Greg Lindquist's 'Smoke and Water' Installation Addresses North Carolina Coal Ash Disaster

Greg Lindquist created an immersive installation titled 'Smoke and Water: A Living Painting' at the Southeastern Alliance for Community Change in Wilmington, North Carolina. The exhibition ran from November 2014 to February 2015 at 317 Castle Street. Lindquist, a Wilmington native, developed the work in response to the February 2014 coal ash spill into the Dan River in Eden, North Carolina, where Duke Energy officials estimated up to 39,000 tons of toxic material contaminated waterways. The installation transformed the community center space typically used for gatherings, yoga, and meditation into a multilayered environmental statement. Three walls featured paintings, photographs, and text canvases that juxtaposed abstracted landscapes with personal narratives from affected residents. Warm analogous tones and swirling gray-brown patterns evoked coal ash residue spreading across surfaces. Floor arrangements of taped texts, drawings, and photographs guided viewers through the space. The work presented local residents' accounts of health impacts, damaged relationships, and community disruption while raising questions about corporate responsibility. Lindquist collaborated with Working Films Initiative co-director Anna Lee, who was involved with the documentary 'Coal Ash Stories.' The installation aimed to move beyond visual impression to foster social engagement around environmental pollution, blending tranquil reflection with urgent calls to action.