Boil Water Notice

Boil Water Notice is a sculptural series that reimagines everyday household objects as tools of resilience and survival during times of water crisis. Drawing from real-life experiences in under-resourced communities, the work highlights the multifunctional roles that common domestic items take on when access to clean water is disrupted.

At the center of this series is the ceramic cooking pot—an object traditionally associated with nourishment and care. In this context, it becomes more than cookware. A spigot is built directly into the vessel, transforming it into a dual-purpose object that also functions as a water jug. This subtle modification turns a familiar form into a symbol of adaptability, making visible the quiet labor and ingenuity often required in marginalized communities.

Each pot is designed to reflect its practical role in boiling and purifying contaminated water, referencing a process many households rely on during boil water advisories. Crafted primarily in clay, these vessels carry the warmth of the handmade while echoing the urgency and fragility of the conditions they address. Glazes and surface treatments mimic the residue, stains, and wear that often mark objects under repeated use in crisis settings.

Boil Water Notice is a reflection on the invisible labor of care, the systemic failures that create vulnerability, and the everyday rituals of survival. The series invites viewers to reconsider the overlooked tools that sustain life and to recognize the cultural and emotional weight embedded in functional forms.