An art exhibition, readings, a jazz improvisation performance are just a few of the launching points meant to inspire contemplation and a community conversation about water.
Artist Sherri Cornett is the force behind the project titled “Flow.”
During her hikes around the region, she became inspired by water.
“Where I’ve taken time to sit down by the water and really take in the calming effects, thinking about, meditating about water,” she says.
So in 2010 she began constructing a series of wall-mounted, 3D sculptures that include a video. Cornett calls them grottos,“and so the grottos are sculptural protected spaces for different elements of water. Rushing water, flowing water, cascading water.”
Cornett hopes Flow will move others to stop and contemplate all of the complexities that swirl around water.
Cornett collaborated with others to encourage this contemplation and conversation. Her desire is that the events will begin to erode the labels that often frame and divide people over the issue around water. This includes water quality, access, and usage.
“We are not here to ram down someone’s throat a particular opinion,” she says. “We are just trying to elevate the community knowledge about it.”
Flow is multi-faceted. It launched at the end of January with a juried art exhibition at Montana State Billings’ Northcutt Steele Gallery. It feature’s Cornett’s sculptures and the work of artists from across the community.
The gallery includes a video interpretation of the Yellowstone River Cultural Inventory that blends art and film of the Yellowstone River valley. It was produced by Bonny Beth Luhman and Ariel Grosfield.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tU3QKRvcYGg
On Thursday, Flow features water-related readings and a live music performance. Then there’s a film screening and discussion and ends with a symposium featuring the Yellowstone River.
“One thing that I really love about this exhibition and these events is it brings people together, allows them to slow down and hopefully think about an issue in a way that they can’t,” says Leanne Gilbertson, the curator of the Northcutt Steele Gallery. “There’s really not a space to take the time and to have a conversation about these issues. We see media images of things that are going on but they don’t allow for conversation.”
February 11, 2016: Words on Water: Poetry and Jazz in Concert; 5-7 pm at MSUB. Free. A public reception follows.
February 18, 2016: “Mixing Oil and Water” film screening and discussion: 5-7 pm at MSUB. Free. A facilitated public discussion follows.
February 25, 2016: Voices of the River Symposium; 4:30-8:30 pm at MSUB. The panel discussion begins at 7:15 pm. Free. The panel will focus on the Yellowstone River Cumulative Effects Analysis.