(In)Visible Work: Animating the Work of Seattle Public Utilities
What does the work of Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) look like through the lens of an artist? Local artist and filmmaker Sashko Danylenko has been working on answering this question for the past six months. The result is three short form animation videos showcasing the main areas of work within SPU: Water, Solid Waste, and Drainage and Wastewater.
The Office of Arts & Culture, in partnership with SPU and funded through the 1% for Arts, worked alongside artist Sashko Danylenko to provide an artist’s perspective of SPU’s work. The artist visited various worksites and facilities, met with staff and partners, and gathered data prior to developing a framework for the storyline and animation. Systems working together, people working behind the scenes, and environmental stewardship are repeated themes throughout the three short videos.
The videos are a mix of animation styles and filmed footage, and the characters that share their stories are voiced by SPU and other City of Seattle staff. One main character, Cloudia, takes viewers through aspects of the Drainage and Wastewater cycle; a whimsical Salmon character narrates the cycle of drinking water and historical facts about the City of Seattle; and a trio of bins (Garbage, Recycling, and Compost) tell us how they really feel about the importance of sorting solid waste.
“By injecting fun and whimsy into these stories, it’s my hope that people both smile and learn something new about the invisible work that SPU does to sustain and care for the people of Seattle and the land we inhabit. It’s been a great experience being able to learn and interpret this kind of work.” -Sashko Danylenko
The animated artwork videos are available for viewing online and will be screened at various City facilities. In addition to the animations, you can stop by the SPU outreach table at various events to pick up free stickers and coloring pages featuring the characters. These materials are also available for download online: Drainage and Wastewater Coloring Page, Solid Waste Coloring Page, and Water Coloring Page.
Sashko Danylenko is a visual storyteller with a versatile skill set, enabling him to choose the most suitable approach to give each story it’s unique look and feel. His mediums include animation, motion graphics, comics, illustration, video, and mixed media. Sashko‘s works are recognizable by their combination of folk tradition and modern style, a connection to nature, and digital flair. Since relocating to the US in 2015, Sashko has worked on media projects and animadocs for TED Talks, The School of Life, TOPIC, Ukrainian Institute of America, Voice of America, SAMA Seattle, and many more.
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