FERTILIZER : ALGAE : PAPER

humans > use fertilizers > fertilizers runoff into water > algae blooms > because of high nutrients > water saturated with plant material > invasive Asian Carp > eat algae / plants > carp successful in the water

Fertilizer: Algae: Paper is a project documenting algae blooms in the Illinois River in a dress format. It is made from algae collected along the river bank at Starved Rock Park. The dress presents the algae as evidence. Proof of our role in algae blooms, and inadvertently the success of invasive Asian Carp in our waters. The garment brings algae into the public sphere, and serves as a visual documentation of the volume of algae in local waters. 

photo credit: Ian Kerstetter

algae collection credit: Thea Baldwin