Planetary Sensing: Affected Sensing

AFFECTED
SENSING
Written by New Media Writing Class
Directed by Nathaniel Rivers
Edited and Written by Riley Demo and Ulaa Kuziez
Spring 2023

CONTENTS
Sensing 4
Stories That You Will Never Know 7
Extending Through Drones - Photo 19
Dao De Jing 20
1025 Families Made Homeless by St. Louis Flood 21
Displaced Ease St. Louis Residents - Photo 22
Violent Movement 23
From Intentional Destruction to Transformation 25
Feeting Demographics - Map 34
To the West: Eads Bridge 35
Abandoned Lot - Photo 36
Pruitt-Igoe - Photo 37
Violent Progress - 38
Old Spanish Fort - Photo 39
Abandoned Cite - Photo 41
Disparities in Urban Air Polution 41
Pollution Victims, Ruined Stocking 50
Practicing Contractual Air - 51
The Smoke Persists - Photo 53
Saint Louis Map - Photo 54
Listen 55
Polluted World, Polluted Mind 57
Peter Lindell's Bronze Quarry - Photo 94
Day as Night - Photo 95
Running Stagnation 96
Sensed Writing 97

The following versed reports
exhibit a collection of
sensitized motions. While
each may have different goals
or visions surrounding their
embodied environment, they
act as reverent assemblages
moving through, with,
parrallel, apart, and against
each other.

S E N S I N G
Intentionality—listening to the hum of air, the water, the people, and
the land—is medicine for the anesthetized. To sense our being, we must
have the capacity for affection. Feeling the environment, we are able to
extend our embodied selves, transforming into a new affective state.
Amidst an ecological crisis, we find ourselves living in an impasse, a
place wherein many of us are not experiencing the effects directly, yet it
surrounds us on all sides. Inability to sense; fires burn in far-off places,
droughts hit nearby cities, tornadoes and hurricanes run rampant, and
toxic waste poisons someone's water. The blurred condition between
the natural and artificial world leaves us in an empty, lonely state of
despair. We have lost the capacity to feel.
This crisis was caused by our ancestors of the industrial revolution,
perpetuated by our parents, and yet we are handed an earth that is far
from perfect and told that we must fix it. The tension we live in,
between future and past, good and evil, leaves many in this gray, liminal
space of stagnation. Our world is defined by precariously slow violence
—tipping points that have yet to be teetered as we face a kind of
impaired mobility. There is a barrier between the futile transience of our
world we have known and the immanent world that is.
Facing this volatile state, we remain unchanged. We may feel slight
remorse or grief when confronted with images of vortexed trash in the
Pacific or news reports of the warming world. Yet our habitual
environmental body remains stagnant. We are experiencing a slow
violence that prevents us from noticing the incremental environmental
destruction all around us.

By slow violence I mean a violence that occurs gradually and out of sight, a violence of
delayed destruction that is dispersed across time and space, an attritional violence
that is typically not viewed as violence at all. Violence is customarily conceived as an
event or action that is immediate in time, explosive and spectacular in space, and
erupts into instant sensational visibility.We need, I believe, to engage a different kind
of violence, a violence that is neither spectacular nor instantaneous, but rather
incremental and accretive, its calamitous repercussions playing out across a range of
temporal scales. In so doing, we also need to engage the representational, narrative,
and strategic challenges posed by the relative invisibility of slow violence.”
- Rob Nixon, Slow Violence and Environmentalism of the Poor
Our world is not only immediate. Taking its time, this violence—and it’s
critical to re-shift our linguistic description of these events—looks like
the slow increase in global temperatures, the slow flow of industrial
toxins into a watershed, the slow disinvestment of urban land. We
inhabit a unique time scale of movement in disequilibrium within the
slow motion of environmental violence. Understanding our
insensitivities enables a practice of intentionality, building back the
potential energy of synonymous movement. When we learn to sense,
we learn to observe, assess and synthesize the environmental events
around us. Yet sensing does not mean simply describing environments.
They are also ways of bringing those realities into being as
sociopolitical worlds. In essence, we attempt to say: I sense this thing, it
is a part of my being, and, as such, I prepare to cope and move with an
extended-bodied self.

We seek to move through our senses, inhabiting different levels of
temporal violence. What we feel, and the way we come to feel, has
consequences—political, ethical, and rhetorical. Our movement is
stipulated upon these practices. Sensing thus becomes one of the
primary tools for reconstructing and recommitting ourselves to an
ethical and political relationship with the world around us. It is a
process through which we not only become sensitive to what is
happening around us but one that allows us to derive cultural and
spiritual values from the environment and, more importantly, make
them a core of who we are as a human species.
How do we render ourselves sensitive to issues that do not touch us in
conventional ways through different rhetorical and compositional
practices? How might those practices change the way in which we
move in the world?
AFFECT
ETYMOLOGY:
1. FROM OLD FRENCH
EMOTION, INCLINATION, DISPOSITION;
LOVE, ATTRACTION, ENTHUSIASM,
2. FROM LATIN:
A RELATION, DISPOSITION; A FRAME, A
CONSTITUTION
EXAMPLE: THE CONSTITUTION OF THE
INDIVIDUAL IS AFFECTED BY THE
CAPACITY TO BE AFFECTED.

S T O R I E S T H A T
Y O U W I L L N E V E R
K N O W
A N O V E R V I E W O F H O M E L E S S N E S S A N D
E C O L O G Y O N T H E S T . L O U I S M I S S I S S I P P I
R I V E R F R O N T
Abram, Levi, Anna

INTRODUCTION TO THE RIVERFRONT
LACLEDE LANDING 2022-NOW
THE ST. LOUIS MISSISSIPPI
RIVERFRONT
The lowering Mississippi as visible from the
former Riverfront Encampment
T h e M i s s i s s i p p i R i v e r s e r v e s a s a n u n e x p e c t e d t h e r m o m e t e r f o r
t h e s o c i o p o l i t i c a l t e m p e r a t u r e o f t h e S t . L o u i s c o m m u n i t y .
W a t e r l e v e l s d r o p p e d t o r e c o r d l o w s t h i s f a l l d u e t o c l i m a t e
c h a n g e , r e v e a l i n g a n e v e r - b e f o r e - s e e n r o c k f o r m a t i o n . T h i s
f o l l o w i n g s p r i n g , H o m e l e s s n e s s h a s b e e n c r i m i n a l i z e d i n
M i s s o u r i . A j u n c t i o n b e t w e e n t h e s e t w o o c c u r r e n c e s , S t . L o u i s
M a y o r T i s h u a r a J o n e s e v i c t e d a n e n c a m p m e n t o f t h e u n h o u s e d
t h a t o n c e t h r i v e d o n t h e S t . L o u i s M i s s i s s i p p i R i v e r f r o n t .
H o w e v e r , j u s t a s t h e r i v e r c o n t i n u e s t o r u n d e s p i t e a l l t h e
a d v e r s i t y t h r o w n i t s w a y , t h e i n h a b i t a n t s o f t h i s e n c a m p m e n t
h a v e r e e s t i b l a s h e d h o m e o n t h e M i s s i s s i p p i ' s b a n k s .

APPROACHING THE RIVERFRONT
H i d d e n b e t w e e n T h e
H o r s e s h o e C a s i n o a n d t h e
b a n k s o f T h e M i s s i s s i p p i , a n
e n c a m p e n t o f t h e u n h o u s e d
h a s d e v e l o p e d i n t o a
d e e p r o o t e d c o m m u n i t y
I f y o u w a n t t o d i s t i l l t h e w e a l t h d i v i d e i n S t . L o u i s i n a s i n g l e i m a g e , t h e
R i v e r f r o n t u n h o u s e d c o m m u n i t y i s a s t o n e ' s t h r o w f r o m O l d S p a g h e t t i
F a c t o r y , l u x u r y c o n d o s a n d o t h e r p r i c e y a t t r a c t i o n s . W e w a l k e d a s t o n e ’ s
t h r o w f r o m L a c l e d e ’ s L a n d i n g b o u j e e c o b b l e r o a d s a n d , l e a n i n g c u r i o u s a n d
v i g i l a n t a g a i n s t a h a n d r a i l b y t h e M i s s i s s i p p i , s t o o d H o t t R o d d . A b o u t s i x f e e t
t a l l w i t h s h o u l d e r - l e n g t h h a i r , h e l o o k e d o v e r h i s s h o u l d e r a t u s c r i t i c a l l y a t
f i r s t , a n d t h e n w h e n w e g r e e t e d h i m , s e e m e d s u r p r i s e d a n d e a g e r t o t a l k a n d
t e a c h u s a b o u t h i m s e l f . H e r e q u e s t e d t h a t w e k e e p o u r c a m e r a s d o w n b u t
t h a t w e c o u l d i n t e r v i e w a n d j o t a w a y .
H o t t R o d d g r e w u p i n S t . L o u i s , h a v i n g k n o w n t h e R i v e r f r o n t n e i g h b o r h o o d
“ s i n c e [ h e ] w a s a k i d . ” W e l o o k e d a f e w h u n d r e d f e e t d o w n t h e r i v e r w h e r e
t h e l a r g e P a v i l i o n s t o o d , n o w e m p t y a n d f e n c e d o f f b y c i t y a u t h o r i t i e s . A t
s o m e p o i n t a s a n a d u l t , H o t t R o d d m o v e d f r o m S t . L o u i s t o H o u s t o n . H e ’ s
d e s e r v e d l y p r o u d o f h i s a c a d e m i c t a l e n t , s o p e r h a p s t h e f u l l s c h o l a r s h i p h e
w a s o f f e r e d b y t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f H o u s t o n a f t e r r e c e i v i n g a h i g h s c o r e o n t h e
G E D e x a m p r o v e d a n e f f e c t i v e a p u l l f a c t o r . H o u s t o n w o u l d o n l y b e a
t e m p o r a r y h o m e , h o w e v e r . O n c e h i s c h i l d t h e r e w a s “ f u l l y g r o w n , ” H o t t R o d d
l e f t h i s g i r l f r i e n d a n d h e r a p a r t m e n t , c h o o s i n g t h e u n h o u s e d l i f e f i r s t i n
H o u s t o n a n d t h e n b a c k i n S t . L o u i s
T h a t c h i l d i s o n e o f s e v e r a l , a n d H o t t R o d d i s p a s s i o n a t e a b o u t t h e i r
u p b r i n g i n g . “ A l o t o f p e o p l e m i s s o u t o n p a r e n t i n g , ” h e e x p l a i n e d , a n d h e w a s
u n w i l l i n g t o d e p r i v e h i m s e l f o r h i s c h i l d r e n o f t h a t o p p o r t u n i t y . H i s c h i l d r e n ,
i n f a c t , a r e m a n y , w i t h H o t t R o d d t e l l i n g u s h e h a s a s m a n y a s 1 5 . T h e s e
c o m p l e m e n t h i s 2 1 s i b l i n g s , w h o a r e f a r - f l u n g a n d s e r v e a s b e a c o n s h e w a n t s
t o t r a v e l t o w a r d . A s h e t e l l s u s , h e ’ s g o t 2 1 b r o t h e r s a n d s i s t e r s , i n c l u d i n g a
2 1 - y e a r - o l d G e r m a n - s p e a k i n g s i s t e r i n K o r e a . S h o u l d h e o b t a i n a p a s s p o r t
a n d l e a v e t h e c o u n t r y , h e t e l l s u s h e ’ d n e v e r c o m e b a c k .

