Carey Campbell

THE PROJECT

This was water is a series of projects about the drying of the Great Salt Lake and the environmental disasters that will follow if mitigating actions are not taken. Scientists have been warning of the ecological impact that the drying of the Lake would bring, but awareness has sadly not led to widespread change. To bridge the gap between science and everyday people, emotions must be stirred, and, as we know, art is a perfect vehicle for such a task.

The Great Salt Lake is a unique, complex, and surprisingly delicate ecosystem. Some of its animals are transients, some can lie dormant for years, and some are predators, but the ones really threating it all are us, the humans. The singular physical and geological environment of the lake plays into some of our worst habits: taking without replenishing, using without regard for consequence, and an overall disinterest in the tiny things upon which the colossal rely.

The concert version

Originally a large-scale work for chamber ensemble and electronics by Carey Campbell, video art by Kellie Bornhoft was added for the premiere concert performance of This was water, transforming it into a multimedia event. Since that premiere in 2024, the concert piece has enjoyed several performances at various venues and professionally recorded. The program notes for the premiere can be read here and the stereo mix of the studio recording is available on Bandcamp and all major streaming services. You can view the video along with the studio recording below. 

THE INSTALLATION VERSION

An installation version of This was water is currently at the Dumke Arts Plaza in Ogden, UT. This version features five large sculptures by Kellie Bornhoft, each of which are fitted with lights and sounds that are responsive to a viewer's proximity. In addition, Carey Campbell created a generative soundscape for the plaza. 

The Website

The website This was water.com by Xanthe Harris contains information about the “dirty diamonds” that were the inspiration for Bornhoft's sculptures, about the lake itself, and an opportunity to hear the ambient soundscape created by Carey Campbell.