Molecular Notation
Environmental / United States of America
Phosphorescent yellow hexagonal forms, constructed from Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), floated on the Delaware River in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. These forms visualized molecular diagrams within a waterway contaminated by PCBs and threatened by emerging nanoparticle pollution. Using PVC—itself a microplastics source—as embedded material contradicts the work.
The Coast Guard placed the installation under surveillance, mistaking it for suspicious activity. Their response became a record of how interventions in public waterways trigger institutional attention. Removal required coordination with the Coast Guard, generating conversations about environmental monitoring and the use of public space.
The installation occurred during strong tidal conditions, requiring active navigation and monitoring. Documentation from a helicopter, ground personnel, and watercraft captured hexagonal patterns shifting with tidal movement, viewing angle, and distance. ☐
Location: Delaware River, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
Ground Crew: Jessica Dellecave, Jenni Desnouee, Elizabeth Leister, Shawn O’Connell
Aerial Photography: Kenneth Kramar, James Wasserman
Video: Edward Dormer (aerial), Shawn O’Connell (ground)
Industry: Arts and Culture—Outdoor Installation and Public Art
Partial Funding: Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, Schuylkill River Development Council Project Grant
LUCARNE 