SODOM AND GOMORRAH
The exterior of a boarded up bar in Laclede Landing
W e d r i f t e d f r o m t a l k i n g g l o b a l l y a n d d i s c u s s i n g t h e c i t y . W e w e r e c u r i o u s
t o h e a r H o t t R o d d ' s t a k e o n S t . L o u i s p o l i t i c . D u e t o t h e r e c e n t
c r i m i n a l i z a t i o n o f h o m e l e s s n e s s i n M i s s o u r i a n d t h e g o v e r n m e n t
s a n c t i o n e d e v i c t i o n s i n S t . L o u i s , w e a s s u m e d h e w o u l d h a v e a n g e r
t o w a r d s t h e t o p i c . H o w e v e r , w h e n w e a s k e d H o t t R o d d a b o u t M a y o r
T i s h a u r a J o n e s a n d h e r r o l e i n t h e R i v e r f r o n t e v i c t i o n s , h e o f f e r e d a
p r a g m a t i c i n t e r p r e t a t i o n . “ I l i k e t h e m a y o r , ” h e s a y s , f u r t h e r a d d i n g t h a t
w h e n h e h a d s e c u r i t y c a l l e d o n h i m a t c i t y h a l l l a s t N o v e m b e r , t h e m a y o r
p e r s o n a l l y i n t e r v e n e d t o d e f u s e t h e s i t u a t i o n ( h e w a s a d m i t t e d l y v a g u e
o n t h i s p o i n t ) . W a x i n g M a c h i a v e l l i a n , H o t t R o d d a r g u e s t h a t J o n e s ’ g o i n g
b a c k o n t h e p r o m i s e n o t t o e v i c t u n h o u s e d s e t t l e m e n t s i s a m o v e a n y
p o l i t i c i a n w o u l d h a v e d o n e b e c a u s e “ a l l p o l i t i c i a n s l o b b y ” a n d
m a n i p u l a t e c i t i z e n s a s “ p a w n s i n a g a m e . ” H o t t R o d d d o e s n o t v i e w
p o l i t i c s a s a m e a n s f o r c h a n g e o r s o c i e t a l d e v e l o p m e n t . I n s t e a d , h e s e e s
p o l i t i c i a n s a s p e o p l e a c t i n g a s a l l p e o p l e d o , t r y i n g t o d o t h e i r b e s t t o g e t
a h e a d i n l i f e .
T h e n t h e t o p i c o f t h e S a n d p i t c a m e u p . T h e S a n d p i t i s a f e w t h o u s a n d f e e t
b e y o n d w h e r e t h e R i v e r f r o n t E n c a m p m e n t o n c e s t o o d . T u c k e d b e t w e e n
c e m e n t w a l l s a n d t h e r i v e r i t s e l f , y o u w o u l d a l m o s t m i s s i t i f y o u w e r e n ' t
i n t e n t i o n a l l y l o o k i n g . H o t t R o d d p r e f e r s s o l i t a r y t r a p p i n g s t o t h e
S a n d p i t , c a l l i n g i t “ S o d o m a n d G o m o r r a h ” a n d a d v i s i n g u s n o t t o t r e a d
t h e r e l i g h t l y . H i s i m p l i c a t i o n s o f v i o l e n c e a n d d e p r a v i t y g a v e u s p a u s e ,
b u t p e o p l e w e r e m o s e y i n g t h a t w a y n o n c h a l a n t l y , s o w e p r e s s e d f o r w a r d .
D e s p i t e t e l l i n g u s h e d o e s n ’ t a s s o c i a t e w i t h t h e f o l k s o f t h e P i t , H o t t
R o d d f o l l o w e d b e h i n d u s . T h a t ’ s i n d i c a t i v e o f t h e k i n d o f g u y H o t t R o d d
i s , e n d i n g o u r c o n v e r s a t i o n b y e x p l a i n i n g t h a t h e ’ s “ o u t s i d e ‘ c u z o f y o u
p e o p l e ” — t h a t i s , h e o f f e r s g u i d a n c e t o y o u n g e r p e o p l e w h o l a c k l i f e
e x p e r i e n c e t h a t c a n k e e p t h e m s a f e o n t h e s t r e e t s .

STRUCTURES OF ST. LOUIS:
NEW AND THRIVING DOWNTOWN DISTRICTS
ABANDONED AND CRUMBLING BUSINESSES
NORTH OF LACLEDE'S LANDING

WELCOME TO THE SANDPIT
J u s t o b s c u r e d f r o m v i e w s e v e r a l t h o u s a n d f e e t b e h i n d w h e r e t h e
R i v e r f r o n t E n c a m p m e n t o n c e s t o o d i s t h e e n t r a n c e t o a c o m m u n i t y o f
s e v e r a l d o z e n t e n t s . W e r e m a i n e d a m o n g t h e f i r s t f e w t e n t s , a n d b e h i n d
t h e m s t o o d a l a r g e f i r e p i t . W e m e t M i s s D a w n , t h e n e i g h b o r h o o d ’ s d e f a c t o
m a t r i a r c h , w h o g a v e u s h e r b l e s s i n g t o m e e t , i n t e r v i e w a n d s h a r e s u p p l i e s
w i t h t h e c o m m u n i t y ’ s r e s i d e n t s . T h e r e w a s a p a l p a b l e s e n s e o f l o v e a n d
p r o t e c t i o n a m o n g s t t h e r e s i d e n t s , a w e l c o m e s u r p r i s e a f t e r H o t t R o d d ' s
w a r n i n g s . W h e n w e a s k e d i f a n y o n e w o u l d b e i n t e r e s t e d i n b e i n g f i l m e d , a
t a l l m a n i n a w h i t e V - n e c k a n d j e a n s v o l u n t e e r e d p r o u d l y , e v e n d i r e c t i n g u s
w h e r e t o s t a n d t o g e t t h e b e s t l i g h t i n g . H i s n a m e i s D i v o .
The now fenced off pavilion in Laclede Landing
D i v o ’ s a p o s i t i v e , p e n s i v e a n d f l u i d c o n v e r s a t i o n a l i s t . W e c o v e r e d a v a r i e t y
o f t o p i c s p e r t a i n i n g t o l i f e i n T h e S a n d p i t . D i v o s h a r e d s n i p p e t s o f h i s
h i s t o r y w i t h u s , s a y i n g , “ I ’ v e b e e n i n M i s s o u r i o v e r 2 0 y e a r s . ” W h e n a s k e d
h o w i t c o m p a r e s t o h i s h o m e t o w n , C h i c a g o , h e e x p l a i n s i t ' s “ S m a l l e r , l e s s
d a n g e r o u s , b u t m o r e a c t i o n , m o r e a c t i o n . ” A b o u t t h e P i t i t s e l f , “ T h i s i s a n
a r e a t h a t I s e e a s p r i v a t e a n d s a c r e d t o u s , b e c a u s e , i f y o u l o o k t h a t w a y ,
t h e p a v i l i o n u n d e r t h e r e , t h a t ' s w h e r e a l l t h e m a i n t e n t s w a s . A n d t h e n , w e
m o v e d b a c k h e r e a n d m a d e t h i s o u r h o m e . N o w , b a s i c a l l y w e f i g h t i n g f o r
t h e p e o p l e t h a t c a n ' t f i g h t f o r t h e m s e l v e s , t h e y g o t e v e r y t h i n g b u l l d o z e d
a n d t h r o w n a w a y . ”
HOTT RODD
W h i l e H o t t R o d d i s n o t a S a n d p i t
r e s i d e n t , h e v i s i t s t h e c o m m u n i t y
f r o m t i m e t o t i m e . H e h a s b e e n
g o i n g d o w n t o t h e R i v e r f r o n t s i n c e
h e w a s a k i d . A f t e r p a s s i n g t h e G E D ,
h e o b t a i n e d a s c h o l a r s h i p t o t h e
U n i v e r s i t y o f H o u s t o n . N o w t h a t h i s
1 5 c h i l d r e n a r e g r o w n , h e a i m s t o
b e a p r o t e c t o r o f y o u t h o n t h e
s t r e e t s . H e w a r n e d t h a t t h e S a n d p i t
w a s a m o d e r n d a y S o d o m a n d
G o m o r r a h , b u t v e n t u r e d d o w n w i t h
u s a n y w a y s .
DIVO
O n e o f t h e f i r s t S a n d p i t
r e s i d e n t s i s D i v o , a C h i c a g o
n a t i v e w h o m i g r a t e d t o S t . L o u i s
2 0 y e a r s a g o i n s e a r c h o f m o r e
a c t i o n b u t l e s s d a n g e r . H e
p r e f e r s t h e s e c l u d e d n a t u r e o f
t h e R i v e r f r o n t E n c a m p m e n t t o a
s h e l t e r d u e t o h i s P T S D , a s w e l l
a s h i s d e s i r e t o l i v e o f f t h e l a n d .
D i v o w a s e a g e r t o b e
i n t e r v i e w e d . H e s u g g e s t e d t h a t
w e f i l m h i m , a s o p p o s e d t o
r e l y i n g o n a u d i o r e c o r d i n g .
NATE
E a s t S t . L o u i s n a t i v e , f o u n d e r o f
t h e S a n d p i t , D i v o ' s r i g h t h a n d
m a n , a n d t h e " c i t y c o u n c i l m a n " :
N a t e s e r v e s m a n y r o l e s a m o n g
t h e r i v e r f r o n t c o m m u n i t y . H e
f e e l s t h a t h e i s b l e s s e d w i t h 1 5
y e a r s o f s o b r i e t y a n d t h e
c o n s i s t e n c y o f t h e S a n d p i t
c o m m u n i t y . H e a p p r o a c h e d o u r
i n t e r v i e w w i t h a n e a g e r
m o n o l o g u e o n l y a t r u e
s p o k e s m a n c o u l d p r o d u c e .

