Join the Conversation - Help Terre Haute "Turn to the River"
Turn to the River is a comprehensive plan to discover the ways in which public art and design may play a central role in reconnecting downtown Terre Haute, Indiana, with the Wabash River running along the West side of the City. The Wabash River is the reason that people have settled in this area, including in prehistoric times. Join the Conversation Here!
Press Release for "Turn to the River - Community Conversation"
Businesses look to reconnect City with River
Art and River Chatter
May 23: What Does Art Have to do with Rivers? Part II
What does the written word have to do with rivers and how we view, understand and appreciate them?
Presenters: Mark Minster and Tom Roznowski
June 27: Have You Been on the River?
How can we boat, walk, run, fish, birdwatch along the Wabash - what are people discovering about the river through recreation?
Presenters: Brendan Kearns and Kara Kish
Art and River Chatter conversations kick-off on February 28th
River lore: Historians recite our centuries-old connection to the Wabash
Art Spaces to Honor Paul Dresser
Art Spaces will honor Paul Dresser, Terre Haute native and author of Indiana’s state song, with a sculpture near his home in Fairbanks Park. Art Spaces anticipates that this sculpture honoring am important cultural treasure will become a destination site. Learn more about this project.
Articles Related to Paul Dresser:
' A Song for Indiana' to raise money for Dresser Sculpture
Mark Bennett: "A century later, 'On the Banks of the Wabash' still rises above Indiana politics"
"'On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away' honored after 100 years as Indiana's state song"
"City of Terre Haute honor Aprill 22 as Paul Dresser Day"
"Happy Birthday to Paul Dresser"
For more information about Paul Dresser, visit one of these websites:
Songwriters Hall of Fame: Paul Dresser
Paul Dresser: Popular Songwriter Crafted State Song
Indiana History: Paul Dresser
Art Spaces collaborates to present
"2013 Year of the River"
2013 Year of the River is a community-wide initiative based in West Central Indiana providing arts, cultural, environmental and educational events throughout 2013 that are focused on the Wabash River, and rivers and water as they affect our lives. It is spearheaded by: Art Spaces, Inc. - Wabash Valley Outdoor Sculpture Collection; Arts Illiana; and Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Permanent Art Collections, all located in Terre Haute, Indiana.
The arts offer extraordinary avenues for engagement and understanding and the three lead organizations are pleased for the arts to play an active role in encouraging a positive and active relationship of West Central Indiana with the Wabash River.
Understanding that this river is the reason that settlements first occurred in this region, many organizations are coming to together to reclaim, enhance and protect this valuable natural resource. In recent years, the City of Terre Haute, Wabash Valley Riverscape, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, and Indiana State University, have focused their attentions on the Wabash River, looking at its current realities and future possibilities.
Wabashiki, a recently designated 2400 acre site at the edge of the city offers a unique attribute that not many communities have so near to a metropolitan center. This area will now be able to do its work as a wetlands, and will encourage a focus on sustainability as Terre Haute grows and develops in ways that make sense for a bright and lively city in the 21st Century.
2013 Year of the River offers opportunities for exploration, partnership, involvement and understanding, to positively impact the region in which we live and work. Knowing that a river is affected by its entire watershed, we are joined in this project by representatives from counties immediately around Vigo in the West Central Indiana Wabash River watershed.
More than 50 groups and organizations have elected to participate. Public events taking place throughout 2013 will include: a Big Read, a Native American mound celebration, concerts, plays, nature walks, an outdoor art festival, cleanup projects, poetry competition, art exhibits, historical exhibits, group prayer sessions, murals, discussion series, lectures, tree planting, duck races, a midnight run, a mural, a photo contest, hands on classes and more.
It is anticipated that events and projects will have positive lasting impact on the region beyond 2013. It is an exciting opportunity for the arts to play an active role in this community's future. Terre Haute is at a fascinating, energetic and critical juncture, and through 2013 Year of the River, arts, cultural, environmental and educational organizations will help us all to think more about our beautiful river, the original reason people chose this area as a viable and lovely place to live.
Here are some articles featuring 2013 Year of the River:
Year of the River: Year-long celebreation officially begins
'Year of the River' brings focus to our Wabash bond
Hoosiers reflect on passions for Wabash River
ISU celebrates the "Year of the River"
Get your copy NOW - THE WABASH CD!
The Wabash is a collection of songs about the Wabash River sung by musicians with roots in the Wabash Valley of West Central Indiana and East Central Illinois. It was produced to raise funds for “The Paul Dresser Project” which will honor the world-renowned composer and Terre Haute native, with a sculpture near his boyhood home in Fairbanks Park. Learn more about this CD and how to purchase it...
News Articles:
Singer-songwriter: Hutsonville native to perform in hometown
Album in praise of Wabash River selling 'incredibly well'
'The Wabash' varies in style, pace, heritage and feeling
Diamond Hill Station plans fan day
