Object Record
Images
Metadata
Object ID |
A1988.4 |
Title |
Dust in the Doomsday Sky |
Artist |
Murphy, Bill |
Date |
1986/ / |
Object Name |
Drawing |
Other Name |
Charcoal |
Description |
Dust in the Doomsday Sky Bill Murphy (American, 1952) Charcoal, ink on paper Museum Purchase, A1988.4 When this scene was captured in 1986, Fresh Kills Landfill was 15 years from its last barge of waste. At this time, "The Dump," as it was colloquially known, received upwards of 29,000 tons of waste per day from New York City. Before the landfill's opening in 1948, the site was mainly salt meadow and marsh. Wetland ecosystems such as these provide habitats, help mitigate flooding, filter pollutants from the water, and absorb wave action and storm surges. The wetlands in this area were severely damaged and, in many places, destroyed by the landfill. The landfill remained active until early 2001 and temporarily reopened that September to take in debris from the World Trade Center. While the original wetlands are gone, the site has since been transformed into a public park, which is currently accessible during scheduled programs and slated to fully open by 2036. The now thriving grassland has facilitated the return of many species, including grasshopper sparrows and cliff swallows. Learn more about Freshkills Park: View of Fresh Kills landfill, two landmovers to left. |
Collection |
Works on Paper |
Dimensions |
W-60 L-41 inches |
Material |
Charcoal, ink, paper |
Relation |
Show Related Records... |
People |
Murphy, Bill |
Search Terms |
charcoal drawing fresh kills landfill landmovers staten Island |
Catalog type |
Art |
Source |
Museum Purchase |
Web Rights |
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ |