Raleigh Rambles

The Bain Water Project – Post 1

     One of the most exciting prospects of the coming year for me is following and responding to The Bain Water Project.  The E.B. Bain Water Treatment plant is a designated Raleigh Historic Landmark, though it has been neglected for many years. Now a new art project is developing dialogues about the structure and its place in Raleigh’s culture as a new development of the property is planned.

     The top picture is filter rocks made of unpolished porcelain that were used to filter the water at Bain.  Above is the entrance to this art deco masterpiece.  Raleigh’s website states:

While strictly utilitarian in concept, the Bain plant, as built, is perhaps the foremost Art Deco style building in Raleigh.

     The  Bain facility is in a terrible state of debris-filled shambles in the areas used for storage in the 1990’s.  But the industrial plant itself is like a museum.  I had a chance to visit the site when I presented to the project artists about Walnut Creek and the watersheds associated with the plant and Raleigh water history.

     The artists are a wonderful mix of highly qualified individuals who work across a wide spectrum of media.  At the Boylan Artswalk, they displayed some wonderful preliminary work, including prints, paintings, and photographs.  It will be fun to follow this project and I have designated a permanent page about it on Raleigh Rambles.  Check back for more! 

Raleigh Rambles Bain Project Page

January 2, 2009 - Posted by raleighnaturalist | architecture, art, Raleigh history | art, Bain Water Project, Daniel Kelly, Jen Coon, Lee Moore, Luke Buchanan, Marty Baird, Sarah Powers, Stacey Kirby, Walnut Creek