Artist Design Statement

Mady Brand, Marilyn Short, Luke Mick

NAME
Macroinvertebrate Exploration

ELEVATOR PITCH
Our exhibit focuses on macroinvertebrates and their key role in determining the quality of
the water. The exhibit consists of large realistic 3D models of some of the most common
macroinvertebrates in our water, a microscope station where the actual macroinvertebrates can
be viewed, a tank resembling our river bed with macroinvertebrates inside, and informational
panels describing all the important and interesting information on macroinvertebrates.

WE WANT THE AUDIENCE TO LEAVE WITH THE FOLLOWING

The audience will learn about the macroinvertebrates that can be found in the Animas
river and their importance to determining the quality of the water. We want them to leave with
the feeling of being more educated about the river and the tiny living organisms we share it with.
The people who visit our exhibit will hopefully be inspired to explore the importance of water
quality and its effect on everything in the ecosystem.

THE STORY MY EXHIBIT TELLS IS...?

Our exhibit would allow ordinary people to be immersed into a little world that they
wouldn’t usually know very much about. Very few people know about all the types of
macroinvertebrates that live in our river or the important role they play when checking the
quality of the water. The exhibit will teach people about some of the most common types of
macroinvertebrates that live in the Animas river and the process in which water quality is
determined through those macroinvertebrates. Humans share the river with these
macroinvertebrates so through this exhibit they will be more aware and feel more connected to
even the smallest the life around them. We wanted to make an exhibit that would shine a little bit
of light on the lesser known life and its connection to water quality. Our classmates are also
creating exhibits that focus on water quality in the Animas river so our exhibit connects to thiers
through the main principles and focus on location that it has.

TARGET AUDIENCE
Our exhibit can be enjoyed by everyone of all ages. It incorporates many visual and
interactive elements that require no background knowledge whatsoever. However the
informational text that will be displayed by the exhibit will require at least a middle school level
of education to understand. While some people may be more interested or have more background
knowledge than others, all different varieties of thinkers are welcome. The audience will take the
role of an explorer in an immersive underwater like exhibit.

INTERACTION LENGTH & STYLE OF ENGAGEMENT

People will be drawn in by the visuals and the sound of the river lightly playing in the
background. The detailed sculptures and microscopes displaying the macroinvertebrates will
engaged people and hopefully compel them to learn. The exhibit would allow the audience to
experience the river from the view of a macroinvertebrate at the bottom of that river. They would
be playing the role of the explorer and connect with the life they cannot see at the bottom of the
riverbed.

DEFENSE
This should be included in the City of Durango’s final plans for the remodeled Santa Rita
Wastewater Reclamation Facility because very few people are aware of macroinvertebrates
living in our water. They are a huge part of our ecosystem and the process of determining the
quality of our water. Our exhibit would allow people to learn about the tiny living organisms that
they share the river with and their importance.