From oceans to clouds, rain to mountain tributaries, pipes to people, and, finally, through the water treatment process, artist Tess Martin uses ink and water to animate Part of the Cycle, an eight-minute short film that traces the use and re-use of an essential resource in the Pacific Northwest.

Martin’s blue and black drawings constantly transform like a moving watercolor, narrated by a collection of informal voices—both children and adults—who explain the water cycle. Among the voices is Brightwater tour guide and wastewater treatment education specialist Kristin Covey. “All the water we have is what you see on this Earth,” she says over an image of the planet. The film describes not only where our water comes from but how it travels, and the many ways people rely on it in great volume. It also reveals the stages of wastewater treatment at Brightwater, clearly and cleverly picturing each step of the process. Both the film and an accompanying zine were part of the Conveyance Project, a series of temporary artworks that engaged the community in a conversation about water quality, environmental stewardship, and the Brightwater system.

Continue Reading ›

Based in Seattle, Martin is an independent animator who works with back-lit paper cut-outs, ink, paint, sand, and other materials. Her films have been shown in galleries and festivals worldwide. As a member of the collective SEAT—Seattle Experimental Animation Team—she has curated several programs that have toured internationally.

About the Location

Brightwater

Read more about the art and artists at Brightwater. More >