ECOLOGY OF THE UNHOUSED
O n t h e t o p i c o f s u s t a i n a b i l i t y , D i v o t o l d u s a b o u t h o w h e l i k e s
t o f i s h i n t h e r i v e r . H e t o l d u s a b o u t h o w w h e n y o u a r e
u n h o u s e d , e v e r y t h i n g h a s m u l t i p l e u s e s . A n o l d s o u p c a n i s a
w a t e r b o t t l e . A t r a s h b a g i s a r a i n c o a t . W a l k i n g a r o u n d T h e
S a n d p i t , t h e r e i s c l u t t e r a n d l i t t e r t h a t i s o f t e n a s s o c i a t e d w i t h
t h o s e l i v i n g w i t h o u t t h e l u x u r i e s o f h o u s i n g . H o w e v e r , w i t h
c l o s e o b s e r v a t i o n t h e s e p r a c t i c e s o f r e u s e a n d s u s t a i n a b i l i t y
b e c o m e m o r e o b v i o u s . N o t h i n g i s " g a r b a g e " w h e n y o u a r e
l i v i n g d a y b y d a y . W h e n t h e l a n d i s y o u r h o m e , y o u c a n n o t
a f f o r d t o l i v e w i t h o u t e c o l o g y i n m i n d .
A m i s g u i d e d s e n s e o f e c o l o g y p l a y e d a r o l e i n t h e
e n c a m p m e n t ' s r e m o v a l , a s w e l l . O n e o f t h e p r i m a r y r e a s o n s
t h a t t h e R i v e r f r o n t E n c a m p m e n t w a s e v i c t e d i s o p t i c s . T h e
r a p i d l y d e v e l o p i n g L a c l e d e L a n d i n g n e i g h b o r h o o d i s n o w h o m e
t o m a n y n e w b u s i n e s s e s a n d r e s i d e n c e s . T h o s e s p e a r h e a d i n g
t h i s d e v e l o p m e n t s a w t h e e n c a m p m e n t a s a n e y e s o r e ,
s o m e t h i n g b a d f o r b u s i n e s s . I f a n a r e a a p p e a r s p o l l u t e d a n d
u n k e p t , i t i s m u c h l e s s d e s i r a b l e . T h i s a p p r o a c h t o
e n v i r o n m e n t a l i s m s e e m s t o f o l l o w a n " o u t - o f - s i g h t , o u t - o f -
m i n d " p h i l o s o p h y . M a k e s u r e t h a t t r a s h i s n o t i n t e r f e r i n g w i t h
d e v e l o p i n g a r e a s . M a k e s u r e t h e u n h o u s e d a r e n o t v i s i b l e f r o m
t h e g r o w i n g r e s i d e n t i a l d i s t r i c t s . W e c a n ' t h e l p b u t t o a s k :
w h e n a p r o b l e m i s g o n e f r o m s i g h t , d o e s t h a t r e a l l y m e a n i t
h a s b e e n s o l v e d ?

IDENTIFIERS OF WHO WE ARE:
GRAFFITI TAGS ON CRUMBLING BUILDINGS AND FLAGS FLYING OVER THE ARCH
REVEAL THE SPECTRUM OF LIVED EXPERIENCES IDENTIFIED IN ST. LOUIS

LIFE ON THE WATER
T h e p e o p l e o f t h e S a n d p i t d o n ’ t j u s t s u r v i v e ;
t h e y t h r i v e . “ W e f i s h o n t h e r i v e r , ” D i v o t e l l s u s .
N a t e , t h e S a n d p i t ’ s C i t y C o u n c i l m a n , e x p l a i n s :
“ T h i s [ D i v o ] i s m y b e s t f r i e n d o u t h e r e i n t h e
S a n d p i t . I w a s t h e f i r s t o n e b a c k h e r e … N o w I ’ m
1 5 y e a r s s o b e r . I ' m v e r y b l e s s e d , t h i s i s p a r t o f
H i s p l a n , I ’ m h e r e a l l d a y , e v e r y d a y . O n t h e
w a t e r , w h a t e v e r w e d o , w e d o i t t o g e t h e r … W e
h a v e f u n ! W e f i s h ! ” — D i v o : “ T o l d y o u ! ” — “ W e r u n ,
w e w a l k , w e d o t h e s a m e t h i n g e v e r y o n e e l s e d o ,
b y t h e g r a c e o f g o d . W e a r e n o t r u n n i n g f r o m o u r
r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s . A l l m y c h i l d r e n a r e g r o w n , a l l 5
o f t h e m . T h r o u g h c o l l e g e , w i t h j o b s , w i t h h o u s e s ,
w i t h w i v e s , 1 3 g r a n d k i d s . B y t h e g r a c e o f G o d ,
w e d o n ’ t n e e d m u c h . T h i s i s o u r h o m e , t h e
S a n d p i t . ”
A s D i v o a n d N a t e t e l l u s , a c o m m o n t h r e a d i n t h e
h e a r t s a n d m i n d s o f S a n d p i t d e n i z e n s i s a l o v e
f o r t h e M i s s i s s i p p i R i v e r . D i v o t e l l s u s h e c a u g h t
a 6 2 p o u n d f i s h f r o m t h e d e p t h s o f t h e r i v e r . P e r
N a t e , “ T h e b o t t o m i s a l o n g w a y d o w n . T h e
M i s s i s s i p p i i s w i l d . I t c o u l d t a k e o v e r a t a n y
t i m e . I ’ m v e r y s p e c i a l a b o u t t h e w a t e r . ” T h e
R i v e r o f f e r s f o o d , a b r e e z e o n h o t M i s s o u r i d a y s ,
a n d p r i v a t e r e f u g e i n a c o r n e r o f a c i t y w i t h a
m u n i c i p a l g o v e r n m e n t h o s t i l e t o h o u s e l e s s n e s s .
O n e o f t h e m o s t m e m o r a b l e l i n e s f r o m o u r v i s i t
c o m e s f r o m D i v o : “ T h e r i v e r t e l l s s t o r i e s t h a t
y o u w i l l n e v e r k n o w a b o u t . ”

THE BANKS OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER
T h e R i v e r o f f e r s f o o d , a b r e e z e o n h o t
M i s s o u r i d a y s , a n d p r i v a t e r e f u g e i n a
c o r n e r o f a c i t y w i t h a m u n i c i p a l
g o v e r n m e n t h o s t i l e t o t h e u n h o u s e d .
Anna leans down to observe the
rocks on the riverfront,
approaching the water that very
well could consume her
"THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER IS
WILD. IT COULD TAKE OVER AT
ANY TIME"
N a t e , a r i v e r f r o n t r e s i d e n t , r e m a r k s o n t h e
p o w e r f u l n a t u r e o f t h e w a t e r .

DRONE FOOTAGE OF THE ARCH AND SURROUNDING REGIONS
S C A N T H E Q R C O D E A B O V E F O R A D I G I T A L
S U P P L E M E N T T O T H I S R E P O R T F E A T U R I N G O U R
I N T E R V I E W W I T H D I V O , D R O N E F O O T A G E O F T H E
M I S S I S S I P P I R I V E R , A N D N E W S C O V E R A G E O F T H E
C I T Y ' S E V I C T I O N O F T H E R I V E R F R O N T C O M M U N I T Y .

You know, they straightened out the
Mississippi River in places, to make room for
houses and livable acreage. Occasionally the
river floods these places. 'Floods' is the word
they use, but in fact it is not flooding; it is
remembering. Remembering where it used to
be. All water has a perfect memory and is
forever trying to get back to where it was.
Writers are like that: remembering where we
were, that valley we ran through, what the
banks were like, the light that was there and
the route back to our original place. It is
emotional memory—what the nerves and the
skin remember as well as how it appeared.
And a rush of imagination is our 'flooding.'
—Toni Morrison

L e v i a n d A n n a g a t h e r i n g d r o n e f o o t a g e f o r
" S t o r i e s T h a t Y o u W i l l N e v e r K n o w "

In the past, those who were good
at being gentlemen were subtle,
marvellous, mysterious,
penetrating - so deep they could
not be fathomed. Just because
they cannot be fathomed, I strain
to describe their appearance:
Hesitant, as though crossing a
winter stream;
Timid, as though fearing all
nearby;
Reverent, like a guest;
Rent, like river ice soon to melt;
Solid, like an uncarved block;
Vacant, like a valley;
Turbid, like muddied water.
Who can be turbid, yet slowly
clear?
Who can be at rest, yet moving
slowly come to life?”
- Dao de Jing

Displaced East St. Louis residents worried about where
they’ll live in aftermath of flooding. Photo by Derik
Holtmann for the Bellville News-Democrat on July 28,
2022.

On the outlook downtown, I can see the moving beast clearly; brown
and still yet brewing with anticipatory action. The river still looks as
if its movements are known. The only indication of movement comes
from the bank where the soil meets the water. The rushing sense of
violence upon the edge as the water re-moves soil from the land.
The movement and progression of the river are embedded within
change. The ebb and flow of culture surrounding the Mississippi is
stipulated upon the rise and fall of the changing tides. Collections of
people have congregated around the Mississippi River since at least
the 4th millennium BCE as it provides transportation, water, and a
source of food from the rich clay soil or the fish residing in the river.
Life flourished around the river's movement, growth emerging out of
the violence of change.
Flourishment of native life was hindered by the arrival of settlers
during the 16th century as they eventually laid claim to different
parts of the river, understanding the embedded value. Britain,
France, and Spain planted their flags in the surrounding soil, as they
used and owned the highly coveted resources. Able to move easily up
and down, the land became easily accessible and advantageous. The
river morphed into an evolving political entity carrying and shaping
complex social networks with both antagonistic and collaborative
intentions. Transferring the agency of the river to the people it
transported, settlers attempted to own a transitory matter. The
flowing, swirling, and growing wake was suddenly stripped of power
through the dismemberment of regarded respect.

The interesting thing about a river, however, is the inherent change
underlying its motion. The water contained in such a basin is rarely
stagnant and is always fleeting. Owning something in transit becomes
difficult, begging the question of ownership itself. If setters owned
the fluidity of the river, they would never really reap the benefits of
their ownership. If settlers owned the basin containing the fluid, then
there was no point in ownership as the land beneath the fluid is never
accessible. Thus, the ownership of the river was less an ownership of
some object but an ownership of momentary action—ownership of
progress though guided by the direction of the river’s passage.
1Artist John J. Egan - 1890. Part of a larger broad panoramic work entitled "Panorama of the
Monumental Grandeur of the Mississippi Valley"

F R O M
I N T E N T I O N A L
D E S T R U C T I O N T O
T R A N S F O R M A T I O N
N O A H B A N A S I E W I C Z , S J
J U L I E T T E C A L L A H A N
I N S P Y R S I M O N
F A I T H W H A T L E Y - B L A I N E
M A E V E W I L B O U R N

U N I N T E N T I O N A L
R E W I L D I N G
H O U S E I N T H E
V I L L E
W h a t s e p a r a t e s g r e e n s p a c e m e a n t f o r h u m a n s a n d g r e e n s p a c e t h a t r e j e c t s
h u m a n l i f e ? T h e r e a r e o b v i o u s s i g n s o f d i s u s e a n d d i s t u r b a n c e : b r o k e n
w i n d o w s , l e a n i n g c o l u m n s , a n d b o a r d e d u p w i n d o w s , b u t w h e r e d i d t h e p l a n t s
o n t h e r o o f c o m e f r o m ? P l a n t s m o v e i n a f t e r h u m a n s m o v e o u t , b u t h o w c a n w e
w o r k w i t h r a t h e r t h a n a g a i n s t p l a n t s t o a c t i v a t e , l o c a t e , a n d e x p l o r e t h e n e w
c a p a c i t i e s t h a t b e c o m e v i s i b l e i n a b a n d o n e d b u i l d i n g s ?

