Camp Verde AZ (August 1, 2019) – The Smithsonian’s Water|Ways exhibit dives into Arizona water, exploring water’s essential component of life on our planet, environmentally, culturally, and historically. Friends of the Verde River (Friends) is excited to partner with The Camp Verde Community Library to bring the Arizona Humanities Smithsonian Water|Ways Exhibit to the Verde Valley. This national exhibit comes to the Verde Valley August 24 – October 5, 2019, hosted at the Camp Verde Community Library. The opening reception will be held at the Camp Verde Community Library from 1 – 4pm along with a story walk in Rezzonico Park and an Important Bird Area (IBA) presentation with the Northern Arizona Audubon Society.
Many partners are working together to develop supporting community events and complementary exhibits, host public programs, and facilitate educational initiatives to deepen people’s understanding about what water means in the Verde Valley. Partners include the Yavapai Apache Nation,Yavapai College, Camp Verde Community Library, Save Our Ancient Red Rocks, Cottonwood Public Library, and Friends of the Verde River.
The public is invited to attend the free Water|Ways events across the valley. The first event is a Verde Watershed themed art exhibit, “Visions of the Verde,” held at Yavapai College Verde Art Gallery, opening August 23rd. Additional scheduled events include an Arizona Wilderness Brewing Company Tap Takeover at The State Bar in Cottonwood; “Verde River Elegy,” an author talk with Jon Fuller; a film screening of Viva la Verde at the Cliff Castle Casino Hotel, hosted by the Yavapai-Apache Nation; an Arizona Humanities Speaker Series held at multiple venues, and more. For a schedule of events, visit the Friends of the Verde River Water|Ways website page, VerdeRiver.org/Waterways.
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. Water|Ways will tour 12 Arizona rural communities starting in June 2018 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.
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.