FAU exhibition spotlights lack of access to safe drinking water

Don’t Waste Water: Florida Atlantic University’s “Overflows” Exhibition

Florida Atlantic University’s new public art exhibition, “Overflows,” emphasizes the importance of water sustainability and addresses the lack of access to safe drinking water in underserved communities worldwide. The exhibition features the work of three South Florida artists who use felt and various types of fibers to weave and knit artwork around this theme.

Artists and Their Work

• Michelle Drummond’s “Navigating the System” is a three-dimensional water stream made of yarn, glue, and acrylic paint on canvas. Her sculptures often reimagine faucets and water drops.
• Evelyn Politzer’s “Every Drop Counts” is a hanging installation made of hand-dyed yarn, embroidery, and repurposed fibers.
• Andrea Spiridonakos’s “Let Me Sow Low” uses materials such as Cuban mahogany, raw wool, silk fiber, mohair, and alpaca thread.

The use of natural materials in the exhibition also symbolizes changing climate conditions. With climate change, droughts are becoming more frequent, impacting the quality of water ecosystems and the environment.

Water Scarcity and Sanitation Inequities

According to the U.N. World Water Development report, 1 in 4 people worldwide do not have access to clean drinking water, and 46% lack access to basic sanitation. Water scarcity is becoming endemic due to physical water stress and freshwater pollution.

Michelle Drummond highlights the need for awareness of subpar water quality and sanitation inequities in rural communities globally. She believes that the conditions faced by underserved communities in Kingston, Jamaica, are similar to those faced by other communities worldwide.

Mother Nature and Natural Connections

The theme of mother nature is interwoven throughout the exhibit. Evelyn Politzer and Andrea Spiridonakos create installations and tapestries using raw wool and other natural materials, bringing these natural connections to life.

Water’s Political, Aesthetic, and Economic Implications

Veronique Cote, the Galleries Director and Exhibition Curator, emphasizes that the art collection not only highlights the role women play in collecting water in underserved communities but also studies water’s political, aesthetic, and economic implications across societies.

Exhibition Details

“Overflows” will be on display at Florida Atlantic University’s Ritter Art Gallery until October 28. The gallery is located at 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, FL, 33431. The exhibition is open Tuesday-Friday from 1-4 p.m. and Saturday from 1-5 p.m. It is closed on Sundays and Mondays. Learn more here.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

SDGs

1. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
2. SDG 13: Climate Action
3. SDG 15: Life on Land
4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

Targets

• Target 6.1: By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.
• Target 6.2: By 2030, achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations.
• Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
• Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains, and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements.
• Target 17.16: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology, and financial resources.

Indicators

• Indicator 6.1.1: Proportion of population using safely managed drinking water services.
• Indicator 6.2.1: Proportion of population using safely managed sanitation services, including a handwashing facility with soap and water.
• Indicator 13.1.1: Number of deaths, missing persons, and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population.
• Indicator 15.1.1: Forest area as a proportion of total land area.
• Indicator 17.16.1: Number of countries reporting progress in multi-stakeholder development effectiveness monitoring frameworks that support the achievement of the sustainable development goals.

Analysis

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The SDGs addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article are SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, SDG 13: Climate Action, SDG 15: Life on Land, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the article’s content, the specific targets that can be identified are:

– Target 6.1: Achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.

– Target 6.2: Achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation.

– Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.

– Target 15.1: Ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services.

– Target 17.16: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, there are indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets. These indicators include:

– Indicator 6.1.1: Proportion of population using safely managed drinking water services.

– Indicator 6.2.1: Proportion of population using safely managed sanitation services, including a handwashing facility with soap and water.

– Indicator 13.1.1: Number of deaths, missing persons, and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population.

– Indicator 15.1.1: Forest area as a proportion of total land area.

– Indicator 17.16.1: Number of countries reporting progress in multi-stakeholder development effectiveness monitoring frameworks.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Source: wlrn.org

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