The Park River Watershed — which stretches from Bloomfield through Hartford, West Hartford, Farmington, New Britain, and Newington –“pours into the Connecticut River through tunnels buried beneath Bushnell Park,” according to Park Water Arts and the Park River Watershed Revitalization Initiative
Park Water Arts is coordinating “art actions and events” through August 2011; this Festival of Eco-Arts is intended to “draw attention to the history, present condition, and future design of the Park River Watershed.” Most of these events are open to the public, though the kickoff on August 30 — Our Campus, Our Planet — was exclusively for University of Hartford first-year students. Coordinated by Mary Rickel Pelletier and Sherry Buckberrough, these events range from river clean-ups to art exhibits to films to symposiums and more. Participants in this festival include Central Connecticut State University; University of Hartford, The President’s College, and Joseloff Gallery; Connecticut Forest and Park Association; Connecticut Historical Society; Connecticut Explored; New Britain Museum of American Art; Real Art Ways; Wadsworth Atheneum; and the Studio at Billings Forge.
A clean-up of the Hog River is planned for October 14, 2010. From October 21 through March 20, 2011, there will be an Olu Oguibe exhibit at Real Art Ways featuring New England stone walls. Building off the natural, outdoors theme of Oguibe’s work, Real Art Ways will be sponsoring nature walks (10/9/10) and birdcall walks (10/2/10). To learn about other upcoming events or more about these, see the Park Water Arts website.