Two deflating lung-shaped balloons rest within a brick made of fuel coke, symbolizing the dual impact of factory production on both workers’ lungs and the planet's air quality. Historically, the workers at Sloss Furnaces would wait for the coke dust from the blast furnaces to settle in the overflow spray ponds on site. Once the dust was wet, it would dry and solidify into bricks that the workers could use for free to heat their homes and cook for their families. Although these bricks provided essential comfort and the material supported the iron industry’s success, it also took a toll on workers' health and contributed significantly to the space’s carbon footprint which contributed to the facility's closure due to the Clean Air Act and reduced iron demand.
Today, the production of plastic mirrors this impact, affecting both worker health and global environmental conditions. This piece prompts a reflection on whether these fleeting comforts and joys are worth the profound costs they impose.
