“Summer’s in bloom” doesn’t mean the same thing as in Toledo as it does everyone else.
As summer heats up, and we feel a glow of happiness, our Lake Erie responds with an eerie, ominous neon glow of an algal bloom.
The toxic, slime-green microcystin floating in our water represents more than just a threat to our drinking water. It’s also more than just a memory of buying endless plastic bottles of water. It’s more than empty aisles at grocery stores. It’s more than just sold-out cases of water bottles. It’s more than waiting days to shower. It’s more than panic. It’s more than just last year’s water crisis.
According to Toledoans For Safe Water, this cautious glow of neon water also illuminates the longstanding problem Toledo has with factory farm pollution. In response to this crisis, Toledoans For Safe Water has organized a day of art and activism on Saturday, August 1.
6,000 straight to the dome
Art Against Algae Blooms was planned to coincide with the one-year anniversary of Toledo’s water ban, but considered that Toledo’s water safety status is now on “Watch” level, despite being deemed safe to drink by the city, the all-day activist art event has considerably more draw. We obviously still have a lot of work to do.
To raise awareness for safe water practices, and a international water crisis [insert: https://growingblue.com/the-growing-blue-tool/], Philadelphia artist Diedra Krieger of Plastic Fantastic will travel to Toledo to build a sixteen foot geodesic dome. Over 6,000 plastic water bottles, collected by local activist, Sean Nestor, will be used in the structure, to be assembled by volunteers on Friday, July 31
Nestor’s bottle collection began one year ago, when he started asking co-workers and friends to help him store bottles used during the ban. These bottles will build a structural wall for the geodesic dome.
The skeleton of the dome, the basis of Krieger’s Plastic Fantastic, has traveled nationally since 2007 to bring an immersive, socially-conscious environment to cities that want to collectively work towards community development. Nestor contacted Krieger earlier this year to bring Plastic Fantastic to Toledo, hoping to aid in our discussion of safe water access.
“The geodesic dome in a large space, quite a few people can fit inside,” said Krieger. “We are excited to come to Toledo.”
Over 6,000 plastic water bottles, collected by local activist, Sean Nestor, will be used in the structure, to be assembled by volunteers on Friday, July 31
An activist’s agenda
In addition to Plastic Fantastic, local artist, Amy Pollman, will bring a pop up installation, ‘SEQUENCE’ to the day’s events.
Political activists, a panel of experts, and Transmissions Theatre of Philadelphia, will help aid to the day of art and activism.
A tentative schedule of events is given below:
10-10:30am Press Conference
10:30am-11:30am Panel Discussion
11:30am-1:pm Break for Lunch
1-4pm Puppet workshop/collaboration with Transmissions Theatre
4-6pm Break / finishing touches on show
7:30-8pm Puppet performances
8-9pm Video screenings
9-10pm Live music
Volunteers are also welcome to help build the dome on the Friday before the event.
RSVP online: facebook.com/events/1605155893067506/
Saturday, August 1. International Park, 2 Main St., Toledo.
facebook.com/ToledoansForSafeWater
facebook.com/PlasticFantasticArt