Monday, October 13, 2014

Downstream/Upstream's Offspring: Earth Systems Journey

Downstream/Upstream took place in 2011 with preschoolers and kindergarteners, now turning 8-10. The project has been exhibited in several venues, currently it is at St. Paul Regional Water Services. A printed publication is also underway.

But, while the actual experience of Downstream/Upstream is completed, the curriculum framework model it incubated and piloted is continuing on. "Earth Systems Journey" has its own website now, and there is a new pilot with a high school currently happening in St. Paul, with another pilot at the elementary level planned for summer 2016.

The Downstream/Upstream website will only be updated occasionally for exhibit and publication updates, but I hope you'll follow the progress of its offspring model and new projects at Earth Systems Journey.


“River Journey: Exploring the Value of the Mississippi” is the name of the current Earth Systems Journey pilot. This project will take place at River’s Edge Academy Charter Environmental High School, where I will collaborate with teachers, staff and students on a year long “Earth Systems Journey” of water through their school, tracing the flows to the Mississippi River, both upstream and downstream.

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Febuary 13th: Downstream/Upstream on display for FMR event at Science Museum

Child collecting water from the Mississippi River, during their
water journey in the Downstream/Upstream project

Excerpt from associated song lyrics:
Making puddles for the toads
Washing up the dirty roads
From the land the water flows
And the Mississippi grows

Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR) has invited Full Spring Studio to display Downstream/Upstream along with other water-related art projects in conjunction with their annual public lecture series at the Science Museum of Minnesota. The theme this year is on "Our Water in a Changing World: Climate Change and the Urban Watershed," Thursday, February 13, 2014 at 7-8:30 p.m. At the time of this writing, there is a waiting list for the lecture, but check the link for current details. I'm looking forward to sharing work and discussing the intersection of art, place making and environmental awareness.