Camp Verde AZ (October 2, 2019) – The Arizona Humanities Smithsonian Waterways Exhibit hosted at the Camp Verde Community Library comes to a close on Saturday, October 5, 2019. Supporting events with community partners continue through Friday, October 11, 2019. All of the Water|Ways events are free and open to the public.
Yavapai College Verde Art Gallery will host a closing reception on Friday, October 11th from 5 – 7pm for the “Visions of the Verde” juried visual art exhibit. The exhibition feature artworks that celebrate or are otherwise influenced by the Verde Watershed.
Award winners for the exhibit are:
Best in Show: Christine Debrosky, “Along the Banks “Rio Verde””
Second Place: Paul Kessel, “Verde Flow”
Third Place: Pamela Delay, “Verde River near Tuzigoot”
Honorable Mention: Marie Rolf, “Summer Reflections of the Verde River”
Honorable Mention: Trevor Gottschal, “Last Damned Summer”
“Visions of the Verde” awards were selected by juror, Novie Trump, an Arizona based sculptor and installation artist working in ceramic, mixed media and sound. Formerly the Executive Director of Lee Arts Center in Arlington, VA, Novie Trump currently curates exhibitions and juries for arts organizations throughout the US.
Juror’s statement:
“In the desert, water takes on a new significance in the lives of those of us who live here. It is an artery, a lifeline, the heart’s blood of the land and sky. The Verde River wends its way through our valley, providing priceless shelter, shade, life and inspiration.
Visions of the Verde delves deeply into the intimate connection between artist and the river. In these featured works, each artist explores what the river means to them, inviting the viewer into their private world and personal relationship with the river.
Through their eyes we can see the river in new and impelling ways, revealing previously unseen depths and points of view.”
Prior to the closing reception, the public is invited to a speaker series presentation, “AZ H20 + Art” with Jim Ballinger, former director of the Phoenix Art Museum at 3:30 – 4:30pm and a dedication and unveiling of a bronze sculpture of Poseidon, Greek god of the sea, by Sedona artist John M. Soderberg, Ph.D. at 4:45 – 5:15pm in the Verde Valley Campus Community Room, Building M, Room 137.
Many partners worked together to develop community events and complementary exhibits, host public programs, and facilitate educational initiatives to deepen people’s understanding about what water means culturally, socially and spiritually in the Verde Valley. Partners include the Yavapai Apache Nation, Yavapai College, Keep Sedona Beautiful, Camp Verde Community Library, and Friends of the Verde River.
About the Arizona Water|Ways Exhibition:
The Arizona tour of Water/Ways is a traveling exhibition from the Smithsonian Institution. The Smithsonian has partnered with Arizona Humanities, Walton Sustainability Solutions Initiatives, and the School of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies at Arizona State University to bring the exhibit to Arizona. Since in June 2018, Water/Ways has been touring 12 Arizona rural communities and will conclude in March 2020.
Water/Ways explores the endless motion of the water cycle, its effect on landscape, settlement and migration, and its impact on culture and spirituality. It looks at political and economic efforts to ensure access to water and explores how human creativity and resourcefulness provide new ways to protect water resources and renew our relationship with the natural environment.
Designed for small-town museums, libraries and cultural organizations, Water/Ways will serve as a community meeting place to convene conversations about water’s impact on American culture. Towns
About Friends of the Verde River:
Friends of the Verde River, (Friends), is a purpose driven community benefit organization and 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Friends envisions a healthy, free-flowing Verde River and tributaries that support our unique environment, a vibrant economy, and quality of life for future generations. www.VerdeRiver.org