The Ohio River rose and just as quickly receded. Logs were left to dangle on top of the dam’s walls stranded there by the retreating waters. Along the shoreline, new deposits of driftwood are laid out in parallel rows and tell a story of where this wooden wave crashed before relenting.
I’m always amazed at how quickly the water backs down. Higher on shore, you will find where most of the bigger logs and limbs were trapped. And, as the river draws back into its deeper channels, the lighter flotsam that was able to ride the waves is deposited about mid-bank in a debris field that features a lot of plastic.
As high water events go…this one was very mild. I had no real idea how high the water would go when I blogged about the rising river. A few more feet up the bank and the water would have reached my spot. Here’s a shot showing the extant of the flooding. Look at the color of the wood for the clue. All the newest material is blondish-brown in color, while the older wood has had a chance to oxidize a greyish color from the summer sun.
This time I was lucky and my collection of Styrofoam and sculptures remained in place. I checked out Pot Belly and Lorraine and they were pretty much as I left them with the exception of one detail. Someone gave Lorraine a penis! I guess they didn’t know she’s a lady…I guess you would have had to read my mind on that one since I didn’t provide any other clues as to their gender. Most of the time that doesn’t strike me as being important in these pieces. Here again is the happy couple high and dry.
I did make a quick, newer figure from the latest Ohio River junk. My inspiration for this guy came from the green hand that says “Clap for the Lord”. He isn’t a particularly handsome guy, but I am thankful that my site didn’t get washed away this time. I don’t think I was ready to let it go especially when I still had so much material to use.
Just a few days a go, much of the northern and eastern sections of the U.S. were buried under heavy snow. When that eventually melts, it will swell the streams, and creeks that are a part of the Ohio River’s watershed. When that happens the river will rise here again. How far it will get this time is uncertain. It’s now officially winter and periodic flooding has been known to happen. I know in my heart of hearts that the river will swallow up my studio site and I will have to establish a new base. At least, I will have the consolation of discovering what the river has left behind.
Artist at Exit 0 Riverblog 
I’m so that that Potbelly and Lorraine (with her new parts) survived the floods! And now they have a new (rather devout?) friend. Glorious.
Thanks Julia! For me, it seems odd to touch upon narrative in my work, but with this stuff it seems to fit more.
“So *glad*” is what I meant to write. 🙂
how fantastic that the river is bringing you an endless supply of new material! I am green with envy!
What the river delivers certainly keeps me going! Unfortunately, much of what I use should not be in the river in the first place. I do, however, like the subtle ways a flooding event rearranges what is already here and makes this park seem larger than it actually is.
Are you starting to feel settled into your new place yet?
Ha! Who me? Settled? One of these days I will surprise you all and actually write that promised blog page on my Korean residency. In fact I shall start it now. (I’ll do anything to put off working on my *** dissertation.)
PS Where we used to live, near Brighton on the south coast, there was always masses of flotsam of all descriptions , including tons of plastic litter off boats etc. Once, I strung hundreds of plastic bottles together, wrapped them around myself and threw myself into the sea. (A performance, ya know!) They immediately filled up with water, and i very nearly drowned with the weight, and the string tightening around my neck and limbs. My friends photographing me from the beach just stood there laughing – not realising that I wasn’t laughing as they thought – but screaming. Don’t do that sort of thing nowadays.
Happy New Year !
I have done a lot of work with plastic bottles, but I have never tried what you did! If I did that in the Ohio River…I know I wouldn’t be around to tell the tale.
In your opinion, what constitutes a “performance”? I wonder about that in relation to my own art activities by the river.
Glad you survived your performance! And do write that page about your Korean experiences.
performance… now you have mentioned it, I am not sure! I will have a think and email you!