SMU invites community to events as part of ‘Our Drinking Fountains, Our Water’ project

One of several decorated fountains on the Saint Mary's campus.

Five local institutions are collaborating with the Minneapolis-based In the Heart of the Beast Puppet-Mask Theater to spearhead a community-wide program, “Our Drinking Fountains, Our Water.”

Theatre residency

As part of the theater’s residency activities, Saint Mary’s will attempt to raise community awareness about our drinking water through the creation of art and through performance around that art.

The performance/celebration of an ancient English ritual known as well-dressing or, in this case, water-fountain-dressing, will be held at from noon to 2 pm. today. The celebration will involve student-designed installations, the created masks and dragon, and “performances” that are to be centered around drinking fountains in the Toner Student Center, and Hoffman, Lasalle, and Saint Mary’s Halls.

For more information, contact Dr. Joe Tadie, Ext. 6652 or e-mail jtadie@smumn.edu.

Winona State University, Saint Mary’s University, Minnesota State College-Southeast Technical, Southeast Minnesota Water Resources Board and the City of Winona are incorporating the water theme into classes, presentations and activities this year. The goal of the project is for the community to achieve a broader and deeper understanding of water quality and stewardship. This project is funded by the State of Minnesota through the Minnesota Campus Compact.

Adopt-a-fountain

The public is also invited to adopt a drinking fountain as part of the “Our Drinking Fountains, Our Water!” collaborative project.

Through the adopt-a-drinking fountain project, community members are invited to design and implement an artistic design around a drinking fountain. This project was designed to get the community involved in highlighting our drinking fountains and remind everyone how lucky we are to have clean, drinkable water right at our fingertips.

Fountains must be registered by Feb. 27. Decorating must be started and completed between March 2-18, and the design must remain in place until Earth Day celebrations on April 27.

A map of the decorated fountains (along with designer credit) will appear on the project’s website, http://water.southeastmn.edu. Prizes will be awarded in a number of categories including: most educational, most inspirational, best use of water theme, most creative, and most eye catching.

Designs cannot interfere with accessibility to the fountain and must be respectful and appropriate. Permission must be obtained from the owner/management of the building, and only indoor drinking fountains may be decorated. All costs must be borne by the company, organization or participant.

Refer to the project’s website for rules of the contest, as well as details about how to register a fountain, or call Katie LaPlant at Ext. 6936 or kalaplan@smumn.edu.