A Map of the Ocean Between My Sister and Me

My current project is a map of the ocean from my house in west London to my youngest sister's in Buffalo, western New York.

On my journey to visit her this last week I thought I'd map my route accross the sea by collecting nearly every source of water I came in contact with, bottling it in any kind of small jar I could find.

I've recorded each source of water by the form I found it, time and date of collecting, and location.

I came back to London this morning with some 50 odd samples: from rest room sinks on the plane over, thruway stops, drinking water, Adirondack streams, and loads more. I'm really enjoying this project, though at times I look like a not so undercover food and safety inspector in NY diners, it's been so much fun.

The next level I'm taking the project to is to have the bottles in a more interesting installation and have an A1 map sized letterpress design of my recordings.


A Map of the Ocean Between My Sister and Me
By Erin Newell

01. Camberwell College of Arts water canteen water fountain.
Peckham, London
1326 - 08.May.2006

02. Puddle on the way home from the tube
The Avenue, London
1512 - 08.May.2006

03. Bath at my house
Southfield Road, London
1805 - 08.May.2006

04. Drink from filter faucet in my kitchen.
Southfield Road, London
1209 – 09.May.2006

05. Washed hair after dying it
SCHWARZKOPF COUNTRY COLORS No. 75 Madagascar Rouge Noir. Southfield Road, London
1331 – 09.May.2006

06. Kettle for miso soup.
Southfield Road, London
1345 – 09.May.2006

07. Washing up at kitchen sink
Southfield Road, London
1410 – 09.May.2006

08. Ladies Room Sink.
London Heathrow Terminal 4
1657 – 09.May.2006

09. Vittel bottled
London Heathrow Terminal 4
1659 – 09.May.2006

10. Lavatory sink
Flight BA179
1850 – 09.May.2006

11. Drink with flight meal
Flight BA179
1915 – 09.May.2006

12. Water cup, Drink with flight meal
Flight BA179
1915 – 09.May.2006

13. Women’s room sink
John F. Kennedy airport
2029 – 09.May.2006

14. Ice from Sprite at rest stop
PlatteKill, 17 (Newburgh I-84) & 18 (New Paltz), Milepost 65
2311 – 09.May.2006

15. Bathroom sink at mom’s house
Gloversville, NY
0120 – 10.May.2006

16. Bottle from ma’s fridge
Gloversville, NY
0635 – 10.May.2006

17. Pool, Mom’s house
Gloversville, NY
0738 – 10.May.2006

18. Glass of
Travers Diner
Gloversville, NY
0950 – 10.May.2006

19. Dasani bottled, from Hannaford’s
Gloversville, NY
1730 – 10.May.2006

20. Shower,
Room L-3, Mirror Lake Inn, Lake Placid, NY
2025– 10.May.2006

21. Glass of
View restaurant
Lake Placid, NY
2100 – 10.May.2006

22. Bathroom sink
Room L-3, Mirror Lake Inn, Lake Placid, NY
2345 – 10.May.2006

23. Poland Spring bottled
mini bar, Room L-3, Mirror Lake Inn, Lake Placid, NY
0907 – 11.May.2006

24. Mirror Lake
Lake Placid, NY
1123 – 11.May.2006

25. Last night’s ice from champagne bucket
Room L-3, Mirror Lake Inn, Lake Placid, NY
1140 – 11.May.2006

26. Poland Spring bottled
Lake Placid, NY
0850 – 11.May.2006

27. Poland Spring bottled. Lake Placid, NY
1120 – 11.May.2006

28. Creek. Adirondack Mountains, High Peaks, Lake Placid, NY
1242 – 11.May.2006

29. Stream to Avalanche Lake. Adirondack Mountains, High Peaks, Lake Placid, NY
1350– 11.May.2006

30. Mount Marcy dam. Adirondack Mountains, High Peaks, Lake Placid, NY
1500– 11.May.2006

31. Rain. Lake Placid, NY
0950– 12.May.2006

32. Poland Spring bottled. Lake Placid, NY
1326 – 12.May.2006

33. Women’s room sink. Mirror Lake Inn, Lake Placid, NY
1400 – 12.May.2006

34. Pond. Lake Placid, NY
1421 – 12.May.2006

35. Glass of. The Cottage Bar, Lake Placid, NY
1515 – 12.May.2006

36. Jacuzzi. Day Spa, Mirror Lake Inn, Lake Placid, NY
1830 – 12.May.2006

37. Poland Spring bottled. mini bar, Room L-3, Mirror Lake Inn, Lake Placid, NY
0900 – 13.May.2006

38. Women’s room sink. Nice n’ Easy gas station, Watertown, NY
1258 – 13.May.2006

39. Women’s room sink. 39 (Syracuse West) & 40 (Weedsport), Milepost 292
1420 – 13.May.2006

40. Poland Spring bottled
1500 – 13.May.2006

41. Bathroom sink. Your house, Barker St, Buffalo, NY
1645 – 13.May.2006

42 – 53. Undocumented accounts from upstate NY water sources, mostly bottled water