What if art could clean rivers?

In southeastern Ohio, abandoned coal mines leak toxic runoff into the Sunday Creek watershed, staining the water orange and threatening ecosystems downstream. But where most see a problem, John Sabraw saw possibility. An Ohio University art professor and internationally recognized painter, John teamed up with an environmental engineer to flip pollution into paint.

Toxic Art, a Rivers are Life film, follows this radical experiment. The process begins with toxic acid mine drainage water so polluted it corrodes landscapes. Through innovation and grit, John’s team developed a method to neutralize the waste, extract the iron oxide, and transform it into high-quality pigments. The result? Brilliant oil paints made from poison.

John’s work isn’t just about creating sustainable materials, it’s about changing the way we think about waste. His paintings, infused with reclaimed pigments, have been exhibited around the world. Proceeds from his art fund real solutions, including a new water treatment plant designed to restore Sunday Creek.

At its core, Toxic Art is a story about imagination meeting action. It proves that art isn’t separate from conservation, it’s a tool to inspire, fund, and accelerate it. By reimagining toxins as resources, John and his collaborators show us that environmental recovery can be as much about creativity as it is about engineering.

This film celebrates not only International Artist Day, but also the power of unconventional ideas to solve big problems. When art and science collide, rivers win.