Soil Lab

Soil Lab Soil Lab was a workstation in the MICA gallery to create beer coasters from material collected at sites on Glenn Ross' Toxic Tour of East Baltimore.

January 2018
Artist Statement

Soil Lab: Toxic Tour Beer Coasters
Margaret Boozer/ Raina Martens + UnInc. as part of Land/Trust Exhibition
Meyerhoff Gallery, MICA

Trained as a sculptor and ceramist, Margaret Boozer developed an interest in digging native clays that has led to collaborations with soil scientists and work that explores intersections of art and science. Raina Martens combines ceram

ic work and installation with her research into waste and toxic byproducts. She grants afterlives to materials like sludge and coal ash, melding them into work that dramatizes the entanglement of social and material worlds. Boozer and Martens have teamed up to support the work of environmental activist, Glenn Ross and his Toxic Tours of East Baltimore. With the help of UnInc., (a subsidiary of Red Dirt Studio, comprising a variable collective of creative professionals developing strategies for cooperative futures through reuse and recycling), Boozer and Martens produce sets of Toxic Tour Beer Coasters composed of materials collected from each of Ross’ Toxic Tour sites. Soil Lab sets up a workstation in the gallery for the duration of the exhibit, inviting and training volunteers in collecting site samples; creating beer coasters; and soliciting community engagement. The coasters are tangible objects, connecting purchasers and participants to Ross’ work at the most basic level, the ground. Funds from sales of the coasters go to Ross’ education and outreach efforts. Beer sold separately.

Hey y'all soil geeks...check out our new project! Collaboration with Urban Soils Institute, so fun!
01/04/2019

Hey y'all soil geeks...check out our new project! Collaboration with Urban Soils Institute, so fun!

Finally got the map finished!
05/14/2018

Finally got the map finished!

The Toxic Tour was created in 2007 to create awareness of urban environmental and related health issues in East Baltimore, and the causes thereof. Within the triangle of Johns Hopkins East Baltimore Campus, Johns Hopkins Bayview and Johns Hopkins Homewood, we have the highest rate of health disparit...

Happy Valentine's Day from Soil Lab!
02/13/2018

Happy Valentine's Day from Soil Lab!

Great Soil Lab today... put out the new Harris Creek Watershed Coaster, made from material that we collected last week. ...
02/13/2018

Great Soil Lab today... put out the new Harris Creek Watershed Coaster, made from material that we collected last week. Collected and started fabrication on Coca-Cola Company, and continued work on Janney Street Park.

02/13/2018

The EPA tracks more than 21,600 releases of toxic chemicals — many in flood-prone areas — that cause cancer or threaten the environment.

Just added our newest beer coaster...Harris Creek Watershed Outlet
02/12/2018

Just added our newest beer coaster...

Harris Creek Watershed Outlet

The name of the video is Voices from Within: A Displaced Community Speaks Out: Residents in Middle East Baltimore organi...
02/12/2018

The name of the video is Voices from Within: A Displaced Community Speaks Out: Residents in Middle East Baltimore organize against eminent domain, displacement, Johns Hopkins University, EBDI, and foundations.

A short-film sharing the stories of East Baltimore residents impacted by the East Baltimore Redevelopment Project.

doing some research on the Harris Creek Watershed
02/12/2018

doing some research on the Harris Creek Watershed

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1301 W Mt Royal Ave
Baltimore, MD
21217

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