinfection basin, the final point before the water leaves the plant—either on its journey to Puget Sound or as reclaimed water for irrigation. The air blessing, air help us bless with each breath all creatures of land, sea and air‚ is also a poem rendered in steel and is located at the odor-control building, where it reveals the invisible current of odorless air leaving the stacks. Blessings for the Biosolids, is a lengthier audio blessing that plays over speakers. It’s located in the Solids Building hopper bay where trucks are loaded with biosolids for their journey to nearby wheat fields. The water and biosolids blessings were written by poet Judith Roche.Continue Reading ›
Every day, by going about our ordinary lives, we re-create civilization. Each one of us creates reality every single day, with tens of thousands of small gestures. Recognizing our power, and the fluidity of all structures, let’s propose next an infrastructure that cultivates appreciating, rather than needing and gratitude, rather than consuming. –Jane Tsong
About the Location
Brightwater
Science, art, design, and ecology come together at Brightwater, one of the largest wastewater treatment facilities in the world. Located north of Woodinville, WA, Brightwater comprises a park, a community gathering space, an exhibition hall, and a scientific learning laboratory in addition to the structures that house technical operations. Throughout the site, integrated and portable…
Read more about the art and artists at Brightwater. More >