Make Waves is an ongoing, artist-led public art initiative. Realized across river cities, it engages local communities in the collective transformation of post-consumer plastic into large-scale, joyful installations. Grounded in the interconnectedness of river systems, the initiative recognizes that materials, pollution, and responsibility flow across geographic boundaries.
River Dome, seen below, is a 10' × 17' geodesic dome covered in post-consumer plastic collected and primarily fabricated in Nashville through community participation, with additional material and fabrication support from St. Louis. Commissioned by Artville Nashville, the work was sited at Music City Walk of Fame Park in downtown Nashville.
Within the Make Waves initiative, projects unfold through a series of interconnected phases, from community collection and fabrication to public activation and use. Images document the collaborative build process, hands-on workshops, and moments of shared experience—such as movement, gathering, and learning—within the completed installations. Together, these phases reveal the work not as a static object, but as a living structure shaped by participation, care, and sustained engagement over time.
Grand Dome, as seen below, was installed at the Grand Valley State University Art Museum’s Eberhard Center as the featured work for ArtPrize in Grand Rapids. It is a large-scale geodesic dome, illuminated by solar lighting. Constructed from post-consumer plastic collected and primarily fabricated in Michigan, the installation serves as both a sculptural presence and a public gathering space. Nighttime views and interior details emphasize how the layered surfaces filter light, inviting sustained attention and collective presence.
Sea Change – St. Louis Lambert International Airport
Sea Change, shown below, is a 60’ installation commissioned for the St. Louis Lambert International Airport. It was the first Make Waves public art project, made and fabricated with community-collected post-consumer plastic. The video best shows the perceptual shift that happens as travelers pass by the work.
