Mississippi River | Iron River focuses on the importance of the Mississippi River in our lives and its beauty and vulnerability. The Mississippi River watershed defines the landscape of the central United States, sustaining communities and environmental systems from the Rocky mountains in the West to the Appalachian mountains in the East, from Lake Itasca in Minnesota to its delta in Louisiana. The River flows through St. Paul on its way to the Gulf of Mexico, affecting our lives daily as we cross its banks, drink its waters and watch bald eagles soaring above its bed.

The Mississippi River | Iron River Project will pour the great rivers of the Mississippi River watershed in molton iron, Illuminating and honoring its significance within our lives. Rivers are the lifeblood of landscape, as necessary within our lives as the iron in our bloodstream.

Images courtesy of Caroline Yang for the Capitol Region Watershed District

The public performative pour was held at the new site of the Capitol Region Watershed District's office in St. Paul, Minnesota on September21, 2018. Additional support from the University of Minnesota Foundry and XYZ Lab and Nelson Minar. Special thanks to iron artists including Stephen Edstrom, Kelly Ludeking and KRL Metals, as well as students in the foundry program at the University of Minnesota - Erin Generaux, Louie Darang, Anna Orbovich, Carly Odegard, Rose Von Muchow, Max Rawling, Alden Jaakola and Ben Weil.