MUD GALLERY
Landscape Architecture Capstone Project
Dani Dolbow, Zoe Kasperzyk, Alanna Matteson Faculty Advisors: Ken Yocom & Jeff Hou Mud Gallery is the outcome of a year-long group capstone project that celebrates the beauty and life that could return to the waters of the Washington State Capitol with the restoration of the Deschutes Estuary. Currently the biggest obstacles to restoring the Deschutes Estuary are public perceptions of mud and concerns about the odor and appearance of the estuary at low tide. Mud Gallery takes a year’s worth of our own mud-centered art explorations and transforms them into novel community outreach methods designed to engage the public imagination and get people excited about the mud of a restored Deschutes Estuary.
Each outreach method began as a group art exploration and developed into an activity that we could share with the community. By centering playfulness in our methods, we were able to avoid some of the tension that has hindered productive community dialogue around estuary restoration in the past.
The dam achieved these goals while effectively destroying a functioning estuary, displacing an informal settlement, and inundating the ancestral tidelands of the Squaxin Island Tribe. Over the years, the Deschutes River filled the reservoir with sediment. The water quality deteriorated until finally it fell below state and federal regulatory standards, prompting an environmental impact statement to evaluate management alternatives. Since 2018, we have been participating in the community sounding board that is reviewing the EIS process. These meetings are often tense, as the community is strongly divided over whether to continue maintaining Capitol Lake under a dredging regime or to restore the Deschutes Estuary. Those who are opposed to estuary restoration are concerned about the aesthetics of the tidal mudflats that would be revealed twice a day at low tide.
PROJECT NARRATIVE
In the past, most advocacy work has focused on the ecological benefits of a restored Deschutes Estuary. However, it has not addressed community members’ anxiety about the odor and appearance of mudflats. With our experience in designthinking and place-based aesthetics, we saw an opportunity to complement the work of local advocacy groups by focusing on public perceptions of mud.
Our first outreach method began as a collaging exercise. Together, with scissors and glue, we took photos of estuaries around the South Salish Sea and collaged them over photos of Capitol Lake to show tidal changes and a range of possible ecosystem shifts. The joy of collaging together inspired our “Design An Estuary” magnet board activity. Using our estuary collages as a backdrop, we invited the public to add people, plants, animals, and design features using magnets we
We found the perfect partner in the Deschutes Estuary Restoration Team (DERT), a non-profit organization that has been advocating for the restoration of the Deschutes Estuary for over a decade. By engaging the public through art and design we were able to support and amplify DERT’s science-based advocacy work. Together we hosted a gallery exhibit and two public outreach events in an outdoor pavilion. We prioritized community health through a range of COVID-19 safety protocols including arranging the space to accommodate social distancing, providing masks and sanitizer, and choosing a breezy seaside venue.
Capitol Lake is a man-made reservoir located in Olympia, Washington. It was formed in 1951 when the Army Corps of Engineers dammed the Deschutes River where it flowed into Budd Inlet. The goal was to create a freshwater recreational amenity and a permanent body of water to reflect the State Capitol Building.
created. By inviting community members to be designers, we provided them with an opportunity to imagine an estuary that they had a stake in and would enjoy visiting one day.
A third outreach method was based on a series of mud dyeing explorations. Variations of mud dyeing have been used for thousands of years by the Coast Salish People, native to this region. Our own explorations included both premeditated experiments as well as the occasional unintentional sock plunge that occurred while squelching around local mudflats. These forays prepared us to host a community mud quilt activity in which we invited people to paint or dip fabric squares in mud in order to reveal animals that could return with a restored estuary. Prior to the event we drew a variety of species on the fabric squares using a clear glue resist. Without mud, you are not able to see the species; with mud, life appears. Not every square contained an animal, and community members were encouraged to add their own expressions to the patchwork. We pinned these squares together in real time at our outreach event. In addition to teaching people about the life that mud supports, this activity provided community members with the opportunity to interact with mud and to see evidence of others doing the same. At the end of two outreach events, the community mud quilt had close to 200 squares! Our intention for this group capstone project was to spend a year doing something helpful and to play in the process. In the end, play was central to the effectiveness of our outreach methods. By carrying an element of playfulness from exploration to outreach, we were able to ease tension around a controversial topic and encourage community members of all different ages and walks of life to touch the mud together and imagine new ways of relating to it. Olympians responded enthusiastically. The local newspaper ran a story. People came back the second weekend to see their squares on display in the mud quilt. A local gallery asked to stock the mud bowls. We had not intended for this to be a fundraising event, yet we helped to raise over $300 in donations for DERT. Moving forward, DERT will be able to continue using the outreach materials we developed for their advocacy work in the weeks leading up to and following the release of the EIS this summer. As landscape architecture students, we often ask ourselves how we can address
A second outreach method involved collecting mud, plants, and shells from nearby estuaries and incorporating them into display pieces that people would recognize as elegant and desirable. In collaboration with a local potter, we created a series of mud-glazed and shell pressed bowls. We then filled these bowls with minimalist arrangements that highlighted the relationship between mud and saltmarsh plant species. At our outreach event, we invited each visitor to take a bowl home with them to remind them that mud is a gift.
