Paola Falquez
Staff Writer
The Duffy Larson Hall at Broward College Central Campus, a gallery space dedicated to supporting fine arts, is currently hosting Ripple Effect, an exhibition by the artist duo KX2: Ruth Avra and Dana Kleinman. Running through Nov. 9, this immersive exhibit invites viewers to contemplate the intricate relationship between water, infrastructure, and climate change. The hall, named after Rosemary Duffy Larson, who made significant personal investments in the college’s fine arts department, provides a fitting setting for artwork that probes the connection between nature and modern society.
Upon entering the space, visitors are greeted by an arrangement of plumbing fixtures, pipes, and a symbolic waterfall, immediately setting the tone for the installation’s environmental focus. Ripple Effect reflects a year’s worth of data collected across Broward County, highlighting the days when local neighborhoods were under boil water advisories due to water contamination.
Boil Notice
One of the standout pieces in the exhibit is Boil Notice, a sculpture installation constructed from 365 salvaged plumbing fixtures, each representing one day in 2023 when a community in Broward County was under a boil water advisory. These fixtures—made from pigmented concrete, collected rubble, and plant-based resin—are organized in rows, with each row symbolizing a month. Through this work, KX2 draws attention to the fragile state of Florida’s water infrastructure, impacted by pollution and climate change, and the increasing threat to access to clean, safe water.
Ripple Effect
The centerpiece of the exhibit, also titled Ripple Effect, captures the flow of water through networks of pipelines that supply communities with potable water. The design reflects tide charts and markers, linking the water systems to the pressures of changing tides and sea levels. This piece not only represents the physical journey water takes but also serves as a reminder of the growing vulnerabilities in our water infrastructure, brought about by rising seas and climate instability.
Hyades
Inspired by the nymphs of Greek mythology, Hyades is a wall installation that evokes both the nourishing and destructive power of rain. Crafted from polished stainless-steel bars and threaded with canvas painted in plant-based pigments, this work represents the purity of water in its natural state while simultaneously reflecting the increasing intensity of storms and floods in today’s changing climate. Hyades serves as a reminder of nature’s beauty and its unpredictable power.
The Hydra Series
The Hydra Series aims to raise awareness of our community’s dependence on hidden networks of utility pipes and the immense pressures they face due to climate change, population growth, and pollution. Created from salvaged metal pipes and paint on canvas, this series draws attention to the often overlooked but essential infrastructure that supports modern life, and the vulnerabilities that lie beneath our cities.
KX2: Ripple Effect at Broward College Central Campus is more than just an art exhibit. It is a conversation starter about the critical issues surrounding water, climate, and infrastructure. The artists’ use of salvaged materials not only emphasizes sustainability but also invites viewers to reflect on how human activity impacts the environment. This exhibit leaves the viewer with a deeper appreciation for water as a life-giving resource, as well as the challenges posed by climate change and the fragility of the systems we rely on every day.
The Ripple Effect exhibition will be on display in the Duffy Larson Hall, inside the Arts and Sciences Building, until Nov 9, 2024.
falqp@mail.broward.edu
