Alison Evans

Name of School
Temple University, Tyler School of Art & Architecture

Expected Graduation Date:
12/18/2021

Faculty Nominator
Leah Modigliani

Reason for Faculty Nomination
Aly Evans created an extraordinary body of work for her undergraduate capstone thesis class here at Tyler that was widely admired by students and faculty. She went above and beyond the hours a student normally spends on one course to create both ceramic vessels and blown glass artworks that reflected research conducted on Philadelphia’s rivers and creeks, and water management histories. Her extensive research included traditional library-based research – reading about Philadelphia’ long history with water and evolving water management strategies, site-based research in which she visited and waded into different creeks and rivers in September and October of last year to collect and test water samples for pollution, and materials/studio research with ceramic bodies, glazes, and glass construction. Her work literally lit up and activated our exhibition hall.

Please provide a brief description of your art or medium.
Large ceramic bowls that contain samples of water from Philadelphia’s rivers and streams, which was used for testing levels of pollution and bacteria. These bowls are glazed based off of the results from this testing.

Glass map showing the current layout of Philadelphia’s waterways, layered over an enhanced map of the area from 1876.

Is your artwork handmade by you? If not, please explain
All of the artwork is handmade by me. The water samples used for display and testing were locally sourced. The map of Philadelphia from 1876 was found in a family members collection of vintage maps.

Are all or some of the components locally sourced?
The water samples used for testing and presentation were sourced from local streams and rivers.

Artist’s Statement:
For my undergraduate thesis project, “Water Works,” I conducted significant research into the ways in which Philadelphia’s urban landscape has an effect on its natural environment. This project explores the historical and present relationship with the bodies of water the city is surrounded by. By collecting water from the local rivers and streams, and testing it for bacteria and pollutants caused by stormwater run-off, sewage, agriculture, and countless other sources, we can see the levels of contamination in Philadelphia’s waterways. This water then gets heavily treated for the city’s consumption. This project aims to educate the community about the levels of pollution that exist within the city’s waterways, and advocate for waterway protection solutions such as stormwater management, waste treatment planning, and green infrastructure.

How you will use the Fellowship funds if you are chosen as the winner.
While conducting research for this project, I lacked the resource of time to continue my work surrounding urban landscapes and their effect on the environment. After graduating, I have been struggling to find ways to continue my practice as an artist. While I have gained more time to continue my work, I have lost access to many of the resources that working in a larger studio provided. Being a ceramic and glass artist, the funding from this program would allow me to access the extensive materials required to continue my practice, such as renting space and time in local studios, developing the space that I have been currently working in, and purchasing more adequate materials and equipment. This would allow me to continue my practice as a craft artist, and conduct more research and work surrounding the interaction between urban and natural landscapes, and their effect on our climate.