The models produced by Little River Research & Design convey an acutely material consciousness of the relentless processes of change that shape the Mississippi River.

An organization focused on river science education to meet challenges of the Anthropocene

The continuous interaction between abstract models and natural phenomena is a hallmark of the Anthropocene. At this juncture, art and science become indistinguishable. The educational models of Little River Research & Design reveal beautiful meander scars in finely gradated artificial sand. At the same time they offer hands-on experience with fluvial geomorphology. Located in Carbondale, Illinois, this globally oriented company joins Field Station 4 as part of the exhibition “Seasonal Pulse,” bringing into the gallery an acutely material consciousness of the relentless processes of change that shape the Mississippi River. Here LRRD’s Steve Gough and Anna Durrett describe what makes the models so apt at conveying this knowledge.