social and environmental issues through design. This year we found that our greatest strength lay in collaboration. Rather than attempting to solve a longstanding issue by ourselves in a matter of months, we were able to support a wellestablished advocacy organization with an infusion of playfulness and design thinking at a critical moment in their campaign. While DERT rationalized the need for estuary restoration, we invited people to form their own relationship with mud, as well as to see themselves as active stakeholders in a community design process. Working together and implementing a variety of outreach methods enabled us to engage a wider audience than would have otherwise been possible.
MUD GALLERY
“we would have nothing but MUD FLATS in downtown Olympia in place of a wonderful lake.” “stinky mud flats”
“It will become a sea of mud,” Reale said. “If that lake drains, it’s a problem.” “stinky mud flats”
“Mudflat: Worse than bad” “Odoriferous mudflats and low tide mud “fewviews”people can stand being outdoors by the unpleasant and unattractive mud bog” “we need to dredge this beautiful lake before it becomes a mud hole with swamp “Thisgrass.”is one of the rare occasions where esthetic considerations outweigh those of environmental purity.” “just a glistening dunn stinking mudflat devoid of wildlife or any recreational aesthetic” “the mud flat estuary...will not be as aesthetically pleasing as the lake.” “the site was originally changed from an estuary...because it was such an EYESORE! And it didn’t smell all that good either.” “the current gem of Olympia, Capitol Lake, will turn to stinking mud if have an estuary.” “there is nothing attractive visually (and certainly won’t be olfactory).”
“A tidal mudflat...would give off foul odors at times, provide little or no recreation, and could be hazardous.”
Public comments collected in 2009 and 2018 by Washington State Department of Enterprise Services about Capitol Lake alternatives
“A mud flat is a mud flat regardless of what you call it.” “I am concerned about the odor of mud flats.” “Mud Flats are not wanted.” “I do not want to have a big mud flat that is home for a bunch of bugs in the middle of our Capitol City. “Mudfair does not have the same cache as “TheLakefair.”viewsand smells are not very attractive.” “The stench of mud flats.” “Mud flats are not pleasing to the eye or nose” “An ugly mudflat is inconsistent with a vital downtown.” “remember the smell of mud flats at low tide on a summer evening.”
“Please take a look at Mud Bay just west of town, would anyone really choose to have that in the middle of town?”
“Failure to protect Capitol Lake would replace its mirroring and sparkling presence with the dismal mud flats of the past.” “the significant aesthetic improvements that came with the elimination of the previous tidal mudflats.”
“Unobstructed views of mud with the accompanying stench.” “smelly mud flat.” “A muddy sticky swamp for 12 hours a day – not something we need in the shadow of our Capitol and next to our waterfront and downtown area.”
“Mudflat: Worse than bad” “unattractive mud bog” “EYESORE!”
“a saltwater mud flat with an accompanying, nasty stink.” “Do people want to live next to an estuary, that may have many species but smell like salty rotten mud.” “I don’t want the lake removed and have a smelly mudflat to walk around on our beautiful summer days.”
Dani Dolbow, Zoe Kasperzyk, Alanna Matteson Faculty Advisors: Ken Yocom & Jeff Hou Mud Gallery is the outcome of a year-long group capstone project that celebrates the beauty and life that could return to the waters of the Washington State Capitol with the restoration of the Deschutes Estuary. Currently the biggest obstacles to restoring the Deschutes Estuary are public perceptions of mud and concerns about the odor and appearance of the estuary at low tide. Mud Gallery takes a year’s worth of our own mud-centered art explorations and transforms them into novel community outreach methods designed to engage the public imagination and get people excited about the mud of a restored Deschutes Estuary.