I N T R O D U C T I O N
W e l c o m e t o S t . L o u i s , a c i t y f i l l e d w i t h
a b a n d o n e d b u i l d i n g s , r o o t s c l i m b i n g t h r o u g h
p l a s t e r w a l l s , s t o r i e s w a i t i n g t o b e h e a r d
u n d e r f o r g o t t e n b u i l d i n g s ' i n a c t i v i t y . W e
s e e k t o u n d e r s t a n d t h e s t o r i e s o f a b a n d o n e d
b u i l d i n g s a n d w h a t t h e y h a v e t o s a y a b o u t
t h e w o r l d a r o u n d t h e m .
I n S t . L o u i s , T h e V i l l e i s o n e o c c u r r e n c e o f
i n a d v e r t e n t l y i n t e n t i o n a l d i s t u r b a n c e . T o
s e e T h e V i l l e a n d t o h e a r i t s s t o r i e s , w e
b e g i n b y e x p l o r i n g h o w i t c a m e t o b e
p a r t i a l l y a b a n d o n e d b y p u b l i c p o l i c y . W h i l e
p u b l i c h o u s i n g w a s b e i n g b u i l t a r o u n d t h e
c o u n t r y i n t h e 3 0 s , t h e f e d e r a l g o v e r n m e n t
b e g a n t o s e g r e g a t e p a r t i c u l a r n e i g h b o r -
h o o d s f o r u s e b y i n d i v i d u a l r a c e s . T h e 1 9 1 6
r a c i a l z o n i n g o r d i n a n c e i n h i b i t e d p e o p l e
f r o m m o v i n g t o n e i g h b o r h o o d s w h e r e m o r e
t h a n 7 5 % o f t h e r e s i d e n t s w e r e o f a n o t h e r
r a c e . A f t e r B u c h a n n o n v s . W a r l e y m a d e s u c h
o r d i n a n c e s i l l e g a l , c i t i e s r e v e r t e d t o r a c i a l
c o v e n a n t s t o m a i n t a i n r a c i a l c l a s s i f i c a t i o n
u n t i l 1 9 4 8 .
I n S t . L o u i s , m a i n t a i n i n g w h i t e m i d d l e c l a s s
o w n e r s h i p o f l a n d i n f l u e n c e d a l m o s t a l l
p u b l i c p o l i c i e s t h a t r e l a t e d t o h o u s i n g .
S m a l l e r , e x c l u s i v e s u b u r b a n d i s t r i c t s w i t h
r e s t r i c t i v e z o n i n g c o d e s a i m e d t o w a r d s
l a r g e r l o t s a n d b a n n e d a p a r t m e n t s .
R e d l i n i n g , b l o c k b u s t i n g , a n d e x c l u s i v e
z o n i n g f u r t h e r e d t h e r a c i a l c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s b y
a r e a . B e t w e e n 1 9 4 0 a n d 1 9 5 0 , w h i t e f a m i l i e s
m o v e d t o s u b u r b a n S t . L o u i s c o u n t i e s , w h i l e
B l a c k f a m i l i e s , c o n s t r a i n e d b y t h e e x c l u s i v e
z o n i n g , m o v e d t o t h e c i t y ' s o l d e r i n d u s t r i a l
n e i g h b o r h o o d s a b a n d o n e d b y l o w o r m i d d l e -
i n c o m e w h i t e f a m i l i e s . W i t h m i d d l e - c l a s s
B l a c k f l i g h t , t h e z o n e d c o m m u n i t i e s w e r e
r a z e d f o r u r b a n r e n e w a l , h i g h w a y
c o n s t r u c t i o n , a n d t a x - i n c r e m e n t f i n a n c i n g
r e d e v e l o p m e n t p r o j e c t s . T h e P e r s h i n g -
W a t e r m a n r e d e v e l o p m e n t a r e a c a u s e d t h e
e v i c t i o n o f a l m o s t 5 0 0 B l a c k f a m i l i e s .
S i n c e t h e 6 0 ' s , S a i n t L o u i s h a s s u f f e r e d a
s t e a d y d e c l i n e i n p o p u l a t i o n a n d i n v e s t m e n t .
I n t e n t i o n a l d e s t r u c t i o n a n d s u b s e q u e n t
r e c o n s t r u c t i o n i s a d i r e c t r e s u l t o f s u b u r b a n -
i z a t i o n , g o v e r n m e n t p o l i c y , a n d c i t i z e n
i n t e r v e n t i o n . T h e V i l l e , a m a i n l y B l a c k
n e i g h b o r h o o d f o l l o w i n g t h e z o n i n g a n d r a c i a l
c o v e n a n t s , b e g a n t o b e a b a n d o n e d . W i t h i t ,
c r i m e e n t e r e d t h e n e i g h b o r h o o d : t h e h o u s e s ’
b r i c k s w e r e s t o l e n a n d s o l d t o b r i c k y a r d s i n
S t . L o u i s , r e p u r p o s e d i n c i t i e s a s f a r a s N e w
O r l e a n s . T h e m a r k e t f o r u s e d b r i c k i s l a r g e i n
s o u t h e r n s t a t e s , a n d a t r u c k o f b r i c k s c a n b e
w o r t h m o r e t h a n $ 3 0 0 .
T h e h o u s e s b e g a n t o r e s e m b l e d o l l h o u s e s ,
w i t h p a r t s r e m o v e d b y t h i e v e s a n d
c o m m o d i f i e d f o r r e u s e i n o t h e r c o n -
s t r u c t i o n s . T h e s e d o l l h o u s e s a r e n o t o n l y
p r e s e n t i n S t . L o u i s , b u t a c r o s s t h e c o u n t r y i n
c i t i e s l i k e D e t r o i t a n d C h i c a g o . T h e
d o l l h o u s e s t h e n c a n n o t b e r e s o l d o r
d e v e l o p e d , r e n d e r i n g t h e m a b a n d o n e d u n t i l
t h e y c a n b e t r a n s f o r m e d , a n o f t e n d i f f i c u l t
a n d t i m e l y t a s k .
“ I T ’ S G O O D T O S E E T H E S E B U I L D I N G S C O M E
D O W N ; W E D O N ’ T H A V E T O W O R R Y A B O U T
P E O P L E G O I N G U P A N D G E T T I N G H I G H I N T H E M . ”
- R E S I D E N T F L O Y D J A C K S O N , 5 9 ,
S I T T I N G O N H I S F R O N T P O R C H
T h e s t o r i e s o f a b a n d o n e d h o u s e s ,
i n t e n t i o n a l l y d i s t u r b e d , a r e h e a r d a m o n g s t
t h e r o t t i n g w o o d a n d g r o w i n g r o o t s .
N e i g h b o r h o o d s l i k e T h e V i l l e a r e f i l l e d w i t h
h o u s e s l i k e t h i s , w r o u g h t b y e x p o s u r e s o f
b l i g h t c a u s e d b y i l l e g a l t r a s h d u m p i n g a n d
i n c r e a s e d h o m e e n e r g y c o s t s , a b a n d o n m e n t ,
a n d c r i m e . T h e b l i g h t h a s c a u s e d r e s i d e n t i a l
a n d i n d u s t r i a l a i r p o l l u t i o n , m o l d , a n d l e a d
p o i s o n i n g , c a u s i n g i n c r e a s e d h o s p i t a l i z a t i o n s
i n t h e s u r r o u n d i n g a r e a s . T h e l e a d p o i s o n i n g ,
f r o m o l d p a i n t c h i p s , c r e a t e s a d u s t t h a t
c h i l d r e n a n d t h i e v e s e n c o u n t e r i n t h e h o u s e s .
T h e m o l d i n f i l t r a t e s t h e a i r a n d a c c u m u l a t e s
i n t h e s u r r o u n d i n g h o u s e s , m a n y o f w h i c h a r e
p r e s e n t l y i n h a b i t e d . T h i s m y c o l o g i c a l - l i k e
r e w i l d i n g h a s n e g a t e d s o m e o f t h e e x p o s u r e s
f r o m t h e s e s p a c e s i n T h e V i l l e b y i n c r e a s i n g
t h e m i c r o b i a l d i v e r s i t y a n d s u b t e r r a n e a n
e c o l o g y o f n a t i v e
p l a n t s .
P U B L I C P O L I C Y &
R E W I L D I N G & B R I C K
T H E F T : A T R I P L E
T H R E A T

T H E V I L L E
T h e s e s p a c e s i n T h e V i l l e a n r e i n f o r m a t i o n
s y s t e m s w i t h p o l i t i c a l , s o c i a l , a n d
e n v i r o n m e n t a l c a p a c i t i e s . A l t h o u g h t h e s e
a b a n d o n e d h o u s e s h a v e h a d a c t i v e , l i v i n g
s t o r i e s i n t h e i r p a s t , t h e y n o w h a v e t h e
c a p a c i t y t o b e g r e e n s p a c e s . A l r e a d y a c t i n g
a s u n i n t e n t i o n a l g r e e n s p a c e s b e c a u s e o f
t h e w a y s t h e y n e g a t e e x p o s u r e t o t o x i n s ,
t h e s e h o u s e s c a n b e t r a n s f o r m e d i n t o
i n t e n t i o n a l g r e e n s p a c e s b y l a n d s c a p i n g
w i t h n a t i v e p l a n t s , w i t h o u t h a v i n g t h e i r
i n t e g r i t y o r f o u n d a t i o n a l t e r e d . A s
i n c r e a s i n g m i c r o b i a l d i v e r s i t y n e g a t e s t h e
e x p o s u r e s o f a b a n d o n m e n t a n d b r i c k t h e f t ,
p l a n t i n g a n d l a n d s c a p i n g n a t i v e p l a n t s t o
h i n d e r a i r p o l l u t i o n , m o l d , a n d l e a d
p o i s o n i n g c a n a c t i v a t e t h e s e s p a c e s ,
a l l o w i n g t h e m t o a c t i v e l y i m p r o v e t h e
e c o l o g y o f t h e e n v i r o n m e n t , b o t h i n
i n h a b i t e d a n d o t h e r a b a n d o n e d h o u s e s .
H O U S E I N T H E V I L L E W I T H N A T I V E
R E W I L D I N G O N T H E L O T
T o t r a n s f o r m t h e s e s p a c e s a n d t h e i r s t o r i e s a n d t o
b e a b l e t o p a r t i c i p a t e i n t h e i r u n i n t e n t i o n a l
p o t e n t i a l i t y r e q u i r e s c i t i z e n e n g a g e m e n t .
I n i t i a t i v e s t h a t i n t e r - g a g e l i k e s u c h h a v e o c c u r r e d
u n d e r d i f f e r e n t c o n d i t i o n s , s u c h a s S p r i n g C h u r c h .
S A M E H O U S E
F R O N T A N G L E

