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Drones to photograph 32 mile long artwork after successful appeal

Date uploaded: September 17, 2014

Aerial photography of the largest artwork ever to be commissioned in the UK, a 32 mile long drawing in Bristol, will be carried out by drones following a successful appeal by organisers of the HighWaterLine project.

Initiated by the artist Eve Mosher, the project entitled 'HighWaterLine' has empowered communities in cities around the world susceptible to flooding disaster. This is the first time it has come to the UK and was Commissioned by Invisible Dust in association with Creative Catalysts.

Residents from each Bristol neighbourhood have taken part in resilience workshops and are marking a section of the 32 mile route before handing on to the next to show what the city will look like underwater.

From the air, the drawing will look like a contour on a map. It represents the high water point of future flood predictions.

Eve Mosher’s original ‘HighWaterLine’ public artwork involved the artist herself marking out a line 10-foot above sea level around the coast of New York City. Whilst en route the artist engaged inquisitive local people in conversations about flooding, climate change and its potential impacts. When subsequently parts of the route were flooded after Hurricane Sandy in October 2012 and the artist was proved right, people began to see her artworks as innovative ways to visualize the future impacts of climate change. The collaboration with communities around the world who use the project as an innovative way to devise solutions to climate change, has deepened the impact of HighWaterLine as a tool of engagement.

In 2013 in Miami residents created a line the length of a marathon (26 miles) that showed houses and historic buildings that could potentially be underwater in the future. Since then the project has become international and community driven.

Most people are unaware of the threat they are facing. Eve Mosher’s long term vision is for communities to be empowered by replicating her original project in their own cities around the world.

Alice Sharp, Director of Invisible Dust said:I feel the only way to properly appreciate the size of this artwork will be when viewed from the air. It is vast. We are delighted that Bristol Drones have stepped in to help us.”

For more information about this project click here.

Photos: HighWaterLine & Pete Bedwell

Photos: HighWaterLine & Pete Bedwell