Landscape Architecture Capstone Project
MUD GALLERY
ABOUT
WHAT MUD?
Capitol Lake is a man-made reservoir located in Olympia, Washington. It was formed in 1951 when the Army Corps of Engineers dammed the Deschutes River where it flowed into Budd Inlet. The goal was to create a freshwater recreational amenity and a permanent body of water to reflect the State Capitol Building. The dam achieved these goals while effectively destroying a functioning estuary, displacing an informal settlement, and inundating the ancestral tidelands of the Squaxin Island Tribe. Over the years, the Deschutes River filled the reservoir with sediment. The water quality deteriorated until finally it fell below state and federal regulatory standards, prompting an environmental impact statement to evaluate management alternatives. At this moment, the community is strongly divided over whether to continue maintaining Capitol Lake under a dredging regime or to restore the Deschutes Estuary. Those who are opposed to estuary restoration are concerned about the aesthetics of the tidal mudflats that would be revealed twice a day at low tide. Past advocacy work has focused on the ecological benefits of a restored Deschutes Estuary, without addressing community members’ anxiety about the odor and appearance of mudflats. With our experience in design-thinking and place-based aesthetics, we saw an opportunity to complement the work of local advocacy groups by focusing on public perceptions of mud.
WA
Mud Gallery public outreach event on the waterfront in Olympia,
ADVOCACY
This project focuses on how partnerships between landscape architects and advocacy groups can create more impactful public engagement opportunities. We hosted a range of public events and exhibits in collaboration with Deschutes Estuary Restoration Team (DERT), a non-profit organization that has been advocating for the restoration of the Deschutes Estuary for over twelve years. By engaging the public through art and design we were able to support and amplify DERT’s sciencebased outreach methods. While DERT rationalized the need for estuary restoration, we invited people to play with and form their own relationship with mud and to see themselves as active stakeholders in a community design process. Working together and implementing a variety of tactics enabled us to reach a wider audience than would have otherwise been possible.
PARTNERSHIP MUD GALLERY PROJECT Long term Communityinvolvementconnections Scientific explanations Policy ParticipatoryCommunityVisualizationsknowledgeartdesignIntrigue + DESCHUTES RESTORATIONESTUARYTEAM
steh-chass (Budd Inlet) watersheddeschutesboundary CapitolOlympiaLakeStehtsasamish (Tumwater falls) BilLy Frank Jr.nationalNisquallywildliferefuge + 2500 ft n steh-chass (Budd Inlet) capitoldistricthistoriccampus BUILDINGcapitol 5th ave dam I-5 I-5 101 CapitolLake Stehtsasamish (Tumwater falls) HistoricalTumwaterPark WASHINGTON STATE CAPITOL DESCHUTES WATERSHED CAPITOL LAKE OLYMPIA SEATTLE 100 miles n 5 miles n SITE LOCATION
THE FUTURE OF CAPITOL LAKE
MANAGED LAKEHYBRID OPTIONESTUARY
An EIS is currently underway to determine if an estuary, hybrid option, or managed lake would be best for Olympia. Since 2018 we have been participating in the community sounding board that is reviewing the EIS. This has been an opportunity to better understand why some people do not want to restore the estuary. We have found that negative perceptions of mud and mud flats are a common source of anxiety for those opposed to estuary restoration. This project aims to address that obstacle.
CAPITOL LAKE TIMELINE
The mudsnail is discovered in Capitol Lake and all human recreation on the lake is restricted indefinitely EIS begins to study managementdifferent options including a managed lake, hybrid option, and estuary Begin attending
MUD GALLERY TIMELINE
EISreleaseServicesofDepartmentEnterprisewilladrafttothepublic with findingsscientific Host two pop-up events along the Olympia waterfront in partnership with DERT, where we engage the public through art + design
The water quality StateFederalfailsCapitolofLaketomeetandregulations
Debate over the future of Capitol Lake has been ongoing for many years. This timeline highlights some of the issues with the dammed waterbody and shows where our project fits into the conversation. We have situated our project at a critical point in the public outreach process as we prepare for the EIS draft to be released this summer.
