For five months, photographer Robert Dawson has been working as Photographer-in-Residence at the City's Water Pollution Control Plant. Dawson's work is intended to help generate awareness about this all-important aspect of community life.

A vast yet largely invisible system of water delivery and sewage treatment is a vital service for the region's population and for protection of the surrounding ecosystem. The City of San Jose provides this service on behalf of the eight tributary jurisdictions whose sanitary sewer systems discharge to the San Jose/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant. Preventing pollutants from entering the storm drain system is crucial to a healthy watershed; without treatment, those pollutants would go straight into the creeks, rivers and the bay. The San Jose Water Pollution Control Plant in Alviso processes over 100 million gallons of sewage a day in a facility the size of Central Park in New York. The system directly supports the health of both the community and the eco-system of the San Francisco Bay. 

 

Dawson's residency, a project of the San Jose Public Art Program in collaboration with the City's Environmental Services Department, made it possible for him to explore this vital system in considerable depth. His photographs depict a huge, complex but delicate machine and fall into four general categories. These include structures, equipment, treatment processes and, importantly, the many types of workers whose labor ensures the system works effectively and without interruption: the scientists, mechanics, plumbers, electricians, maintenance and many others.

 

 

Dawson reflects, "Several things have impressed me from my work on the Residency. I am amazed by the enormous complexity of this system that deals with the wastewater of our culture. Like most people I was relatively unaware of the essential nature of the work done at the Treatment Facility. I have come to realize that our society could not function without this system. Also, I am impressed by the professionalism and dedication of the people that work at the plant everyday and deal with a subject that the rest of us ignore."

 

Dawson will be creating a series of projects with the photographs he has taken: a travelling exhibit that explains the work of the Water Pollution Control Plant, a web-page on his residency; a photography book and prints that will be permanently displayed at the Plant.

   

Public Art Committee meetings are open to the public. The meeting is in City Hall, 200 E. Santa Clara Street, Meeting Room W-119 in the Council Wing.

 

 

Six of San Jose's pioneer black families are brought to life in portraits pieced together from historical facts and public records, family recollections, artifacts, old photographs and artist renderings, each telling the story of a unique community from a different perspective and providing a poignant glimpse into San Jose's past during a pivotal period in history. Hidden Heritages will be on view through May 31, 2010.   

Here are two ways you can enjoy public art in Downtown San Jose.

 

The San Jose Public Art Program's  colorful, informative map of public art projects in downtown San Jose has recently been updated. The 2009 Downtown Public Art Map is a fun and easy way to see public in downtown San Jose.

 

Use it to create your own walking tour and include opportunities to stop and enjoy other features in the district including museums, galleries and restaurants.  
 
 
RECOLECCIONES: THE MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. LIBRARY PUBLIC ART COLLECTION
The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library includes an award-winning collection of more than 34 site-specific public artworks in locations throughout the library. Finding them is a process of exploration, discovery and is filled with surprises! A free colorful detailed brochure is available from the San Jose Public Art Program that will help you appreciate this extraordinary collection.