Beneath Breathing

Xingyu Huang

Beneath Breathing explores the fragile and shifting dynamics between human and non-human life beneath the surface of the Chicago River. Focusing on changing water conditions near the Wild Mile, the piece reflects on ongoing restoration efforts—such as the introduction of native mussels to filter and improve water quality.

Drawing from two years of underwater footage collected in collaboration with Wild Mile scientists, Xingyu Huang constructs a fluid visual narrative. The projection reveals an interconnected ecosystem—fish, algae, sediment, currents, and the persistent mark of human activity—where each element breathes into the next. By animating the river’s hidden rhythms, Beneath Breathing invites viewers to reflect on the unseen forces shaping our shared environment.

Seasons of Care

Yousif Alzayed

Seasons of Care blends camera footage with digital animation to highlight the diverse forms of care Urban Rivers volunteers provide to the Chicago River and its ecosystem. Honoring the seasonal rhythms of planting, monitoring, and restoration, the work celebrates the collective effort that sustains the Wild Mile.

Performed and manipulated live by Yousif Alzayed in collaboration with musicians from the Secret River Show, the piece transforms the riverside into a space of layered performance. The interplay of image and sound emphasizes the living, evolving relationship between people and place—deepening the public’s emotional and sensory connection to the Wild Mile’s ecological site.