The Willamette River is a part of life for every Eugene resident, but it’s rarely a topic of conversation. The Living River events, a monthlong celebration of rivers organized by the McKenzie River Trust, might change that.
The MRT, a nonprofit environmental organization, is putting on events in the Hult Center throughout April intended to initiate dialogue about the importance of rivers and how rivers are affected by human behavior.
The Living River celebration will begin with an art exhibit opening in the Jacobs Gallery at the Hult Center.
“Our intention is to start talking about the public value (rivers) provide,” said Liz Lawrence, assistant events coordinator for the MRT. “You might not expect an environmental group to host an art exhibit, but we are. It is a very affirming way to talk about the complexity of our interactions with rivers.”
The art exhibit opens Friday, April 2 and will run through May 1. It features 81 works of art from 61 Northwest artists, each one presenting a perspective on the interactions between rivers and humans.
Lawrence said the artwork will address the issue of human effects on rivers.
“The exhibit looks at the conflict between human’s desire to live so closely with rivers and our desire for them to remain untouched,” Lawrence said.
During the First Friday Art Walk on April 2, the artists will be present in the Jacobs Gallery to discuss their work from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Admission to the exhibit is free.
“Often as a conservation group we’re in our own bubble, and this event will help us engage with the community,” said MRT executive director Joe Moll. “We have art that demonstrates in all different ways how we interact with the river.”
In addition, the MRT will host a speaker series, called “Neighborhood Conversations,” every Wednesday night from April 7 to April 28. The events will be held in the Hult Center Studio at 7 p.m., and admission is also free.
At the first Neighborhood Conversation on April 7, the MRT will present a documentary film called “River Webs,” which follows an international group of river ecologists as they study and work to conserve rivers.
On April 14, Portland architect William C. Tripp will speak about architecture that encourages people to connect with rivers, and the issue of waterfront development in the Eugene-Springfield area.
Moll said that these events are also about local quality of life.
“I hope people come to these events with an open mind,” Moll said. “We’ve got some incredible resources in the Eugene-Springfield area, and if people can appreciate the fact that the rivers are resources to the community, then we can attract new people to our community that way.”
Lawrence agreed, adding that the Living River events will look at issues such as the problems that come with damming rivers and the effects of construction and recreation near rivers.
“Here in Eugene, where we’re living on the river, it’s particularly important to think about our relationship with rivers,” Lawrence said. “All of the events will come back to the idea that there is a myriad of ways that we interact with rivers.”
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