Presentation: The Art of Becoming AWARE

Date/Time:	Thursday, 25 Mar 2010 from 3:15 pm to 5:30 pm
Location:	192 Parks Library
Cost:	Free
Contact:	Sarah Passonneau
Phone:	515-294-2117
Channel:	Live Green
Categories:	Academic calendar Arts, performances Diversity Lectures Live Green Special events
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David Williamson, from Ogden, Iowa, is the collaborating artist for a creative art series currently on display at Parks Library. The sculptures from this series are all created from trash collected by volunteers from Project AWARE, an annual statewide river clean-up project. The series also includes collaborative poems and songs. The artist will give a talk at 3:15pm followed by an interpretive tour of the artwork and informal discussion.

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Project AWARE (A Watershed Awareness River Expedition) began as an afternoon Iowa Department of Natural Resources' brainstorming session on how to unite Iowa's volunteers, foster environmental stewardship, and promote watershed education. Just finishing its seventh year, AWARE has become an annual weeklong volunteer river cleanup event that has achieved nationally recognized results: 1,500 participants, 497 sponsors, over 500 river miles, and 1,700 cubic yards of trash (with a recycling average of 72 percent).

Perhaps one of the most intriguing components to Project AWARE is its artistic element known as Riverse. Each year during Project AWARE various trash pieces are taken aside transformed into interpretive sculptures. Every sculpture represents a different river, group of volunteers, and theme of water quality and watershed awareness. Bicycles, farm equipment, industrial supplies, and children's toys are among the items that make up the finished art pieces.

Iowa State University is a seven-year supporter of Project AWARE through Outdoor Recreation Services' equipment sponsorship and volunteerism of faculty, staff, and students.

Learn more about Project AWARE: www.iowaprojectaware.com