ImpactEnvironmentalmeetingssoundingcommunityboardforStatement
2022 JUNE 2021 SUMMER 2021 MAY 2021 2018 SPRING 2018 SPRING 2021 APRIL 2021 DAM BUILT SEDIMENT RISKS DESCHUTES ESTUARY FEASIBILITY STUDY INVASIVE NEW ZEALAND MUDSNAIL WATER QUALITY ISSUES PREFFERED ALTERNATIVE UW GALLERY EXHIBIT EIS OUTREACHRELEASEEIS BEGINSPROCESSEISPROCESSENGAGEMENT MUD GALLERY GALLERY EXHIBIT
State constructs a dam where the Deschutes River flows into the Salish Sea to form an artificial lake Sediment build-up in the lake increases risk of flooding in downtown Olympia alongside warmer water temperatures that threaten the quality of the water and ecosystem health Committee is formed to functioningrestoringtheresearchingbeginfeasibilityofanaturallyestuary
Site-specific, public outreach events begin to engage the community in imagining the transition of Capitol Lake back into an estuary through art and Install a month-long public exhibit for Olympia Arts Walk. The display is open daily at the Olympia Loft Gallery right next to DERT’s office in downtown.
The decision-making bodies engaged by Department of Enterprise Services will choose a LakealternativepreferredforCapitolInstallasummer-longexhibitatthe College of Built Environments to face outside. The exhibit shows the layers of life in an estuary 1951 2003 2009
AN ESTUARY | GIFTS FROM THE SALT
FROM EXPLORATION TO OUTREACH
In the next few pages we will walk you through the development of three different outreach methods. By infusing these methods with the playfulness of our studio explorations, we were able to avoid some of the tension that has hindered productive community dialogue around estuary restoration in the past.
DESIGN MARSH MUD QUILT
| COMMUNITY
DESIGN AN ESTUARY
We created estuary collages to represent the tidal landscape that would emerge with the removal of the 5th Avenue Dam. We used photos from estuaries around Olympia to show tidal changes and a range of possible ecosystem shifts over top photos of Capitol Lake. The collages were displayed at the outreach event facing Capitol Lake, just a block away. Our collaging process evolved into a community engagement activity through our Design An Estuary Magnet Board. Using the estuary collages as a backdrop for a future estuary scene, the public was invited to design a scene using magnets we created. By inviting the public to be designers, they began to imagine an estuary scene that they had a stake in and would enjoy visiting in the future.
DESIGN AN ESTUARY
Here is a selection of estuary designs and some of the many magnet pieces that people could use to imagine a future Deschutes Estuary
open air gallery
The wide variety of estuary designs show the many possibilities for a future estuary as well as the imagination of local stakeholders
GIFTS FROM THE SALT MARSH
GIFTS FROM THE SALT MARSH
We worked with a local potter and florist to create arrangements using mud, shells and plants collected from a nearby salt marsh. We wanted to incorporate overlooked and undervalued materials into display pieces that people would recognize as elegant and Atdesirable.ouroutreach event, we used mud-glazed and shell pressed bowls as the base for minimalist arrangements that highlight the relationship between mud and salt marsh species. We invited each visitor to take a bowl home in the hopes it would help them to remember that mud is a gift.
People were invited to take a mud bowl home with them
COMMUNITY MUD QUILT
Variations of mud dyeing have been used for thousands of years by the Coast Salish People, native to this region. The rich, black mud of the local estuaries has been used to dye barks, fabrics, and other materials in a variety of ways. This exploration and outreach activity pays respect to that practice while also thinking about how mud dyeing can help the public reconnect with this important native landscape. Our own mud dyeing explorations gave way to an outreach activity that invited the community to create a tide-dyed mud quilt with us. This activity provided community members with the opportunity to interact with mud and to see evidence of others doing the same. At the end of two outreach events, the community mud quilt had close to 200 squares!
COMMUNITY MUD QUILT
The Community Mud Quilt is about the relationship between the estuary species and the mud. Prior to the event we drew a variety of species on the fabric squares using a clear glue resist. Without mud, you are not able to see the species; with mud, life appears. We invited people to paint or dip-dye quilt squares in mud in order to reveal the animals that could return with a restored estuary. Not every square contained an animal, and community members were encouraged to add their own expressions to the patchwork.
