Thesis: Access to Clean Water

SUNY The College at Brockport 2017

One in ten people worldwide do not have access to safe drinking water. In Uganda, three in ten do not have access. This work centers on the idea of sustainability and access to clean water to stimulate change, raise awareness and make a contribution to end this inaccessibility.

I make ceramic Dixie cups through the process of plaster mold making and slip casting. This process is repetitive and I cast the cups every day, mirroring the act of daily walking for water. Dixie cups are a container for liquid and after taking a drink, that cup is typically thrown out without a thought about the crucial importance of having water to drink. By making the cups out of clay, the vessel becomes more permanent rather than recyclable trash, thereby suggesting a deeper value to the resource. When the viewer holds a cup, I want them to feel this connection and see that it is not something to throw away, not something to take lightly; the cup is significant. The cups represent the object of water which all humans need to survive; it is essential to life. I am making these cups to raise awareness and bring attention to this need in the world, specifically in regions where this access is not yet widespread or reliable.

I am making this work to illustrate the injustice and call for action to protect and provide clean water for all, rather than taking this invaluable resource of clean water for granted. Typically, it is young women and children who spend hours each day walking to fetch water for their families. To understand and empathize with this time and dedication, I have committed to spend the time making over 1,000 cups. By filling a gallery with them, I want to overwhelm the viewer and portray the shocking statistics surrounding this inaccessibility of clean water.