A Celebration of Great Lakes Water in Light
We were honored to take part in Sunday night's "We Are Water" event on Milwaukee's Lakefront. The event, organized by the Milwaukee Water Commons, featured poets, spoken word, native speakers and dancers, and a stunning collectively constructed illuminated installation of the Great Lakes. The group connects to the larger Great Lakes Commons Initiative, which is a cross-border grassroots effort to establish the Great Lakes as a commons and legally protected bioregion. Milwaukee is privileged to live on such an important body of fresh water, but with this privilege comes the responsibility of sound stewardship and defense of this incredible public resource.
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett declared Sunday to officially be "We Are Water" Day in the city.
A nice group turn out to celebrate Milwaukee's water.
Blanche Brown and Suzanne Rosenblatt treated the audience to extraordinary Spoken word and poetry.
The Strawberry Moon Singers performed some native drumming and singing throughout the evening.
DanceCircus provided a rhythmic water dance that culminated with the dancers formally introducing LED lights used to construct the evening's final Great Lakes water installation, a project by Milwaukee environmental artist Melanie Ariens.
After the water dancers, everyone in attendance was asked to gather in a circle around an etched out shape of the Great Lakes that had been cordoned off in the sand. All were then beckoned to come forward and receive an LED light placed in a cup of Lake Michigan water.
Participants then placed their lighted cup anywhere along the Great Lakes portion of sand.
The final illuminated installation was stunning. Drummers played as everyone gathered around to enjoy the final result. Of course, the real drama of the artwork would reveal itself once darkness fell.
Participants then moved back to the original circle, where the Strawberry Moon Singers performed a water blessing. This sacred ceremony is cannot be photographed, so we turned off our camera out of respect.
As the night grew darker, the Holders of the Light brought out several messages behind the now-glowing silhouettes of the Great Lakes. We have an awesome responsibility as stewards of this precious resource.
Milwaukee Water Commons will continue to hold events and give Milwaukeeans ways to participate in the ongoing care and conservation of the Great Lakes now and for future generations.
More photos from the "We Are Water" event can be found here.
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