S
P R I N G C H U R C H
O n S p r i n g A v e n u e , a n i n e t e e n t h - c e n t u r y
c h u r c h r e s t s b e t w e e n s e v e r a l r e s i d e n t i a l
h o m e s a n d a l o c a l h i g h s c h o o l . D e s p i t e
r e s i d i n g i n a c i t y f i l l e d w i t h h i s t o r i c
c h u r c h e s , S p r i n g C h u r c h a t t r a c t s t h e
a t t e n t i o n o f m a n y g i v e n i t s p e c u l i a r n a t u r e
a n d s e e m i n g l y a m b i g u o u s f u n c t i o n . T h e
m i s s i n g r o o f a n d w a l l s o f i v y m a k e S p r i n g
C h u r c h a p p e a r a t f i r s t g l a n c e t o b e
a b a n d o n e d ; u p o n f u r t h e r i n v e s t i g a t i o n , i t
s h o w s s i g n s o f n o t o n l y a t t e n t i o n b u t
m a i n t e n a n c e a n d s i g n i f i c a n t i n v e s t m e n t .
S p r i n g C h u r c h i s a n i n t e n t i o n a l l y m a i n t a i n e d
a b a n d o n e d s p a c e u s e d f o r p h o t o g r a p h y a n d
e n t e r t a i n m e n t . I t s c r u m b l i n g s t r u c t u r e i s n o w
f e a t u r e d o n I n s t a g r a m a n d i n a d v e r t i s e m e n t s .
S p r i n g C h u r c h u s e d t o s e r v e a s a h o u s e o f
w o r s h i p y e t h a s n o w b e c o m e t h e h o m e t o a
d i f f e r e n t c o n g r e g a t i o n . O n c e r t a i n d a y s , t h e
b u i l d i n g i s v i s i t e d b y t h o s e s e e k i n g t o t a k e
a d v a n t a g e o f i t s f a ç a d e o f r u i n f o r
e n g a g e m e n t p h o t o s . O n o t h e r d a y s , t h e
c h u r c h i s a r r a n g e d t o s e r v e a s a n a r t g a l l e r y .
I t h a s e v e n h o u s e d t h e S a i n t L o u i s S y m p h o n y
O r c h e s t r a t o p l a y m u s i c f o r f o r m e r l y
i n c a r c e r a t e d m e n a n d w o m e n .
" W E T O U C H E D I T A S L I T T L E A S
P O S S I B L E . . . W I T H T H E G O A L O F
M A K I N G I T F E E L L I K E A R U I N . "
D e s p i t e i t s o d d i t y , S p r i n g
C h u r c h r e v e a l s a n i n t r i g u i n g
p r o s p e c t f o r t h e c i t y o f S t .
L o u i s : w i t h e n g a g e m e n t a n d
i n v e s t m e n t , i s t h e r e a w a y f o r
t h e s e a b a n d o n e d s p a c e s t o
n o t o n l y b e h e a r d b u t
t r a n s f o r m e d a s a c o n t r i b u t i o n
t o t h e g r e a t e r c o m m u n i t y ?
T h e C h u r c h h a s b e c o m e
i n t r a - a c t i v e a s v i s i t o r s c a n
s e e a n d h e a r i t s s t o r i e s i n t h e
m a n i c u r e d r e w i l d i n g , y e t i t i s
a p a s s i v e i n f o r m a t i o n s y s t e m
a c t i v a t e d b y v i s i t o r s ’ e n g a g e -
m e n t w i t h t h e s p a c e f o r
e n t e r t a i n m e n t o r o t h e r w i s e
a n d t h e i n t e n t i o n a l d i s -
t u r b a n c e o f m a i n t a i n i n g t h e
a b a n d o n e d a e s t h e t i c , b o t h
w i t h i n a n d o u t s i d e i t s
s t r u c t u r e .
S p r i n g C h u r c h s e e m s l i k e a
n o n - a r t i f i c i a l s p a c e , y e t i t s
p r e s e n t a b a n d o n e d s t a t e w a s
n o t r e b u i l t i n a n a t t e m p t t o
e s t a b l i s h a n e w b u i l d i n g g
w i t h n e w a n d d i f f e r e n t
c a p a c i t i e s , b u t u t i l i z e d f o r a
c a p a c i t y t h a t e x i s t s w i t h i n i t s
d e s t r u c t i o n a n d b e n e f i t s i t s
s u r r o u n d i n g e c o l o g y b y
c o n t r i b u t i n g t o t h e m i c r o b i a l
d i v e r s i t y a n d c o m m u n i t y w i t h
a r t , m u s i c , a n d d a n c e . T o
e n g a g e w i t h t h e s e s p a c e s
a n d t r a n s f o r m t h e s e s p a c e s
r e - q u i r e s r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n
t h e c i t i z e n s c o m m u n i t y l i k e
S p r i n g C h u r c h . C i t i z e n s
s h o u l d s e e t h e p o t e n t i a l i t y o f
t h e s p a c e s t o e n g a g e a n d
t r a n s f o r m t h e m . S p r i n g
C h u r c h a c t s a s a t o o l - k i t f o r
p r a c t i c i n g s e e i n g t h i s p o t e n t -
i a l i t y a n d a c t i v a t i n g i t .

N O T I C I N G
D E S T R U C T I O N
W h e n i t ' s a l l a r o u n d y o u — a n d i t ' s e v e r y w h e r e
i n T h e V i l l e — w h a t d o y o u n o t i c e i n t h e
d e s t r u c t i o n a n d a b a n d o n m e n t ? W i t h o u t o u r
d r o n e , w e n e v e r w o u l d h a v e n o t i c e d t h e
c r u m b l i n g b r i c k s o r i n t e r i o r d e c a y o f t h e s e
s p a c e s .
B U I L D I N G S I N
T H E V I L L E

T R A N S F O R M A T I O N
H O U S E I N T H E V I L L E
L i k e S p r i n g
C h u r c h , t h i s
h o u s e c a n b e
a c t i v a t e d i n t o a
n e w c a p a c i t y .
B o t h h a v e v i s u a l
r e w i l d i n g ,
w h e r e a s o n e h a s
o c c u r r e d o v e r
t i m e a n d
c o n t i n u e s t o
g r o w w i t h o u t
i n t e r f e r e n c e , t h e
C h u r c h ’ s i s
r o u t i n e l y
m a i n t a i n e d a n d
d e s i g n e d .
S P R I N G C H U R C H R E F L E C T E D
A G A I N S T T H E H O U S E
A f t e r w e n o t i c e t h e d e -
s t r u c t i o n , w e c a n t r a n s f o r m i t .
T o t h e l e f t o f t h e r e w i l d e d
h o m e i s a n i n h a b i t e d o n e . T h e
m i c r o b i a l d i v e r s i t y a n d n a t i v e
r e w i l d i n g n e g a t e s i t s c i t i z e n
h e a l t h a n d p h y s i c a l e f f e c t s o n
t h e s u r r o u n d i n g a r e a , y e t
d o e s n o t a l t e r t h e p r o p e r t y
t a x e s o r v a l u e o f t h e o t h e r
h o m e s . F u r t h e r t r a n s f o r m i n g
t h i s s p a c e b y p l a n t i n g ,
m a i n t a i n i n g , o r e n g a g i n g w i t h
i t m a y i n v i t e g e n t r i f i c a t i o n ,
b u t t h i s i s u n l i k e l y b e c a u s e
h o u s e s a r e n o t b e i n g r e b u i l t ,
b u t r e - u s e d .
R a t h e r t h a n a t t e m p t t o
r e b u i l d t h e h o u s e f r o m i t s
r e m a i n s o r r a z e i t f o r n e w
d e v e l o p m e n t , w h i c h c o u l d
a f f e c t t h e p r o p e r t y v a l u e a n d
t a x e s , n e g a t i v e l y i m p a c t i n g
t h e s u r r o u n d i n g r e s i d e n t s w h o
m a y n o t b e a b l e t o a f f o r d i t
a n d c a u s i n g f u r t h e r a b a n d o n -
m e n t , e n g a g i n g w i t h t h e
h o u s e s g r a n t s t h e m n e w
p o l i t i c a l , s o c i a l , o r e n v i r o n -
m e n t a l c a p a c i t i e s .
“ B U I L D I N G S T H A T W E R E O N C E A S O U R C E O F N E G A T I V E
E S T E E M B E C O M E A S O U R C E O F P O S I T I V E E N E R G Y . ”
— J A M E S C L A R K , V P O F C O M M U N I T Y O U T R E A C H A T B E T T E R
F A M I L Y L I F E
O t h e r a b a n d o n e d h o u s e s ' f r o n t
d o o r s i n T h e V i l l e h a v e b e e n
p a i n t e d b y C h r i s G r e e n a n d
C o r n a l l M c K a y , c o m m i s s i o n e d b y
B e t t e r F a m i l y L i f e , a n o n - p r o f i t
o r g a n i z a t i o n i n S t . L o u i s . T h e i r a r t
t r a n s f o r m s t h e s e a b a n d o n e d a n d
b l i g h t e d h o m e s i n t o a r t p i e c e s
s h o w i n g t h e B l a c k h i s t o r y a n d
g r e a t n e s s " B e y o n d t h e W a l l s " o f
S t . L o u i s ' s r a c i a l h o u s i n g d i v i d e .
G r e e n a n d M c K a y a r e c r e a t i n g
a c t i v e a r t p a i n t e d o n p a s s i v e
b u i l d i n g s t h a t e n g a g e s t h e
c o m m u n i t y .

