Blog Archives

Turning toxic colored water to paint and cleaning up the watershed

3/25/2015

Just learned about artist John Sabraw and civil engineer professor Guy Riefler who are creating pigment from acid mine drainage. When it rains, rainwater seeps into abandoned, improperly sealed coal mines and leaks toxic water into streams and rivers in southeast Ohio. This makes the streams and rivers biologically dead. Through creating the paint, they are working towards remediating the streams and rivers and watershed.
You can read more about their work here and see the artwork John Sabraw is creating with the new paint they have created. Definitely watch the short video..another inspiring example of the power that artists and scientists have to help heal the world!

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New Paintings Documenting San Clemente Dam Removal and Carmel River Reroute Project

3/24/2015

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David Hamblin at the bow of the boat, on our way to leave me to paint for the day.

The little speck in the blue water is David Hamblin and Tim of Granite Construction leaving me to paint for the day.

I hope to paint from this vantage point when the river is being restored with step pools for the steelhead and plants to create new habitat.

Beginning the painting from the San Clemente Dam, March 5, 2015

Completed painting from San Clemente Dam, March 19, 2015.

View of San Clemente Dam from west tributary of the Carmel River, painted February 19, 27 and March 5, 2015.

I hope to paint from this vantage point when the water has been drained from the reservoir (planned for April 15-May 5) to make way for the dam to come down this summer.

Reflection of reroute cut. Quite dramatic to be there in the boat! © Paola Berthoin

Face of reroute cut. © Paola Berthoin

Reflection of reroute cut from boat. © Paola Berthoin

Comments:

Ariane:
The combination of photographs and paintings emerging from the scenery and developing over time is fascinating, Paola!

Debbie S.

It's really fun to see where and how you're able to do these incredible paintings. I hope Cal-Am is taking good notice of what you're doing!

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International Rivers Day - March 14, 2015

3/14/2015

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Carmel River Paradox, 2013
Painted March 30 and 31, 2013, when there was very little flow in the river in the winter when it should have been flowing abundantly. Last year it never reached this spot beyond Via Malllorca Bridge near the Rancho Canada Golf Course. This year the river fairs a bit better but without more substantial rain it is diminishing in its flow quickly...and it is only March. We will have another long dry summer ahead.

How can you help the river in your daily life?

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Painting from San Clemente Dam

3/11/2015

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Second pass on the painting from the dam. March 10, 2015

Working here is filled with the sound of the constant rush of the river falling 100 feet to the plunge pool which is punctuated with loud random boom sounds coming from a device to keep birds from nesting in the trees across the lake just south of the dam. It is necessary to do this as the work season is going to start soon and some of the trees and rocks need to be taken out in order to be used for restoration in the river bed when the water is drained from behind the dam.

It is a real privilege to be painting from this vantage point and definitely historic!

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Double Rainbow

3/1/2015

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Driving through a thunderstorm at 4:45 yesterday..turned around and saw this incredible double rainbow.
So many people stopped to take pictures and marvel at it's beauty and grace. Amazing gift of rain and sun!

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Author
Paola Berthoin is the designer/creator/publisher of Passion for Place: Community Reflections on the Carmel River Watershed. Her focus is inspiring and educating people about the natural world through the arts. She is available to design your book, create (illustrate and write) interpretive materials for your watershed community, consult for healthy gardens, paint a commissioned painting of your favorite place in the Carmel River Watershed and beyond!

When we allow wildness, our own spirit, to flourish within, we can also respect and allow nature’s spirit, the wild outside, to exist.
- Paola Fiorelle Berthoin

Blog photographs, land art, and text © Paola Berthoin, unless otherwise noted.
All Rights Reserved.

Turning toxic colored water to paint and cleaning up the watershed

New Paintings Documenting San Clemente Dam Removal and Carmel River Reroute Project

International Rivers Day - March 14, 2015

Painting from San Clemente Dam

Double Rainbow

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