The Value of Water

Water is so much a part of our lives, it is easy—too easy—to take it for granted. We depend on water not just for our survival, but for our very existence. Water is also a spiritual symbol for us, a vital element, an aspect of cleansing, a habitat for many of earth's plants and animals, an essential ingredient in all that grows... and so very much more. Water is not just a precious resource, it is a sacred creation, and God has appointed us its stewards.

"The Value of Water," an ambitious installation of art and conversation, opens at the Cathedral in September 2011. Works by painters, sculptors, and media artists will be installed in bays of the nave, in various chapels, and along the walls of the Great Crossing.

As interpreters of the unseen, artists will help us to see what has been there all along; to strengthen our awareness of water; and to prompt our imaginations in the contemplation of water, from wells and underground springs to surging seas and mighty rivers. With this collection of powerful presentations, there really will be water, water everywhere.

As we often do here at the Cathedral, we are committing fully to this exhibition. Over the six months of the installation, water will be a theme deeply explored in conversation, events, and our own personal meditations.

Exhibits and conversations will cross cultures, political themes, and more. It will also give us insight into current events. As drought grips eastern Africa and leads to famine, The Value of Water exhibit will give us an even deeper appreciation of water as a precious resources as well as our responsibility as stewards of it.

Over the six months of the exhibit, visitors will experience a wide range of artistic experiences from at least four perspectives: the space of the Cathedral, the idea of water as sacred, water as a lens for global warming, and water as aesthetic object.

Make your plans today to participate in The Value of Water.

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