ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Greg Lindquist's Environmental Installation at Central Booking Addresses Coal Ash Contamination

exhibition · 2026-04-22

The exhibition 'Smoke and Water/Dispatches' by Greg Lindquist took place at The Library at Central Booking, located at 21 Ludlow Street, New York City, from May 4 to 28, 2017. This showcase included a significant acrylic mural and paintings that depicted coal ash and water, referencing a 2014 incident that contaminated drinking water in North Carolina and Virginia. Lindquist's oil paintings were inspired by projected images of polluted locations, utilizing a greenish hue known as 'Fresh Cut Grass' as a base. Plexiglass vitrines containing coal ash alluded to Robert Smithson's nonsite idea. Curated by Diana Wege, the exhibition featured a booklet with essays and interviews, prompting discussions on environmental politics and the role of painting in social issues relative to photography and video.

Key facts

  • Exhibition dates: May 4 to 28, 2017
  • Venue: The Library at Central Booking, 21 Ludlow Street, New York City
  • Artist: Greg Lindquist
  • Curator: Diana Wege
  • References 2014 coal ash spill in North Carolina and Virginia
  • Features paintings, mural, and Plexiglass vitrines with coal ash
  • Includes extensive exhibition booklet with interviews and essays
  • Compares to artists Sharon Hayes and Thomas Hirschhorn

Entities

Artists

  • Greg Lindquist
  • Diana Wege
  • Sharon Hayes
  • Thomas Hirschhorn
  • Robert Smithson
  • Kurt Schwitters
  • Monet

Institutions

  • Central Booking
  • The Library at Central Booking
  • North Carolina Museum of Art
  • The Southeastern Center for Community Change

Locations

  • New York City
  • United States
  • North Carolina
  • Virginia
  • Dan River
  • Sutton Lake

Sources