William Pope L, American, born 1955
Flint Water at What Pipeline, 2017
In this artistic intervention, Pope L. and his collaborators purchased water from residents of Flint, Michigan during an ongoing water crisis. The water was labeled and sold in their store What Pipeline and online as Flint Water in bottles marked “non-potable.” Proceeds from the sales went to the United Way of Genesee County (Flint’s county) and Hydrate Detroit. This creative transformation of bottles of water to art objects also became a direct economic intervention in which residents and non-profit aid organizations were compensated. As bottled water, these art objects are also evocative of the ways in which many Flint residents must continue to source their water. Label by Morgan Brittain
Pope L.’s “Flint Water Project'' pairs art with social justice due to the awareness and money raised from the installation. Created in 2017 and based in Detroit, Pope L. collected contaminated water from Flint, Michigan, bottled it up, and sold it in the nearby city of Detroit. The Flint water crisis, which began in 2014 due to government budget cuts, deeply harmed the impoverished and minority community in Michigan as their water was exposed to lead and E. Coli. This innovative art project not only increased awareness and engagement due to its unusual concept, but the proceeds went to United Way of Genesee County in Flint and Hydrate Detroit. Label by Clarissa Cantacuzene