Beneath the concrete and asphalt of countless bustling cities, a vibrant river once flowed. This isn’t a forgotten fantasy; it’s the stark reality in many urban centers, including Baltimore. For over a century, dozens of natural streams, once vital arteries of the landscape, have been confined to underground tunnels, channeled into storm sewers, and largely forgotten. We call these the “ghost rivers” – present but unseen, their murmuring currents occasionally echoing from storm drains, a subtle reminder of what lies beneath.
One such ghost is Sumwalt Run, a creek that once meandered through what are now Baltimore’s Remington and Charles Village neighborhoods. As the city expanded, this verdant waterway was absorbed into the urban fabric, buried under streets, buildings, and parks. But thanks to the innovative vision of multidisciplinary artist Bruce Willen, Sumwalt Run is re-emerging, not literally, but in the public consciousness, inviting us to rediscover a crucial piece of Baltimore’s natural and social history.
Bruce Willen, founder of Public Mechanics, has spearheaded the “Ghost Rivers” project, a remarkable public art installation and walking tour spanning 1.5 miles. His inspiration sparked from a simple yet profound observation: the faint sounds of water emanating from storm drains during a pandemic-era walk, coupled with the discovery of old maps depicting a creek where none seemed to exist. This ignited a curiosity that blossomed into a powerful artistic endeavor.
The project visually traces the lost stream’s path with wavy, light-blue thermoplastic lines that trickle across streets, sidewalks, and even up building walls. These striking visual cues act as a symbolic re-surfacing of Sumwalt Run, making its hidden presence undeniable. Accompanying these artistic “waterlines” are interpretive signs that provide rich historical context, detailing the creek’s natural ecology, the reasons for its burial in the early 1900s, and how it shaped the communities that grew around it. Willen describes it as creating a “monument to a lost landscape,” a unique approach to memorializing nature’s past in an urban environment.
The “Ghost Rivers” project is far more than a historical art installation; it’s a vital environmental statement. When natural streams are encased in concrete tunnels, they lose their inherent ecological functions. Unfiltered stormwater runoff, laden with pollutants, rushes directly into these buried channels, bypassing the natural filtration provided by plants, soil, and rocks in a healthy stream valley. This accelerated flow and lack of filtration have significant negative impacts on larger waterways, eventually contributing to the ecological challenges faced by the Chesapeake Bay.
Willen’s work highlights this critical issue, emphasizing that the consequences of burying these waterways are still felt today. While literally unearthing Sumwalt Run is impractical due to extensive development, the project fosters a crucial dialogue around “daylighting” – the practice of uncovering buried waterways. This concept, while challenging for Sumwalt Run, holds immense potential for other buried streams, such as portions of the Jones Falls, prompting discussions about future urban planning that prioritizes environmental health and integrates natural systems.
A key element of “Ghost Rivers” success lies in its deep roots within the community. Bruce Willen didn’t just impose his artistic vision; he actively engaged with hundreds of local residents. Through interviews, he gathered local histories, anecdotes, and perspectives that directly shaped the interpretive text found on the project’s signs. This collaborative approach ensures the art resonates with those who live and work in Remington and Charles Village, making it truly their story.
The project delves into the social history of the neighborhoods, touching on themes like migration, industrial development, and the changing demographics. By intertwining the story of the river with the story of its people, “Ghost Rivers” transforms into a multi-layered narrative that enriches understanding of both the natural and human ecosystems. It serves as a testament to how public art can not only beautify a space but also foster a deeper sense of connection and shared heritage within a community.
The “Ghost Rivers” project in Baltimore stands as a powerful example of how art can champion rivers and their vital role in our world. This creative advocacy is not unique to Baltimore; artists globally are using their platforms to bring attention to waterways and inspire environmental stewardship. Here are a few notable examples of environmental art that specifically celebrate and advocate for rivers:
“The Rising Tide” by Jason deCaires Taylor (River Thames, UK): This striking series of four underwater sculptures, depicting figures on horseback, appears and disappears with the tide. It serves as a powerful visual metaphor for climate change and rising sea levels, directly engaging with the river’s changing environment.
Olafur Eliasson’s “Riverbed” (Denmark): While not exclusively about real-world rivers, Eliasson’s monumental installation recreated a rocky riverbed, complete with flowing water, within the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art. It powerfully invites viewers to connect with the raw forces of nature and reflect on the value and fragility of real landscapes.
“The Parting of The Plastic Sea” by Benjamin Von Wong (Vietnam): This powerful installation was made from over 168,000 discarded plastic straws collected in Vietnam. It highlights the devastating impact of plastic pollution on aquatic environments, including rivers that carry waste to the sea.
Cheonggyecheon Stream Restoration (Seoul, South Korea): This is a globally renowned example of “daylighting” a major urban stream. While a large-scale urban planning project, its success includes integrated public art and cultural spaces along the restored waterway, inspiring other cities.
“The Wild Mile” (Chicago, USA): This ongoing project on the Chicago River is creating the world’s first fully floating eco-park. It transforms a man-made channel into a public park, botanical garden, and wildlife habitat, showcasing how urban rivers can be revitalized through innovative design.
These projects, much like “Ghost Rivers,” demonstrate the immense power of art to inform, provoke, and inspire action, reminding us that rivers, in all their forms, continue to flow through the heart of our planet and our communities.
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he “Ghost Rivers” project is a powerful reminder that our impact on rivers, seen or unseen, is profound. Sumwalt Run’s story underscores the environmental cost of buried waterways, from increased pollution runoff to the loss of natural filtration. This project isn’t just about history; it’s a call to action. Let the hidden whispers of Sumwalt Run inspire us to be better stewards of all our planet’s flows, ensuring clean, healthy rivers for generations to come.
The “Ghost Rivers” project is a public art installation and walking tour in Baltimore created by artist Bruce Willen. It visually traces the path of a buried stream called Sumwalt Run, revealing hidden natural and social histories.
Sumwalt Run is a natural stream in Baltimore that was buried over a century ago to allow for urban development. It now flows through underground culverts and storm sewers beneath neighborhoods like Remington and Charles Village.
The project uses wavy, vibrant blue lines painted on streets and sidewalks to visually map the underground path of Sumwalt Run. It also includes interpretive signs providing historical and ecological context.
Streams were buried to create more land for urban expansion, development of streets and buildings, and sometimes for public health reasons as urban waterways became polluted.
When rivers are buried in concrete tunnels, they lose their natural ability to filter pollutants. Stormwater runoff, unchecked by natural processes, rushes directly into larger waterways, contributing to ecological challenges.
This blog post uses publicly available information from various sources, synthesized with the help of AI, as a starting point for exploring the world of rivers. Our editors review the content for accuracy, though we encourage readers to verify information intended for primary source use. We strive to use public domain, licensed, or AI-generated images; due to the nature of online sharing, individual image sources are generally not credited. Please contact us regarding any copyright concerns.
We collect water solely from flowing freshwater sources such as rivers, named bayous, streams, creeks, and brooks. Historically significant man-made freshwater canals, like the Erie Canal, may also be included. In exceptional cases, we may consider non-freshwater waterways like the culturally significant Bosporus Strait.
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