P O T E N T I A L I T Y A N D
P R O G R A M S
C i t y p r o j e c t s l i k e t h e V a c a n c y t o V i b r a n c y t o o l k i t h e l p c i t i z e n s c o m e t o g e t h e r a n d c r e a t e
s p a c e s t h a t a r e " j u s t g r e e n e n o u g h : " g r e e n s p a c e s f o r t h e n e i g h b o r h o o d t o u s e , b u t w o n ' t
r a i s e t a x e s o r i n v i t e g e n t r i f i c a t i o n . T h e t o o l k i t i s a n a c c e s s i b l e g u i d e t o s h o w l a n d o w n e r s
h o w t o a c t i v a t e t h e i r n e i g h b o r h o o d s ' a b a n d o n e d h o u s e s i n f o u r s t e p s . I t a c c e p t s t h a t n o t
e v e r y p r o j e c t n e e d s t o b e l a r g e - s c a l e a n d e n c o u r a g e s c o m m u n i t y m e m b e r s t o w o r k
t o g e t h e r , t h u s i n t e r - g a g i n g w i t h t h e l o c a l g o v e r n m e n t , c i t i z e n s , a n d t h e c o m m u n i t y . P r o j e c t
i d e a s i n c l u d e p u b l i c a r t i n s t a l l a t i o n s l i k e G r e e n ' s , d i f f e r e n t t y p e s o f g a r d e n s , p l a y s p a c e s ,
o r c h a r d s , g a t h e r i n g s p a c e s , a n d n a t u r e s c a p i n g . M a n y g r e e n s p a c e s h a v e b e e n t r a n s f o r m e d
i n t o e n g a g i n g , b e n e f i c i a l p a r t i c i p a n t s i n t h e c o m m u n i t y . M o r e t h a n g r e e n s p a c e s , t h e y c a n
b e c o m e c o m m u n i t y c e n t e r s ,
R a t h e r t h a n a t t e m p t t o r e b u i l d o r r a z e t h e h o u s e f o r n e w d e v e l o p m e n t s , V a c a n c y t o
V i b r a n c y u t i l i z e s t h e e x i s t i n g a b a n d o n m e n t a n d p r e s e n t i n h a b i t a n t s t o a c t i v a t e t h e s o c i a l
a n d e n v i r o n m e n t a l c a p a c i t y o f t h e h o u s e s , g i v i n g t h e m t h e p o t e n t i a l t o t r a n s f o r m t h e s e
s p a c e s f o r u s e , r a t h e r t h a n f o r g e t t h e m a s t h e y c o n t i n u e t o r o t . A s V a c a n c y t o V i b r a n c y h a s
i n d i c a t e d , t h i s t r a n s f o r m a t i o n d o e s n o t r e q u i r e e x t e n s i v e f u n d i n g , i n s t e a d i t u s e s w h a t
c i t i z e n s a n d h o m e o w n e r s a l r e a d y h a v e - p a i n t s , t o o l s , c l o t h , w o o d , e t c - w i t h t i m e a n d
c o m m i t m e n t t o i m p r o v i n g t h e a r e a s a r o u n d t h e h o u s e s t h r o u g h t r a n s f o r m a t i o n .
S t . L o u i s h a s a l s o i n t r o d u c e d s e v e r a l v a c a n c y r e d u c t i o n p r o g r a m s , i n c l u d i n g F i n e s t 1 5 , t h e
N e i g h b o r h o o d V a c a n c y I n i t i a t i v e , t h e U r b a n G r e e n i n g P r o j e c t , t h e G r e e n C i t y C o a l i t i o n ,
a n d t h e G a r d e n L e a s e P r o g r a m . E a c h o f t h e s e a t t e m p t t o r e d u c e v a c a n c y i n t h e c i t y b y
a d d r e s s i n g c r e a t i o n o f g r e e n s p a c e a n d a l l o w i n g c o m m u n i t y m e m b e r s a g e n c y i n t h e i r
n e i g h b o r h o o d s . P r o p N S , p a s s e d b y c i t y v o t e r s i n 2 0 1 7 , w e a t h e r i z e s a n d s t a b i l i z e s
b u i l d i n g s t o p r e v e n t d e t e r i o r a t i o n , r e d u c e s n e e d f o r d e m o l i t i o n , p r o m o t e s r e h a b i l i t a t i o n ,
a n d s e l l s t h e s t a b i l i z e d b u i l d i n g s i n b i d d i n g r o u n d s . A l l o f t h e s e p r o g r a m s a i d c i t i z e n s i n
t r a n s f o r m i n g t h e i r s p a c e s i n d i f f e r e n t w a y s .
“ I t ’ s g o o f y . . . I d o n ' t u n d e r s t a n d w h y w e
h a v e t o g o t h r o u g h a l l t h i s . I t ’ s a
c o m m o n s e n s e t h i n g . I t j u s t s h o w s h o w
b a d t h e g o v e r n m e n t i s a t
g o v e r n m e n t i n g . T h i s i s n o t r o c k e t
s c i e n c e . ”
— A m y M i c h a e l

R E T H I N K I N G T H E A B A N D O N E D
A f t e r p e r f o r m i n g a h a n d f u l o f s o n g s t o o p e n a c t h i s a c t , G r a m m y
A w a r d - w i n n i n g r a p p e r T y l e r t h e C r e a t o r g r e e t e d t h e c i t y o f S t . L o u i s :
" Y ’ a l l g o t a l o t o f a b a n d o n e d s h i t . ” T h e c o m m e n t e l i c i t e d a n
e r u p t i o n o f l a u g h t e r a s t h e a r t i s t w e n t o n t o e x p l a i n t h a t d e s p i t e
t h i s , S t . L o u i s h a d s u r p r i s e d h i m a s a n i n t e r e s t i n g c i t y w i t h a n
i m p r e s s i v e “ e n e r g y . ”
W h a t w a s u l t i m a t e l y a n o f f - h a n d e d r e m a r k m a d e d u r i n g a l i v e
p e r f o r m a n c e s , T y l e r t h e C r e a t o r ’ s c o m m e n t r e v e a l s a r e a l q u a l i t y o f
S t . L o u i s t h a t r e g u l a r l y s e r v e s t o i d e n t i f y t h e c i t y : w e d o i n d e e d h a v e
a l o t o f a b a n d o n e d “ s h i t . ” Y e t t h e n e g a t i v i t y o f s u c h a c o m m e n t i s
p r e c i s e l y w h a t t h i s r e p o r t a i m s t o c o r r e c t . T o s e e t h e s e a b a n d o n e d
s p a c e s a s s i m p l y i s o l a t e d , f o r s a k e n s t r u c t u r e s w o u l d i n a c c u r a t e a n d
i n e v i t a b l y e r a s e s t h e c a p a c i t y l a t e n t w i t h i n t h e s e s p a c e s .
S i m p l y a s s i g n i n g t h e l a b e l “ a b a n d o n e d ” a c c o u n t s f o r n e i t h e r t h e a c t
n o r t h e n a t u r e o f t h e a b a n d o n m e n t t h a t o c c u r r e d . B y e x a m i n i n g t h e s e
s p a c e s m o r e s p e c i f i c a l l y t h r o u g h a l e n s o f i n t e n t i o n , d e s t r u c t i o n , a n d
r e w i l d i n g , w e c o n s t r u c t a n e w i m a g e o f S t . L o u i s t h r o u g h i t s h i s t o r y
a n d p r i o r i t i e s .
" Y ' a l l g o t a l o t o f a b a n d o n e d s h i t . "
- T y l e r , t h e c r e a t o r

Demographic change between 1940-1950 showing white flight to the suburbs as
urban centers were increasingly abandoned. Courtesy of Colin Gordon -
University of Iowa.

Completed in 1874, the Eads Bridge in St.
Louis was the key to the west; a growing
design that provided movement over the
violent, daunting river. Designed by
engineer James B. Eads, this architectural
marvel revolutionized transportation and
commerce, opening up new opportunities
for westward expansion and transforming
St. Louis into a thriving hub of trade and
industry.
Prior to its construction, crossing the
Mississippi relied heavily on ferries and
cumbersome river traffic. The completion of
the bridge marked a turning point in
American transportation, expanding the
possibilities for westward movement and
providing a stable and efficient route for
railroads and vehicles to traverse the river.
The bridge's construction and subsequent
impact on commerce and connectivity
solidified St. Louis' position as a vital center
of trade in the 1800's as it attracted
investors, entrepreneurs.
Eads Bridge 2023, 1874 (Courtesy of Archive.org)

Empty lot overlooking St.Louis arch. Taken in collaboration with the
Mississippi Riverfront group

The Pruitt-Igoe public housing complex in St Louis, shortly after its
completion in 1956. :

THE STORY OF HUMAN EVOLUTION IS TYPICALLY TOLD THROUGH THE USE OF
TOOLS—PROTRUDING INTROJECTIONS THAT ENABLE HUNTING, KILLING,
GATHERING, FIGHTING AND CONSUMPTION. PROGRESSIVE EPICS DEFINED THE
MARCH OF HUMAN PROGRESS CENTERED AROUND THIS PHALLIC WEAPONRY
AMIDST A WORLD OF VIOLENCE. THE GROWTH OF HOMO SAPIENS WAS THUS A
CHARACTERISTIC OUTCOME OF THESE VIOLENT ACTS; TO BE HUMAN WAS TO USE
THESE WEAPONS AS TOOLS OF DESTRUCTION, AN EXISTENCE STIPULATED UPON
VIOLENCE. WE NOW FACE A DESOLATE WORLD THAT IS THE RESULT OF THIS
CAPITALISTIC GROWTH IN CONSUMPTION—A TIPPING POINT FOR NO RETURN. WE
MOURN AND FEAR OUR LANDSCAPE AS OUR SOIL AND WATER HAVE BECOME TOXIC
AND OUR LAND AND BODIES INFERTILE. AS WE FACE THIS BLEAK REALITY OF A
POST-VIOLENT WORLD, WE ARE PRESENTED WITH A NUANCED NOTION OF HUMAN
FLOURISHING. AS SUCH, IN THE CONTEXT OF CLIMATE CHANGE, OUR LIFE STORIES
ARE EVOLVING SUCH THAT WE ARE NO LONGER SITUATED AMONGST THE GROWING,
VIOLENT, AND PROGRESSIVE BUT RATHER AMIDST THE SURVIVALISTIC MUNDANE.
THE “MARCH OF PROGRESS” IS AN ARTIFACT THAT WAS FIRST PUBLISHED IN 1965
IN LIFE NATURE LIBRARY. THE ILLUSTRATION SHOWS A LINEAR PROGRESSION
FROM APE TO MAN AND HAS BEEN PARODIED NUMEROUS TIMES OFTEN SHOWING A
“DE-EVOLVED” COMPUTER-GEEK OR DESK-WORKER. THIS DEPICTION, HOWEVER,
HAS BEEN WIDELY CRITIQUED FOR ITS PRESENTATION OF LINEAR UNDERSTANDING
OF THE EVOLVED MAN. EVOLVED QUICKLY BECAME SYNONYMOUS WITH PROGRESS
AS THE IMAGE WAS EASILY ACCEPTED AS THE VESTIGIAL RELIC OF THE MODERN
MAN, CHAMPIONING ORTHOGENESIS.
THROUGH THIS RENDITION, JUSTIFICATION FOR VIOLENCE QUICKLY EMERGED,
FRAMED AS A NECESSARY SACRIFICE IN THE NAME OF GROWTH. WE SAW
OURSELVES AS THE PEAK PRODUCT OF EVOLUTION, THE PERFECT OUTCOME OF
SUCCESSFUL YEARS THAT BROUGHT US TO A PROGRESSED SELF. SEEING THE
LAND AND OTHER BEINGS BENEATH OURSELVES, WE BEGAN TO USE THEM WITH
STILL THE JUSTIFICATION OF PROGRESS. LANDS, PLANTS, AND ANIMALS BECAME
OURS TO OWN, PLUCK, AND KILL AS THEY WERE SIMPLY MEANS OF FURTHER
PROGRESS ENABLING GROWTH OF OUR OWN SPECIES. OUR GROWTH EMERGED
OUT OF THIS VIOLENT CONJECTURE STIPULATED UPON CONSUMPTION,
UTILIZATION, AND MANIPULATION OF THE ENVIRONMENT AROUND US. GENERATION
AND CONSUMPTION GAVE RISE TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL CRISES THAT WE FACE
TODAY. TOXIC POLLUTANTS CAUSED BY OVERCONSUMPTION OF PRODUCED
MANIPULATION OF THE EARTH, RISING SEA LEVELS FROM THE OVERWHELMING
CLIMATE CHANGE ALL CAUSED BY THE NEED FOR CONTINUOUS VIOLENT
MOVEMENT.
OUR CULTURE BECAME INTIMATELY INEXTRICABLE FROM THIS VIOLENT FORM OF
EXISTENCE. HOWEVER, ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE HAS LEFT US WITH AN EMPTY
FUTURE WHEREIN THERE IS NOTHING FAMILIAR LEFT TO VIOLATE. AS WE FACE
THIS BLEAK REALITY, WE ARE LEFT WITH A SENSE OF ANXIOUS TENUITY FOR THE
WORLD WE MAY EMBODY, CONFRONTING GRIEF THAT COMES WITH THE LOSS OF
FAMILIAR PLACES AND WAYS OF LIFE WE ONCE KNEW. WE MUST QUICKLY GRAPPLE
WITH THE WORLD WE HAVE KNOWN KNOWING THAT THE VIOLENT WAY WE HAVE
LIVED IS CHANGING RAPIDLY—WE MUST CHANGE OUR WAYS IN ORDER TO
SURVIVE.

