Toxic art
Artist and environmentalist John Sabraw has produced a large body of vibrant artwork from pigments generated by remediating toxic streams polluted by coal mine runoff in Ohio.
Painting: "Arco" - Oil on Canvas 96x62 inches, 2013
By CBSNews.com photo editor Radhika Chalasani
Toxic art
"Axioma IX" - Mixed Media (including AMD pigments) on wood panel 2014
Many of the old mines aren't sealed well, filling with water which mixes with minerals then enters waterways, turning them into shades of orange and red.
Toxic Art
"Axioma IV" - 12x12 inches Mixed Media (including AMD pigments) on wood panel 2014
In the process of cleaning the water, researchers have been converting the separated pollution to pigment.
Toxic Art
"Axioma II" - 12x12 inches Mixed Media (including AMD pigments) on wood panel 2014
To find the most desirable commercial pigment, researchers found that it was best to go after the color red.
Toxic Art
"Axioma V" - 12x12 inches Mixed Media (including AMD pigments) on wood panel 2014
Researchers are one step closer to creating a pigment on a commercial scale with a key research phase finished this past December.
Toxic art
"Axioma VII" - 12x12 inches Mixed Media (including AMD pigments) on wood panel 2014
Sabraw and civil engineer Guy Riefler from Ohio University are hoping to build a pilot program at a location with millions of gallons of toxic water and commercialize the pigment with a year.
Toxic Art
"Axioma X" - 12x12 inches Mixed Media (including AMD pigments) on wood panel 2014
Toxic Art
"Axioma XIV" - 12x12 inches Mixed Media (including AMD pigments) on wood panel 2014
Toxic Art
"Bilagos" - Oil on Canvas 72x96 inches, 2013
Toxic art
"Detail of Cadence I" - 12x12 inches Mixed Media (including AMD pigments) on wood panel 2014
Toxic Art
"Cadence II" - 12x12 inches Mixed Media (including AMD pigments) on wood panel 2014
Toxic Art
"Seal River" - Oil on Canvas 96x62 inches, 2013
Toxic Art
"Cadence III" - 12x12 inches Mixed Media (including AMD pigments) on wood panel 2014
Toxic Art
"Chroma S1 5"
Mixed media on aluminum composite panel 24x24 inches, 2013
Toxic Art
"Chroma S1 13" - Mixed media on aluminum composite panel 24x24 inches, 2013
Toxic Art
"Chroma S1 12" - Mixed media on aluminum composite panel 24x24 inches, 2013
Toxic Art
"Cadiz" - Oil on Canvas 72x96 inches, 2013
Toxic Art
"Details of Cortex I" - 12x12 inches Mixed Media (including AMD pigments) on wood panel 2014
Toxic Art
"Details of Cortex III" - 12x12 inches Mixed Media (including AMD pigments) on wood panel 2014
Sabraw's paintings have appeared at the Contemporary Museum of Art, the Elmhurst Museum in Illinois and the Richard M. Ross Art Museum in Ohio.
His current exhibition is on view at the Thomas McCormick Gallery in Chicago.