A catalyst to engage and empower water stewards
The District’s artist/educator residency was designed collaboratively with local arts and culture experts to advance One Water perspectives in our community. The program is an opportunity to open the wastewater treatment plant beyond its fence and normal business hours, teach through interactions, provide hands-on opportunities and experiences, engage in conversations that challenge social norms and conventional thinking, as well as collaborate and test new approaches to convey the One Water message.
The residencies were part of a series of catalytic projects for the District and Shop One. The design of this residency program was supported by the US Water Alliance Arts & Culture Accelerator program. Community members – Alexandra Lakind, Carrie Breunig, Dakota Mace, Hedi Rudd, Jenie Gao, Michael Ford, Kay LeClaire, Rob Franklin and Robert Lundberg – served as creative collaboration advisors to guide the development of this residency and other catalytic projects.
2023 Residency: Charles Payne
Throughout 2023, Charles Payne worked with community-based organizations to build water advocates through a water-advocacy curriculum and storytelling events. This residency built off of the 2022 Resident Artist/Educator’s work to continue the conversation on One Water concepts.
Payne brought elements of both his storytelling and community work to the residency. His goal was to connect youth with a water advocacy curriculum that allows them to take ownership of water issues important to them and encourage their participation in water advocacy events.
A self-taught social artist who uses his creative skills to spark change, during his residency, Charles engaged and empower water stewards by connecting with community members, focusing on youth. In addition to being a social change artist, Charles is also an award-winning writer, playwright, storyteller and certified teacher. He uses his creative skills and platform to help lift the voices of underserved communities, elevate important issues and forge connections between the two. Charles is a Madison transplant, originally from Michigan. As a child, Charles loved hearing Paul Harvey’s voice and his ability to describe every intricate detail; Harvey inspired him to become a storyteller.
View the press release on the residency
Residency summary
Water advocacy curriculum
Charles continued the trajectory of community conversations that were begun with the first resident artist, nipinet landsem, in 2022. He did this by developing a water advocacy curriculum to guide youth through steps to become water advocates. Then, he worked with the youth to publicly tell their stories of that process, at community story-slams. In addition to the public-facing community engagements, Charles also consulted with the Sewerage District ‘behind the scenes’ on ways to improve showcasing careers in wastewater treatment.
Five students completed the first cohort of the water advocacy curriculum in August 2023. Through the seven-step process, students progressed from being somewhat unaware of the water issues affecting their community to active advocates. They worked with scientists along the way to learn more about the topics that interested them and to prepare a presentation of their work at the end of the session. Their learnings were summarized in graphic notes by Gray Miller Creative.
“By the Water” story slam
Charles curated a story slam and a neighborhood water-related “show-and-tell” in partnership with Mad City Story Slam and the Marquette Neighborhood Association, both centered on the theme of “By the Water.” Storytellers shared water-related stories ranging from personal health crises and family-bonding moments to historical information and times when water taught them something, to music significant to water protection efforts. The evening showcased a diversity of perspectives and was a heartfelt, open space that both inspired connection and reflection.
2022 residency: nipinet landsem
Bringing multifaceted experience as both an artist and activist around water issues, nipinet landsem kickstarted the Shop One residency program by engaging community through a series of events, conversations and social media. Personal water connections uncovered during the residency were captured and shared through illustrations, zines and social media posts.
nipinet brought a wide variety of experience to the residency. They have 20 years of experience in making art in a variety of media, including painting, digital art, large-scale art actions, block and risograph printing techniques and has been tattooing for a number of years. They are also experienced in traditional arts, including finger weaving, moccasin making, quilting and sewing. As a saasaakwe jingle dress dancer, they have led a number of community events.
As the first Shop One Artist/Educator in residence, nipinet focused on opening channels of communication with the community to uncover personal connections to water. Activities throughout 2022 included, dialogues, events and social media interaction with the @OneWaterMadison Instagram channel.
Events
- Water as Community, Water as Kin – March 26, 2022
- Generational Effects of Water – June 4, 2022
- Global Water Perspectives – August 7, 2022
- Water and Food Sovereignty – September 24, 2022
- Water Protectors – December 3, 2022
Illustrations and zines
What was heard throughout the various dialogues/focus groups, events and social media conversations around the five established events informed creation of an illustration and/or zines.
- “Water as Community, Water as Kin” zine
- “Generational Effects of Water” zine
- International Perspectives illustration (depicted at left)
- “Food Sovereignty in Wisconsin” zine
- “Water is Life: Water protection in Wisconsin and why you should care” zine
“Teejop has always been a place of water. Since time immemorial, the isthmus has housed a center of Indigenous community and connection. Water brings people together. As the Shop One Artist in Residence, I will celebrate this connecting flow, utilizing my experience as an Indigenous community educator, activist, and artist to bring together our shared water community with events and public arts practice.”
nipinet landsem, inaugural artist/educator in residence
