THE MERCURY DIARIES

In 1993, my husband and I joined 15 artist families to buy a factory at 800 Grand Street, Hoboken, NJ, to convert into live/work studios. After moving in, a partner discovered mercury under old floorboards. We learned it had been a General Electric mercury vapor lamp factory, making it unsafe for habitation. The EPA evacuated us, designating it a Superfund site before demolition. It became the largest U.S. residential mercury contamination case. After three years, we settled the case and were permanently relocated. The Mercury Diaries documents this time through illustrated notes from conversations during meetings, and our emotional state, capturing our experience. Read more below.