Not a Drop to Drink

This installation is part of Indy Art & Seek, a project by the Arts Council of Indianapolis and Keep Indianapolis Beautiful to pair artists and communities to create site-specific art that encourages neighborhood residents to see their surroundings in new ways.

The artist initiated this project in 2019 with the goal of celebrating the community’s commitment to cleaning up the White River in their neighborhood. Activities were happening that would ultimately result in people soon being able to once again swim and fish in the river in a way they hadn’t been able to for many decades.  However, in January 2020 the Environmental Protection Agency repealed a number of the provisions of the Clean Water Act (1972), allowing the type of industrial pollution and dumping of raw sewage that will serve to roll back nearly all the progress made to date. The project’s intent quickly shifted to one of calling for intensified local and national action to preserve the river and its health.

The sculpture was co-created by the community, with youth from the Riverside neighborhood and art students at Riverside High School helping to make and paint the water droplets.  The form was inspired by the round porthole windows seen throughout RHS, recalling the building’s original use as a naval armory.

Kimberly McNeelan is a sculptor and woodworker based in Indianapolis.  As an artist, she undertakes projects that encourage action towards creating a more vibrant society composed of strong communities, particularly by inspiring harmony between humans and nature.  She enjoys bringing the natural world into her work.