Traces
of a River
The Chicago Waterway System
artist
Pam Sloan
Documented by
Cheri Eisenberg
Dots indicate locations where papers were placed along riverbanks.
Traces of a River explores the relationship between humans and the natural environment through the changing landscapes of the Chicago Area Waterway System. The work reveals the traces left by water, soil, weather, and living organisms.
Pam Sloan immersed 31 x 60 inch sheets of 100% cotton watercolor paper at selected locations along the waterways, allowing natural processes to alter the paper over time. She then retrieve the sheets and completed the process in her studio, where they were dried and sealed.
“Traces” is intended to make visible the connections between human activity and the natural world, while acknowledging the extensive efforts to restore the Chicago River to a healthier, more natural state. By allowing the river itself to shape the work, Pam hopes to draw attention to its ongoing transformation and our place within this living ecosystem.
permits: FPCC #R80786, LCFPD #280
This 3-minute video helps to explain the process.
River Trail Nature Center
These two sheets of paper were installed along the Des Plaines River on May 6, and removed on June 3. The paper on the right was further up along the bank and has much less information on it.
Blue Star Memorial Woods
In this photo, where you see Pam about to immerse a sheet of paper into the water, you get a sense of the size of the paper (31 x 60 inches). This was taken on April 8, the paper was removed on May 6.
Linne Woods
Along the North Branch of the Chicago River two sheets of paper were immersed along the bank on April 30. One sheet was visibly being pulled by the river current. Pam went on May 10, to check on it, but it was already gone. The other sheet was removed on May 19.
Caldwell Woods
Caldwell Woods is along the North Branch of the Chicago River. Two Sheets were immersed on April 30, and collected on May 24, removed on 2026. In the photo you can see how the branch and log affected the results.
Forest Glen Woods
Two sheets of paper were immersed along the North Branch of the Chicago River on April 30, and removed on June 3, 2026
Urban Rivers:Wild Mile
North Branch Chicago River: Three Sheets were immersed from April 28 – May 14, 2026 along the Urban Rivers islands, with help from the Wild Mile.
Bubbly Creek:
The South Branch of the Chicago River: 3 Sheets of paper were immersed in the water on April 30. When we turned to remove them on May 13, they were gone. Reason unknown.
Chicago Historic National Portage Site: Mud Lake
Two sheets were immersed along the bank on May 4, and collected on May 20. One had blown out of the water, but still captured some interesting markings.
Big Marsh; Calumet River
Two papers were, immersed in the waters at Big Marsh on May 4, removed on June 1, 2026. Not seen in this photo, a flock of migrating trumpeter swans.
Kickapoo Woods
Two sheets of paper were immersed in a shallow alcove at Kickapoo Woods on April 28. When we went to collect them on May 20, the river had receeded. One was on completely dry land. There are numerous animal prints and shoe prints on the paper.
The audio provides a particular haunting sound of the nearby train tracks.
Prairie Wolf Forest Preserve
On May 6, with official permission from the Lake County Forest Preserve district, three sheets were immersed into the wetland adjacent to the Middle Fork of the North Branch. In spite of signage, someone removed them from the water. A disgruntled patron of the preserve emailed Pam on May 14. Pam removed them on May 16. They were blank.
BOGGED
Special Thank you to Friends of the Chicago River, The Forest Preserve District of Cook County, Urban Rivers, Libby Hill, Becky Lyons, Maddie Fernandez, Austin Happel, Stephen Bell, Luis Cabrales, Dan Sandacz, Jacqui Ulrich, and Tiffany Bady