Thomas M. Easterly, old Spanish fort, later Roy's Mill; Missouri History Museum

Abandoned urban site taken near Mississippi River.

New Media Writing
Spring 2023
D I S P A R I T I E S I N
A I R
U R B A N
P O L L U T I O N
Emily Abrams, Gabriel Hope,
Pola Luckiewicz, Asher Rowe,
Michael Sniatkewicz

PURPOSE
Our project assesses the disparities in air pollution
across the Saint Louis area. It describes not only the
factors that contribute to these disparities, but also
these disparities relate to the continual health effects
of the area's residents. The report positions itself as as
medium for thinking through the these effects; if
disparities are present, how might the information be
concurrently introduced as such?
We demonstrate the presence of an AQI contrast
across different areas of St Louis and how these
discrepancies map onto income levels. The goal of this
report, in emphasizing these disparities, is to sensitize
readers so that the basic measures of air quality can be
linked to particular locations in Saint Louis. While basic
air quality measures are clear and easy to understand,
the consequences of these measurements and
differences amongst measurements might be lost. As a
result, these measurements lack the capacity to
motivate action. This report presents our research
chronologically, starting with background research and
working through both our fieldwork and our
interpretation of the data acquired.
AQI stands for Air Quality Index:
it is the standardized
measurement of the safety of air,
based on measurements of
particles in the air over a set
period of time

RESEARCH
METHODS
We conducted research online, gathering more
information around the surrounding areas. We
educated ourselves on environmental justice and the
disparities that exist between higher and lower income
areas. Then, we focused our attention on Air Quality
Index [AQI] databases. We found sites that mapped air
quality in various STL areas.
These sites allowed us to see what gaps existed in the
research. The gaps provided the locations we would
use in measuring air quality on our own. We then set
out and measured air quality in these areas, making
sure to note specific locations and/or intersections
along the way. We took photographs of each location,
noted the exact date and time, and described the
environment and weather in each location.
Once we gathered this information, we transferred our
data to one document. This allowed us to visualize the
entirety of the data we had collected. Additionally, we
mapped drone footage to emphasize disparities in air
pollution. This footage, it is hoped, will allow our
readers to better sense any disparities.

Cloud Key
AQI: 1.0-4.0
AQI: 4.1-24.0
(10)
AQI - 1.5
AQI: 25.0-30.0
(1)
AQI-30.0
(6)
AQI - 5.1
(1)
Buchanan and N Second St.
(7)
AQI - 4.5
(2)
Washington and Tucker
(3)
AQI - 7.8
(3)
Laclede’s Landing Blvd
(8)
AQI - 4.2
(2)
AQI - 25.1
(4)
(5)
8th and Broadway
Tower Grove Park Roundabout
(9)
AQI - 2.9
(4)
AQI - 6.5
(6)
Clinton St. and N 13th St
(7)
Union & Delmar
(5)
AQI - 5.9
(8)
(9)
(10)
Fresh Thyme Market
Berra Park
Hamilton & Wells

AQI READINGS
Photographs from key AQI
measurement locations.
Note how these images
emphasize the glaring
disparity in AQI readings
and the conditions that
these locations foster.
Buchanan and N Second St | AQI: 30.0
Buchanan and Broadway | AQI: 31.2
These photographs and
their contrast capture the
lived reality of the map
locations on the previous
page. These locations typify
the varies environs wherein
air quality is shaped.
Air circulates around us but
it also circulates within and
from particular material
arrabgements that are
manifestations of specific
political and social values.
Macklind and Daggett | AQI: 4.2
Tower Grove Park | AQI: 7.6
Washington and Tucker Blvd | AQI: 25.1
Magnolia and Thurman | AQI: 5.2

A Q I A N A L Y S I S
The data provided presents the areas in
which the AQI was substantially higher than
the norm. These readings were taken predominantly
in North County, where
residential neighborhoods border industrial
parks as well as manufacturing facilities.
According to ProPublica, the Mallingkrog
location (Buchanan and N 2nd) has an
estimated excess lifetime cancer risk of about
1 in 20,000, or 50% lower than the EPA's
maximum acceptable risk. It is important to
note that even in the more risk prone areas,
trees have a profoundly positive affect on the
neighborhoods.
The heavily industrialized area is susceptible
to a higher degree of airborne particles,
putting the residents of these areas in danger
of negative ramifications. The other
measurements, which have moderate air
quality, were taken in streets that were high
in traffic, low in tree density, and low in
relative income level.
PICTURE
N Ninth St | AQI:21.4
VIDEO
Route 44 | AQI: 25.3
PICTURE
Buchanan St | AQI: 33.5

A Q I A N A L Y S I S
PICTURE
Tower Grove | AQI: 1.3
This data represents the areas in which the AQI
was either at or slightly below the norm. While
most of these readings were derived from
residential neighborhoods and urban parks,
some highly trafficked areas were surprisingly
producing low AQI readings as well. Some of the
lowest readings we acquired were taken in areas
of low traffic, high tree density, and high
relative income levels. In Tower Grove Park
specifically, the AQI never surpassed a 7.6
reading on a PM/10 scale.
Northwest Dr | AQI:1.8
VIDEO
PICTURE
High tree density, which helps to eliminate
harmful pollutants more, was one of the key
factors in this area. According to the USDA,
"areas with a high proportion of tree cover (e.g.,
forest stands) will remove more pollution and
have the potential to create greater reductions
in air pollution concentrations in and around
these areas". Similarly, these urban parks had
little road traffic, which can oftentimes expel car
emissions and dormant pollutants into the air.
Magnolia St | AQI: 2.7

INFLUENTIAL FACTORS
Relative Income Level
Poor communities are often exposed and
subjected to elevated air pollution levels.
Research shows that communities with lower
socioeconomic status have higher air pollution.
This environmental injustice causes individuals of
lower SES to have higher risk of health problems.
Traffic
Depending on the traffic in areas that
were measured, there was a moderate
difference in AQI. In general, traffic
congestion increases vehicle emissions
and degrades ambient air quality.
Wind Levels
Wind carries air contaminants away from their source,
causing them to disperse. In general, the higher the
wind speed, the more contaminants are dispersed and
the lower their concentration. However, high wind can
also generate dust – a problem in dry windy rural
areas. In this case, the wind levels supported the
notion that more wind equated to lower AQI levels.
Tree Density
Trees remove air pollutants and particulate
matter from the atmosphere. They output
oxygen and reduce local air temperature,
providing shade from sunlight. Overall, they
have a positive impact on air quality.
Proximity
Proximity to factories and industrial areas affects air
quality. Factories contaminate the air by blowing
chemical vapors and smoke out through vents, and by
burning waste in open dumps or incinerators. Exhaust
from generators also fills the air with harmful gases.

C O N C L U S I O N S
Environmental air pollution has been one of the most concerning factors leading to
respiratory diseases in countries all around the world. In St. Louis the concern is the
same, and through this report it was possible to view the issue at a location-specific
level. The benefit to perspective was the ability to apply its findings to other
metropolitan areas similar to St. Louis.
As per the findings, traffic and relative income level were clear primary determinants
of low air quality (measured through AQI) while low tree density and wind were key
factors in areas of higher AQI readings.
The report's methods, although lacking complexity, found strength in juxtaposition.
These methods allow for the report to translate to all levels and classes within the
general public with the goal of increasing sensitivity as broadly as possible. The drone
footage and photos allowed numeric AQI values to be attributable to recognizable
characteristics: building type, tree density, traffic congestion. These juxtaposition
therefore allow a set of scientific values to have greater significance.
The hope is that this report highlights the factors leading to low AQI levels so that
pressure can be placed on those in power to remove the influence of factors such as
relative income level and traffic have on individuals' overall health.

Settling into a comfortable
position, notice how you engage
your breath. Take a breath—
drawing air in and out—coming
into agreement with the
atmosphere around you. Finding
a rhythm, start to pay attention to
how your body moves with the
air. Bring your attention to your
head with one breath—in and out.
Understand how each muscle in
your head moves and relax with
each movement through the
rhythmic flow of air through your
mouth.
The agreement we have with the
atmosphere is a strange one. The
agreement moves out of
necessity rather than purpose.
Lungs become a vacuum—a void
of space that needs to be filled.
Air then races inwards, yearning
to eliminate the emptiness
inside. Yes, it is a strange
agreement—a contract of
necessity.
Move your attention to your
shoulders. The in and out of your
lungs may enact movement of
your shoulders and arms. Take
time to feel and understand each
muscle and contraction. Use
these to move through the
tension, working through the
rhythm of breath. In and out.

Coming into the world, the first contract we
make is with the atmosphere. Crying in and
out, we plummet into a liminal space of
emptiness and fullness, our lungs wavering
with precarity. Eventually, we come to an
understanding of this unchanging
transitional space where we are never full
and never bereft of the atmosphere. It
comes and goes, like most things. When the
contract is breached for a moment, we
begin to panic. The change in our lungs is
constant, but what if there is no longer a
change? Holding our breath, we no longer
live in the liminal. While there is the
possibility of change by breathing out, we
cannot ensure that change, and we panic.
Unable to breathe in, we are filled with an
emptiness that surrounds us without any
hope for another breath.
Notice the flowing motion of your chest and
ribs. As your lungs expand, notice the feel of
your clothing and the environment around
you. As you fill space, breathing in,
concentrate on the motion. Pay attention to
difficulties with this motion—a tension that
disables the filling motion. As you let that
breath out, notice how your ribs become
smaller in space, yet your head is still filled
with the energy of the filling motion.
In a space where breath is uncertain, we
suddenly notice the agreements entangled
within us. Where the atmosphere is thin or
toxic, we panic at the real presence of our
partner—atmospheric contamination
becomes our own, still embodied in the
agreement of our body’s motion. While
invisible to the eye, panic is felt within -
consuming us from the inside out.

