Traces of a River – Bats to Butterflies

Traces

of a River

The Chicago Waterway System

artists

Pam Sloan

Alan Hobscheid

Documented by

Cheri Eisenberg

Traces is currently under construction. If you are here because you have come across one of Pam’s sites along a river, please take a photo and share it at pamsloanart@gmail.com

Dots indicate locations where papers were placed along riverbanks.

Traces of a River is an environmentally focused artwork that engages directly with the history and ecology of the Chicago Area River System (CAWS) . Pam Sloan and Alan Hobscheid will collaborate with natural riverbank processes; soil, water,weather, microorganisms, and sound to create art that reflects both place and time.

Artist Pam Sloan places chemical-free watercolor paper along the riverbank, for up to 4 weeks. During this time, soil, water, weather, and microorganisms naturally mark and transform the surface.. Afterward, the papers are carefully removed and taken to Pam’s studio for further work.

Alan collects samples from each site to incorporate into his paintings.

Sound recordings gathered at each location become part of the final project. Currently, eleven locations have been selected. See photos below.

permits: FPCC #R80786, LCFPD #280

The locations of each installation will be documented below. This site is currently under construction…

Results from this process will be posted as they become available.

Sites and Sounds from North to South: