Indy Toxic Heritage: Pollution, Place, and Power

Indy Toxic Heritage

Item Set

Items

• Greg Harger Interview
  Interviewee discusses pollution in Fall Creek, Belmont Beach, heavy industry; invasive and native species
• Imhotep Adisa
  Adisa discusses the concept of the environment and environmental justice
• Tim Maher Interview
  Interview with Tim Maher in which he discusses environmental racism and environmental classism; the Citizens gas and coke plant; the Criminal Justice Campus; statewide Superfund sites
• Smokestacks
  This is an image of a painting of the smokestacks of the former (closed 2007) Indianapolis (Citizens) Coke Plant. The 144 acre plant, owned by the then Citizens Gas and Coke Utility (now Citizens Energy), operated at 2950 E. Prospect from 1908-2007. The plant was a major polluter and the painting is meant to convey the emissions from the plant.
• Elizabeth Gore Interview
  Interviewee discusses Martindale-Brightwood, the Environmental Justice Collaborative she helped found. They discuss the issues the neighborhood has faced with lead pollution and the impact on children and adults.
• Mark Owens, Sr. Interview
  Discussion of Norwood and its relationship to the gas company located nearby. The gas company caused pollution for the neighborhood and narrator connects it to high rate of cancer.
• Leon Bates Interview 2
  Indianapolis canal; Indy Parks and race; swimming pools and racial segregation.
• Leon Bates Interview 1
  Indianapolis combined sewer overflow system. Martindale-Brightwood lead smelter. Lead service lines in Indianapolis.
• Should I Be Here?
  Paradox between natural beauty and privatized natural resources
• Gravel Pit
  This is a story about a gravel company that wanted to operate a location in a neighborhood, but without engaging the community. After the community learned about the health risks, they started to push back against the gravel pit. Because of the residents' involvement, the city county council denied the gravel company the permit it needed to operate.
• Toxic Night Trails
  A memory came to mind during the initial guided meditation. I was reminded of a night sitting on my porch. There were glowy cloud type movements in the sky. There was a weird smell associated in the air. As I sat with a friend and my son, my son asked what it was. My response: "Probably something that's trying to kill us!" As an artist, I love to depict visual messages that help others understand from my point of view.
• The Consequence of Colonization, Individualism, and Economic Inequality
  While this is not a direction depiction of the issues Indianapolis is facing, it is a reflection of the constant confrontations the average resident has with the consequences of capitalism and imperialism. Large corporation's abililty to run roughshod over the will of the people is extremely disheartening.
• I won't let power keep me from liberation
  Pollution and exposure to hazardous environments are not natural--it's political. The top portion of this piece depicts symbols of industry and pollution: large oil barrels, interstate, and a pile of trash. These symbols also remind me of policy like SB 52, which tried to kill the Blue Line. There's a water faucet to speak on the lead in the water in my own neighborhood. Liberation is community-based and indigenous. It's a reminder that all exploitation, all oppression, is connected. Free Palestine, climate justice, equity, and liberation are local issues along with global.
• Reality Check
  The expanse where resources flow into water. It can't be ignored. It blares like a siren. The sheets on the clothing line banned by the HOA made their way to the waterway. The message is clear, there is no room and no waste here.
• Untitled
  Item is a writing about the polluted Ohio River
• Red lines in Indianapolis
  Image shows a map with a red outline surrounding a park and neighborhood
• Untitled
  This piece is a story about a woman who took her granddaughter to a park and saw a polluted stream, evoking a deep emotional response.
• Waking Up
  Item has a photograph of what appears to be an outdoor sitting area. The photo is accompanied by this text: "Waking Up. My affluence protects me from many effects of water pollution. I have clean water on demand. Heat in winter. Air conditioning in summer. I know that others suffer for my comfort, but these realities feel unreal.
• Untitled
  Item contains a poem. The text reads: "Looks like brown water, but still lots of foliage & wildlife. Sounds like the city. Smells like sewage. Tastes off (the water). Feels like we're being neglected... or targeted. My experience has been witnessing the resulting issues, and not learning the cause until fairly recently. The place has not changed much. I've gotten angry. Others are noticing too.
• Hollering
  The collage shows photos of a suburban home, a golf course, and an aerial photograph of a municipality. The text reads: "Suburban lawn care practices and its contribution to water pollution. As witnessed in my own neighborhood and its retention ponds and the toxic algae that the lawn treatments create."
• Ana's Toxic History
  The drawing depicts the impact of dental fillings on the human body and on water systems. The image shows mercury (Hg) going into a person's body from a filled tooth as well as going into a river from the water system at the dentist's office.
• Calm Waters
  During summer camp we enjoy the river and how much wildlife it brings. I picked my favorite spot along the White River to take the campers. The spot has an island that brings calmer, lower level water. Two years ago I began noticing the large amount of trash left behind. It was heartbreaking and I was motivated to begin picking up trash. I further went on to educate the campers and encourage them to take action. I now hike with a trash bag and pick up any trash I can reach.
• Fall Creek--Moments and Missed Opportunities
  I have had some peaceful memories of observing Fall Creek from above on the Monon Trail Bridge with my kids as they grew up. We could watch the fish swimming against the current, almost camouflaged perfectly, but just barely visible. Then one day I wandered off the Monon Trail and came across the Rev. Charles R. Williams Park along Fall Creek near the Monon Bridge. It was a sad field of uncut grass with a park sign. Across the street were single family homes--a smaller isolated tract sandwiched behind Sutherland Ave. and Fall Creek. I could see with my own eyes how we pretend to extend access to nature for all of our residents but fail to fully commit to it.
• Martindale-Brightwood EJ Collaborative Action
  On January 16, 2006 the Martindale-Brightwood Environmental Justice Collaborative and their leaders from the neighborhood marched on the long vacant and abandoned Ertel Manufacturing Company factory. This rally on MLK day was a key factor in driving public municipal action to take action, acquire the contaminated site, demolish it, and clean up the abandoned site's massive soil and groundwater contamination. This ushered in a $21 million investment and fifty-three new jobs within two years.
• Thoughts-3
  Item contains a statement about how the government ought to work for the people and not for campaign contributions