"The smoke persists. This photograph was taken on Dec. 28, 1939, one month after Black
Tuesday. The view is south along 12th Street. Glowing through the smoke in the center of
the photograph is the neon sign for the Jefferson Hotel, at 12th and Olive streets. That day's
Post-Dispatch called the smog the 28th "blackout" day in less than two months. Post-
Dispatch staff photo."

L I S T E N
Space and complex interactions entangle our being. Chemists engage everything as energetic
nuances of minute atoms. Biologists cite the systematic cascades and complex relationships that
enable what they define as life. Physicists dedicate their lives to explaining the concepts of life
through momentary action—beings in a transitory state: an object in motion stays in motion.
Philosophers ponder the “whys” of being while artists and musicians transduce states of
momentary senses. Disciplines and differences arise among the engagements with life in an
attempt to sensitize our being to the environment around us.
What does it mean to listen as a sensitizing practice? Does it mean tuning out the world,
meditating, solitude? What are the political implications of listening, and most importantly,
how do we listen?
Indigenous people in the Americas and worldwide have engaged in reciprocal ways of knowing
and being with nature for centuries. Current understandings of nature as passive objects stem
from colonial epistemologies and practices. These harmful ways of knowing have taken root in
minds and permeated relationships with people and the planet. Listening to sense reverses this
worldview. When we listen, we tune into the fundamental truth that plants and animals around
us are living gifts and that we are responsible for them.
To commit to listening is to commit to hearing the violent murmurs of the world, murmurs that
are often intentionally left unheard. Edouard Glissant's A Treatise on the Whole-World proposes
to “listen to the cry of the world” as a way to lift the veil of ignorance that separates people from
the world’s suffering. When the tunes of progress are celebrated, the tunes of sorrow and grief
are left behind, but this cry must be sensed.
“We do not always see, and usually we try not to see, the destruction of the world, in the forests
of Rwanda and the streets of New York, in the underground workshops of Asia where the
children do not grow up and the silent heights of the Andes, and in all the places of
debasement, degradation and prostitution, and so many others that flash before our wide open
eyes, but we cannot fail to admit that all this is making a noise, an unstoppable murmuring that
we, without realizing, mix into the mechanical, humdrum little tunes of our progress and our
driftings.”

The flip side of the process of listening invites people to attend to the complex inner workings
of nature, like the hums of busy bees, the underground messages between trees, or the
murmurs of cooperation in a Three Sisters garden. This listening can undoubtedly be
measured scientifically or with a decibel reading. But it is also an extended, metaphorical
listening, one that emits ancient lessons and wisdom. To listen is to immerse oneself in the
community of nature, to nurture and be nurtured by it.
This act and art of listening fundamentally change human perspectives away from an objective
view of nature and into a relational, reciprocal one. It opens the door to belonging, to humility,
to joy. Robin Wall Kimmerer writes that acknowledging that nature is a gift that takes care of
us changes our inner and outer way of being, allowing us to receive these gifts better and to
reciprocate them. This form of listening then sprouts hope, reducing anxiety about the
ecological future, and enabling more connectedness and less passivity.
“What do you suppose would happen if people believed this crazy notion that the earth loved
them back?...You wouldn’t harm what gives you love. Knowing that you love the earth
changes you, activates you to defend and protect and celebrate. But when you feel that the
earth loves you in return, that feeling transforms the relationship from a one-way street into a
sacred bond…Knowing that you love the earth changes you, activates you to defend and
protect and celebrate. But when you feel that the earth loves you in return, that feeling
transforms the relationship from a one-way street into a sacred bond.”
Sensing is not passive. It is an active, intentional process that invites a refined sense of
closeness, a vulnerability to the world. To know about the world is to be in the world. Listen
and get vulnerable. In this vulnerability, we can begin to find healing for ourselves and for our
world.

Thomas M. Easterly, Peter Lindell's Stone Quarry on left, Roy's Mill on right; Missouri History Museum

Center of Saint Louis University campus on West Pine illuminated by street lamps

Running Stagnation
Laclede to Kingshighway
I pass the first light, exhaust wafting through the air filling
gaping spaces
Traversing across the memorial of a girl and man once loved
I pass the community garden, a greenwashing oasis of affluence
Moving past the bar, smoking carcinogens filling the empty
cavities of a midlife crisis
I pass the hospital, sensing sunken eyes dawned with medical blue
Kingshighway to Forest Park
I pass the second light, noise violently piercing my skin
Traversing over the sidewalk cracked by a tree-escapee
I pass the fitness gurus donned with their Underarmor and Nike; a
plague of fast fashion
Moving up the concrete hill, a bird bathing in the oil laden puddle
I pass the baby’s stroller, a child that will not know green; a
world transformed – I’m sorry
Forest Park
I pass, hearing the birds sing through the mourning; love songs
harmonised with traffic hum
Traversing across paths that manipulate the earth – bending,
twisting, suffocating
I pass the burned grass – prescribed medication for the soil
Moving over the stream, frothing with particulate toxins; into the
karst it goes!
I pass the the horror and beauty of the paradoxical city park
Forest Park to Westminster
I pass the highway, the potholes a postage of abandonment
Traversing, called by the man in the pickup, “damn baby girl!
lookin’ good!” – catty words
I pass, gluttonous consumption filling the industrial trash bin
Moving through the shade, trees working overtime to breath in
what we cannot
I pass the street lamps illuminating always on leaving no room for
the healing darkness
Home
I pass the abandoned lot, relinquished back to the earth
Traversing the juxtaposed curated nature of the school; clean
and controlled, bounded
I pass, seeing the recycled plastic 7’s – 50,000 dollars a year
won’t teach you the basics
Moving along the laden ground of beer and seltzers bottles
breeding inebriated minds
I pass the soil of the fallen, the precluded reality is too much –
much better to be silent
“I am home” - a safety precaution
Running in circles, impaired mobility

T h r o u g h a f i n e l y t u n e d s e n s e o f a s l i c e o f t h e w o r l d ,
w r i t e r - a c t i v i s t s c a n d i s c e r n , d e s c r i b e a n d r e s i t u a t e
e n v i r o n m e n t a l c r i s e s . T h i s p r o c e s s i s n e c e s s a r y . W h e n t h e
e n v i r o n m e n t a l l y m a r g i n a l i z e d a n d e x p l o i t e d , i n c l u d i n g
h u m a n s a n d n o n - h u m a n s , a r e d i s r e g a r d e d — a n d t h e c a u s e s
o f t h e i r e x p l o i t a t i o n a r e m i n i m i z e d — i t i s t h e r o l e o f
w r i t e r s a n d a r t i s t s t o a m p l i f y t h e i r v o i c e s t h r o u g h
r h e t o r i c a l , v i s u a l , a n d c o m p o s i t i o n a l p r a c t i c e s . T h e a r t i s t
a n d f i l m m a k e r T o n i C a d e B a m b a r a , f o r e x a m p l e , a d o p t e d
t h i s a s h e r m i s s i o n : “ t o m a k e r e v o l u t i o n i r r e s i s t i b l e . ”
M a k i n g a r t , w r i t i n g p o e m s , o r r e s e a r c h i n g , t h e n , i s n o t a
p a s s i v e p r o c e s s , b u t o n e t h a t s h o u l d b e i n t i m a t e l y
e m b e d d e d w i t h i n a d e s i r e t o s e n s i t i z e p e o p l e t o i s s u e s
t h a t d o n o t t o u c h t h e m i n c o n v e n t i o n a l w a y s s o t h a t t h e y
m a y v i e w t h e m s e l v e s a n d t h e i r w o r l d d i f f e r e n t l y .
N i x o n w r i t e s a b o u t t h e c r i t i c a l , i m a g i n a t i v e r o l e o f
e n v i r o n m e n t a l w r i t e r - a c t i v i s t s :
“ I n a w o r l d p e r m e a t e d b y i n s i d i o u s , y e t u n s e e n o r
i m p e r c e p t i b l e v i o l e n c e , i m a g i n a t i v e w r i t i n g c a n h e l p m a k e
t h e u n a p p a r e n t a p p e a r , m a k i n g i t a c c e s s i b l e a n d t a n g i b l e
b y h u m a n i z i n g d r a w n - o u t t h r e a t s i n a c c e s s i b l e t o t h e
i m m e d i a t e s e n s e s . W r i t i n g c a n c h a l l e n g e p e r c e p t u a l h a b i t s
t h a t d o w n p l a y t h e d a m a g e s l o w v i o l e n c e i n f l i c t s a n d b r i n g
i n t o i m a g i n a t i v e f o c u s a p p r e h e n s i o n s t h a t e l u d e s e n s o r y
c o r r o b o r a t i o n . T h e n a r r a t i v e i m a g i n i n g s o f w r i t e r -
a c t i v i s t s m a y t h u s o f f e r u s a d i f f e r e n t k i n d o f w i t n e s s i n g :
o f s i g h t s u n s e e n . ”

W r i t i n g a s a s e n s i t i z i n g p r a c t i c e c a n b e i n m o r e t h a n
s c i e n t i f i c r e s e a r c h o r l e n g t h y r e p o r t s . I t c a n b e a s t u d e n t
e s s a y , a n a r t p i e c e , o r a g r a f f i t i s l o g a n . W h a t i s i m p o r t a n t
i s t h a t w e t a k e i t u p o n o u r s e l v e s t o p r a c t i c e b e i n g w r i t e r -
a c t i v i s t s i n w h a t e v e r f i e l d , p l a c e , o r t i m e w e a r e i n .
B e c a u s e s p e c i f i c c o m m u n i t i e s d o n o t h a v e t h e p r i v i l e g e o f
b e i n g s t u d i e d b y s c i e n t i s t s , N i x o n c o n t e n d s t h a t t h e y
m u s t f i n d a l t e r n a t i v e w a y s t o b r o a d c a s t t h e i r s t r u g g l e s .
T h a t ’ s w h y s t u d e n t s , a r t i s t s , p o e t s , w r i t e r s , a n d t h e l i k e
a r e r e s p o n s i b l e f o r r e s i s t i n g d o m i n a n t n a r r a t i v e s t h r o u g h
s t o r y t e l l i n g .
L e v i t r a V a s u d e v a n e t a l . w r i t e i n “ S t o r y t e l l i n g E a r t h a n d
B o d y ” t h a t t h r o u g h w o r k i n g t o m e d i a t e c o n v e r s a t i o n s ,
w r i t e r s , a n d s t o r y t e l l e r s t e l l s o t h a t o t h e r s c a n t e l l .
W r i t i n g c a n t h u s r e s i t u a t e c o n t e m p o r a r y p l a n e t a r y c r i s e s
w i t h i n l o n g e r h i s t o r i e s a n d p l u r a l u n d e r s t a n d i n g s o f o u r
r e l a t i o n s w i t h E a r t h . T h i s t r a n s d u c t i o n o f s t o r i e s f r o m
o n e p e r s o n , r e g i o n , o r c o n t e x t t o t h e n e x t a l l o w s p e o p l e
t o s e n s e , a n d a s B r u n o L a t o u r s u g g e s t s , t o p l a c e a n d
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