SEPTEMBER 28, 2019 — JANUARY 5, 2020

Three of the five most catastrophic hurricanes in U.S. history—Harvey, Irma, and Maria—made landfall in 2017. Boston-based sculptor Nathalie Miebach explores the dissonance between the scientific and emotional effects of these three hurricanes in her installations and graphic scores. Her nuanced approach to data visualization is a comprehensive representation of the ecological and socio-economic concerns related to the storms. Using basketry techniques, she weaves together individuals’ accounts, along with meteorological and quantitative data related to the storms’ affected areas, to portray the catastrophic impact of these weather events. 

On a broader level, The Water Line serves as a warning about the effects of climate change. Two years after these natural disasters occurred, Miebach’s work reflects the reality of living amidst an increased risk of flooding in many coastal cities throughout the U.S. Her work encourages our community to think collectively about how to mitigate and adapt to the effects of the rising sea level and future weather events in our own neighborhoods. 

Photography by Katy Anderson