Monumental Art Installation ‘Wake the Great Salt Lake‘ Aims to Raise Awareness of Shrinking lake
SALT LAKE CITY – A large-scale public art project, “Wake the Great Salt Lake,” launched this week, transforming the receding shoreline into a canvas for environmental advocacy. The installation features a series of monumental sculptures designed to visually represent the dramatic decline of the Great Salt Lake and galvanize public action.
The Great Salt Lake, a crucial ecosystem and economic driver for utah, has shrunk by over 70% since 1980 due to water diversion, drought, and climate change. This decline threatens the lake’s unique brine shrimp and bird populations,impacts the local economy-including the mineral extraction and recreation industries-and increases the risk of toxic dust storms. “Wake the Great Salt Lake” seeks to translate the scale of this environmental crisis into a tangible and emotionally resonant experiance for residents and visitors alike, prompting urgent dialog and solutions.
The project, spearheaded by artist Max Dolittle and supported by several environmental organizations, includes massive, sculpted figures emerging from the exposed lakebed. These figures, constructed from reclaimed materials, symbolize both the life the lake supports and the potential loss if current trends continue. Organizers hope the artwork will serve as a powerful call to action, encouraging individuals, policymakers, and industries to prioritize water conservation and lasting management practices.
“We wanted to create something that couldn’t be ignored,” Dolittle explained. “The shrinking lake isn’t just an environmental issue; it’s a cultural and economic one. This project is about waking people up to the urgency of the situation.”
The installation is located along Antelope Island State Park and is free to the public.Accompanying the artwork is an educational component, including informational displays and guided tours, designed to provide visitors with a deeper understanding of the lake’s ecological importance and the challenges it faces. Future phases of the project include community workshops and collaborative art-making events focused on fostering stewardship of the Great Salt lake.
