Art for Water at Franklin Pierce University Goes to the Peterborough Town House

Last Friday evening, the celebration of water event that happened at Franklin Pierce University in November came to the Peterborough Town House. And during the day we hosted about 75 fourth graders. They learned about the shrinking availability of clean water and the huge amount of plastic waste that is generated by buying single serve bottles of water. They contributed to the Franklin Pierce art installation by stringing their own water bottles and adding them to the river of bottles installed in the Town House. They watched student-created short films about water and took the water tasting test to determine the difference between bottled, tap, and filtered water. In the evening, dancers from Franklin Pierce performed an original modern dance about water and we heard an original water soundscape. There were short films, a reading of the Celtic Myth, Angus, (whose mother is a water sprite) with projected illustrations done by graphics students, and the premiere of the documentary, Art for Water, A Creative Approach to Engaged Learning done by senior, Natalya Waye. Tonight the evening celebration will be at the Crotched Mountain Foundation in Greenfield, NH.

Immersed in water | Ledger Transcript

Immersed in water | Ledger Transcript

13,699 is going to Boston!

13,699, the installation created to raise awareness of the shrinking availability of clean water, will be featured at Down:2:Earth, A Green Living Festival (www.d2eboston.com) at the John B. Hynes Memorial Convention Center on 900 Boylston Street in Boston on April 9, 10, and 11. Hundreds of volunteers from colleges, high schools, and other public venues helped to produce this memorial to those who die every day from preventable, water-related diseases because clean water is not available. The 10 x 10 x 8´ fluid cube of hanging, recycled, plastic water bottle caps will be in the main floor lobby. The hours are 5 to 9pm on Friday, April 9th, 11 to 7 on Saturday, the 10th, and 11 to 5 on Sunday, the 11th. Admission is free and open to the public. I'll be there most of the time.

Art for Water at Franklin Pierce University

The students at Franklin Pierce completed their installation to raise awareness about water use habits on campus and in the community and we installed it last Monday in Pierce Hall. They drilled holes in hundreds of water bottles and strung them together with wire to make a river of bottles. We strung 5 fishing lines across the 36´ wide room and hung some of the bottles over the fishing lines. Then we hung the rest from the top of the wall so that they flowed down the wall and swirled into the room. Last Thursday evening there was a celebration of water by many departments on campus. Wendy Dwyer, head of the dance department, choreographed a dance about water with 5 dancers. Lou Bunk, head of the music department, and three of his students created original music with water sounds. Creative writing student, Renee Beauregard, rewrote a fable about water called Dream Angus and 16 graphic arts students displayed illustrations for it. 8 of Heather Tullio's communications students made short videos about water and students conducted water tasting tests during the reception. Attendance exceeded our expectations causing students to sit on the dance floor, shrinking the dancers' space. But everyone was thrilled at the turnout and now just about everyone on the Franklin Pierce University campus is thinking about water and they're thinking twice about buying bottled water.

Art for Water at University

Joni Doherty, Director of the New England Center for Civic Life at Franklin Pierce University in Rindge, NH, saw 13,699 at the Sharon Arts Exhibition Gallery and invited me to be the Artist-in-Residence for the fall semester where I am facilitating an art installation designed and produced by students. We have a core group of about 12, but I think more will join us as the piece starts to take shape. After a concept meeting and brainstorming session, the students decided that they wanted to call attention to water use habits on campus, so they started collecting empty water bottles to use as their medium. How their peers relate to water on a personal level is also an important element, so they are taking a poll on feelings about water and converting the answers to messages that will be placed in some of the bottles. The bottles are being strung together with wire to create long chains which then will be used in a variety of configurations. Many departments on campus are getting involved. Wendy Dwyer, head of the dance department, is choreographing a dance about water to be performed by students within the installation. The dancers will be challenged by not knowing what their set will look like until the very last minute. Art videos are being created, sound about water is being composed to which the dancers will perform, poetry is being written, various speakers––from curators to scientists––are scheduled,photographs are being taken, and a documentary about this project is being made by a student. The big night is November 12, so we have a lot of work to do in not a lot of time. However, enthusiasm is running high, so I know they will create a spectacular piece of art for social change.

Art for Water

WATER: Mystery & Plight exhibition is over and the installation is packed up and stored at it's next venue, the Thorne-Sagendorph Art Gallery at Keene State College in Keene, NH. The response to 13,699 at the Sharon Arts Exhibition Gallery was so positive and heartfelt. Lots of people emailed or sent me notes expressing their appreciation and the sign-in book was filled with supportive comments. My intention to raise awareness of global water issues through art was fulfilled and I am even more energized to continue this work. During the exhibition there was a film night at the local theater sponsored by the Harris Center for Environmental Education. People watched "The Water Front" which is about access issues faced by the poor in Highland Park, Michigan and the threat of privatization as a solution to fiscal crises. Afterwards there was a reception at the Art Gallery where guests were thrilled to receive an Innate Gear stainless steel water bottle. Later in the month there was a presentation by Water Quality Manager, Robert Wood, who had volunteered for Water for People in Guatemala. His slides of the Guatemalans' challenges in providing clean water for their families were moving. Robert also gave us all a lesson in the water challenges we face here in NH with storm water run-off, pharmaceutical pollution, algae blooms, bacteria, and development. Attendees received Innate Gear's awesome stainless steel water bottles.

I'm currently working on concepts for my next Art for Water installation, looking for venues for 13,699 for 2010 and 2011, and talking to a local university about working with students on an Art for Water installation this fall.

Here's one of the comments I received:

"I snuck in on Thursday afternoon before the opening and was completely blown away by beauty, the stature, the delicacy, the brilliance of your piece. But, I said to myself, "How can this beautiful piece represent the global water crisis? It's too beautiful, too delicate, too ethereal to transmit the tragedy, the desperation of those who are suffering in the midst of this crisis." Then, I thought of the many people dying and the souls those people represent and, all of a sudden, the delicacy, the ethereal quality, the beauty hit me: with the light shining on the piece the way it does, all those souls were shimmering, twinkling, sparkling like diamonds before my eyes, as if those who have died are still among us. It blew me away.

It is a transfigurative work of art, Christine. It is sensational, in the best sense of the word. It is beautiful and moving. It communicates the essence of the crisis loud and clear. It should travel far and wide.

Thank you for your creativity, courage and determination to mount such a show, and congratulations on a masterpiece."

WATER: Mystery & Plight

The opening reception on Friday night for WATER: Mystery & Plight at the Sharon Arts Exhibition Gallery far exceeded my wildest dreams of a perfect opening. The place was packed and it seemed like everyone was moved by 13,699 as well as Mary Lang's serene and mysterious photographs (www.marylang.com). The responses to my piece were heartwarming and insightful, pointing to an aspect that I hadn't considered such as using "S" hooks to hang the strings mirrors the tenuous environmental balance that victims of the water crisis are facing. Many commented how thrilled they were to be allowed to enter the installation and get close and be able to touch it.

At the opening, the volunteers who worked on making the installation, breaking it down, packing it up, and setting it back up again, as well as two of Sharon Arts' staff who put in extra effort to make the exhibit a success, were given Innate Gear's very cool stainless steel water bottles as a token of my appreciation. Thanks, again, to Innate Gear for donating such a great product to my cause.

Check out www.innate-gear.com to learn about a photo contest––Hydrate with Innate––where the prize is a $1000. donation to a charitable organization that provides access to safe drinking water! The winner also gets a case of Innate's very cool stainless steel water bottles. You can post photos and stories about hydration on their site and enter this worthy contest. Pass the word to all thirsty shutter bugs.