QUILT PROCESS
MUD
The mud quilt after the first outreach event. By the end of the outreach events the quilt had over 200 squares!
Susan Aurand “Mud Gallery was
Maia Erickson
PUBLIC COMMENTS
“‘Mud is Estuary”DeschutesbeautytheshowcasesgalleryinteractiveLife’underlyingofthe
“Itfun!”really is quite beautiful. I was here last week and I didn’t expect it to look so nice, but it really does. It’s fun! It’s an unexpected thing that has a really good vibe” Olympia resident “It was an honor to participate in last Sunday’s mud event at Percival Landing. The student’s passion for restoring Deschutes Estuary was inspiring as well as their excitement for all things mud. We’re anxious to see the finished community mud quilt.”
what I find beautiful in the landscape and why. In learning how vital the mud is for life here, I appreciate that the beauty of our region is really the beauty of mud. Rich, sticky, shiny, playful mud -- we don’t have to be afraid of it.”
“I was hesitant to paint with mud, but once I saw other people enjoying it, I decided to add to the quilt and it was
-The Olympian Newspaper
metidelands.region’scelebrationthought-provokingaofourmuddyItinvitedtoreconsider
Here is a selection of some of the comments we received from community members who attended the Mud Gallery outreach events: “Mud Gallery was an extremely creative and inventive way to present information about the importance of estuaries. I particularly liked the way the project engaged audiences of all ages. It would be hard to find a more effective way to share scientific information and change public attitudes.”
PRESS & COVERAGE Here is a selection of local news coverage and online outreach about the Mud Gallery: POP-UP EVENT POSTCARD OLYMPIA ARTS MONTH WEBSITE CITY OF OLYMPIA ANNOUNCEMENT EVENT SIGNTHE OLYMPIAN ARTICLE AND VIDEO INTERVIEW UW CBE STUDENT SPOTLIGHT VIDEO INTERVIEW MUDcommunityPOP-UPGALLERYEVENTTODAY11-4PMopenairgalleryartprojectdesignanestuary
FEEDBACK
If only Danielle, Zoe, and Alanna could join DERT for all our public outreach events. Perhaps then we could get everyone in the community to agree – Mud is Life!
The Mud Gallery created by Danielle Dolbow, Alanna Matteson, and Zoe Kasperzyk provided an ideal complement to DERT’s work – Indeed, it was a great pleasure for us to share the Percival Pavilion space with this dedicated group of students. The compelling mud displays drew passersby to the Pavilion, while the engaging activities encouraged people to stick around and chat. The Mud Gallery thus provided an opportunity for us to share DERT’s message of estuary restoration with unfamiliar faces and long-term supporters alike.
Testimonial by the Deschutes Estuary Restoration Team (DERT)
Friday, May 21st, 2021
Over the years, DERT has heard those opposed to dam removal express concern that the “stinky” and “ugly” mudflats will foul the air around Olympia and discourage people from spending time downtown. The Mud Gallery dispels these fears by revealing the ephemeral beauty of mud in a manner that is tangible and fun. The provocative displays portray the essential role mud plays in the intricate web of life – demonstrating how mud builds vibrant habitats that nurture wildlife, fish, and human communities.
The Mud Gallery
Sincerely, Matthew Karas, South Sound Healthy Watershed Program Coordinator Sue Patnude, Executive Director
As landscape architecture students, we often ask ourselves how we can address social and environmental issues through design. This year we found that our greatest strength lay in collaboration. Rather than attempting to solve a long-standing issue by ourselves in a matter of months, we were able to support a wellestablished advocacy organization with an infusion of playfulness and design thinking at a critical moment in their campaign. DERT reflects on our partnership in this testimonial. FROM DERT
MOVING FORWARD
Our intention for this group capstone project was to spend a year doing something helpful and to play in the process. In the end, play was central to the effectiveness of our outreach methods. By carrying an element of playfulness from exploration to outreach, we were able to ease tension around a controversial topic and encourage community members of all different ages and walks of life to touch the mud together and imagine new ways of relating to it. Moving forward, DERT will be able to continue using the outreach materials we developed for their advocacy work in the weeks leading up to and following the release of the EIS this Alannasummer.Matteson, Zoe Kasperzyk, Dani Dolbow
