1 Cup Water, 2 Cups Artistry

If you’re wondering how to use art to discuss water issues, look no further than the Minneapolis arts community. While in town last week for the opening of the film “No Impact Man,”  I spent a day meeting with local artists there to learn about their work to use the visual and aural arts as a means of illustrating the social and political issues surrounding water. ‘Turns out there’s a lot to see.

I kicked things off over breakfast with Liz Dodson and Marilyn Cuneo, organizers of "Women and Water Rights," which opens at the University of Minnesota’s Nash Gallery next spring. The month-long exhibit will feature American and international female artists whose work focuses water rights.

Afterward, I took a spin out to the charming Minnesota Landscape Arboretum to catch the tail end of “Waterosity,” a collection of 10 juried art installations exploring the “gifts of water.” There, landscape designers Debra Ensteness and Sheila Hawthonrne met me to discuss their instillation, “Take Back the Tap: Protect Our Environment”. The giant walk-through water bottle was constructed with 7,500 discarded bottles and incorporates facts about the detrimental effects of bottled water in order to illustrate its blight on the environment and your wallet. 

Next, I visited the Perpich School for Arts Education to learn about teacher and composer Janika Vandervelde’s work to help a dozen young composers create choral music exploring the importance of water.  I gave a talk on water privatization, and students discussed their compositions, which will be performed in a concert themed around water.

Finally, any account of the interplay of water and art in Minneapolis must not overlook the amazing “In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre”, which has been running water-themed programs for years. These folks continue to keep it real with edgy visuals and a great message.

Interested in using art to educate your community about water? Get started now by hosting a film screening.