photo: Ariel Campbell
Artist/activist Jodi Netzer moved to town in 2008, started The Conscious Collective (part of the Tucson Arts Brigade), and wasted no time getting a Tucson-centric, public-education-through-arts project rolling.
“I started thinking about topics relevant to the time and place I was in,” she explained, “which is how I approach all my projects.” By early 2009, she focused on an issue as specific to Tucson as it is applicable to the planet: the water challenge. Thus, the seeds were sown for The Water Project: Tucson’s Synergistic Water Festival. The 2010 unveiling is what planners hope will become an annual event.
Scheduled for March 26-28, Netzer said the goal of the 3-day fest is to “nurture a collaborative environment where solutions and art are created and explored,” all within the context of appreciating, celebrating and honoring water, our most precious and increasingly scarce resource.
A healthy cross-section of concerned community members, the Water Project’s organizers are planning a fun, informative and creative event. Participants in monthly brainstorming meetings (started last November) include folks from Tucson Water, the Southern Arizona Green Chamber of Commerce, Sustainable Tucson, Pima Association of Governments, U of A students and other interested residents.
The Water Project opens on Friday, March 26, with a showcase of local filmmakers’ experimental and environmental pieces. “We’re also trying to get the film Blue Gold,” reports Netzer, “but folks should check WaterProjectFestival.org for specifics.”
On Saturday, March 27, activities start at noon with a kids’ program centered on the experiments of Dr. Masaru Emoto, author of the bestselling “Hidden Messages in Water.” Later that afternoon, the action takes place at El Presidio Plaza with the Enviro-Vendor Fair. Participants from area businesses and organizations will address an array of water concerns, including harvesting, conservation and distribution. Scheduled on the plaza’s Fountain Stage is dance, music and puppetry performances, a “water creature fashion show” and other shenanigans.
Organizers encourage water-themed costumes for both the fair and the Saturday evening “After Party” – location TBD.
Sunday morning will see a cross-cultural/interfaith water ritual in Sabino Canyon (carpools to be organized). Later, at the Armory Park Senior Center, is a panel discussion between local experts Sharon Megdal (UA Water Resources Research Center), Chris Avery (Tucson Water), Marcelino Flores (Tucson/Pima Water Study and Pasqua Yaqui Tribe) and Vince Vasquez (Diamond Ventures). There will also be roundtable discussions on subjects including the carbon footprint of water distribution and TCE (trichloroethylene) contamination.
To volunteer, sponsor, or see the latest schedule, visit WaterProjectFestival.org or call 882-0665.
Schedule
• FRIDAY, MARCH 26
@ THE SCREENING ROOM (127 E. Congress)
6pm: Film Shorts by local filmmakers
8pm: Blue Gold- World Water Wars
• SATURDAY, MARCH 27
@ HIMMEL PARK w/ SOLAR ROCK (Tucson Blvd. 1st Street)
Noon-6pm: Information tables, kids area, live music, food, speakers, performance, and more
• SUNDAY, MARCH 28
@ SABINO CANYON (5700 N. Sabino Canyon Rd)
9:15am-Noon: Cross-cultural / Inter-faith Water Ritual
@ ARMORY PARK CENTER (220 S. 5th Ave)
1-6pm: Enviro-Vendor Fair w/ businesses, organizations, artisans
1-2pm: Movement Theatre Workshop
2:30pm: Policy Panel Discussion
4:30pm: Round Table Brainstorms on various water issues
5:30pm: Festival Performance / Festival Closing / Next Steps
6pm: After Party!
@ PEOPLE'S IMPORTS (276 S. Park Ave)
9pm-1am: After After Party!!
