The Ogallala
The Ogallala is a life-size suspended sculpture that imagines the Ogallala Aquifer as a goddess.
Inspired by layered 3D models of aquifer systems created by geologists and hydrogeologists, underground strata are translated into textured paper pulp. An earth-toned layer evokes surface soil, a reddish layer recalls the iron-rich clay of the Permian Basin, and a green layer marked with circular patterns references the agricultural fields that draw water from the aquifer.
Rising from these subterranean layers is a fragmented multi-headed, multi-breasted female figure with bison hooves. Her expression is ambiguous. Is she exhaling? Singing? Screaming?
Combining scientific models with mythological imagery, the sculpture transforms the Ogallala Aquifer, a vital water source for agriculture across the High Plains, into a powerful, embodied goddess.
Materials: PLA, paper pulp, wire mesh, acrylic paint
Dimensions: 90”H x 76”L x 40”W
Photos: Bobby Scheidemann
As part of the Every Body a Water Body, Every Field a Clock exhibit, The Ogallala connects the hidden movement of groundwater to the bodies, landscapes, and agricultural systems that depend on it.
Groundwater is largely invisible, making it easy to overlook despite its importance to our food systems and daily lives.
By giving the aquifer a mythic, embodied form, the sculpture invites us to look beneath the surface and reconsider our relationship with this essential resource.
As hydrogeologist John Cherry argues, greater public understanding of groundwater is necessary for informed decisions about its future.
“decision makers and the public have been given insufficient exposure to the basic conceptual groundwater knowledge needed to inform policy and public opinion.
Enhanced public awareness of groundwater will empower citizens and water stakeholders to take informed, local action on water issues.”
John Cherry, Groundwater: The Missing Educational Curriculum
