Reflection

Reflection

As an artist I am inspired to create pieces that spark conversation and ignite people to reconsider their long held perspectives. I learned that the relationship between race, power and water is more complex than I had previously thought, and that water inequality is the direct result of systemic racism and classism. I felt frustrated and angry, why isn’t this human rights issue being addressed urgently? Why do people turn a blind eye to problems that do not immediately affect them? Water access is truly a mirror of society. If we are not able to provide this precious resource, necessary for life, to all people equally then we need to re-examine our power structures. I want people of all races to understand their privileges and also recognize the disparities that others around them face. As I researched the background to create my sculpture I learned that African American and Latinx communities are twice as likely to have contaminated water and Native American communities nineteen times more likely.