Watershed Weekend, a new Exhibit Columbus event, will take place in Columbus on October 22 and 23
This series of events address connections within the Mississippi watershed and highlights the importance of shared ecologies.
Columbus, Indiana — Exhibit Columbus (EC) announces Watershed Weekend, a series of public events that explore the future of the center of the United States and the regions connected by the Mississippi watershed. This weekend will highlight the work of the 2020–21 Photography Fellows in conversation with Co-Curator Iker Gil, University Design Research Fellow Derek Hoeferlin, and Chicago Architecture Biennial (CAB) artistic director David Brown and The Bittertang Farm as part of a collaborative event between EC and CAB.
The Mississippi watershed is an ecology that stretches beyond national borders—from North to South—from the Canadian Border to the Gulf, and from East to West—from Appalachia to the plains. Watershed Weekend will explore how people from across this broad ecological and cultural geography might be empowered to collectively question past methods of control and power.
On Friday, October 22 hear from 2020–21 Photography Fellows Virginia Hanusik and David Schalliol in conversation with Co-Curator Iker Gil. Hanusik and Schalliol will discuss their projects documenting parts of Columbus, the Heartland, and the Mississippi watershed from social, economic, and environmental perspectives.
Also on Friday, join The Bittertang Farm, a Chicago and Bainbridge Island-based design practice and 2020–21 participant in the Chicago Architecture Biennial and artistic director David Brown, in a joint CAB/EC partnership event that will bring together Columbus environmental groups with Bittertang’s project, The Living Room, installed at Chicago's CCA Academy’s Permapark: a self-sufficient permaculture garden.
On Saturday, October 23, University Design Research Fellow, Derek Hoeferlin (Washington University at St. Louis) will host several field studios along the White River as part of his installation, Tracing Our Mississippi for the 2021 Exhibit Columbus Exhibition New Middles. The project team includes architects, artists, and cultural community organizers Nate Stanfield, Angie Tillges, Monique Verdin, and Paul Wu. For biographies on each participant, click here.
In addition to the field studios is a call for personal stories. Inspired by Hoeferlin’s watershed research, the project team is seeking contributors to share their stories of the Mississippi Watershed that connect us across our shared ecological and cultural geographies. Stories may range from songs, poetry, interviews, essays, and images. For details on how to submit, visit: tracingourmississippi.com
Watershed Weekend has been generously supported by Heritage Fund—The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County through a grant received from Lilly Endowment Inc.
Schedule of Events
Friday, October 22, 2021
Photography Fellows in Conversation with Co-Curator Iker Gil
Columbus Area Visitors Center
* Limited registration available
5:30–7:30 pm
Hear from 2021 Exhibit Columbus Photography Fellows Virginia Hanusik and David Schalliol in conversation with Co-Curator Iker Gil, who will discuss their projects documenting parts of Columbus, the Heartland, and the Mississippi watershed from social, economic, and environmental perspectives.
Saturday, October 23, 2021
Tracing Our Mississippi: Story Gathering and Field Studios
Upland Columbus Pump House
10:00 am–8:00 pm
Join University Design Research Fellow Fellow Derek Hoeferlin and the Tracing Our Mississippi project team—architects, artists, and cultural community organizers—in a daylong series of watershed field studios. All are welcome to join one or multiple studios: Watershed Power and Story, Watershed and Creative Practice, and Watershed Illuminated.
Press Contact
Elizabeth Kubany
KUBANY, LLC
elizabeth@kubany.com
Landmark Columbus Foundation Contact
Jamie Goldsborough
jamie@landmarkcolumbus.org
