River-Wash at Little Mekong Exhibit Begins

Yuwadee Lor, owner of Thai Cafe, washing away "grief."
photo by Jonee Kulman Brigham, Full Spring Studio
Part of the River-Wash at Little Mekong exhibit

The River-Wash at Little Mekong exhibit began Sunday, September 15th, with the first set of posters on display and the the storm drain stenciling completed in the morning as St.Paul Open Streets started at 11 am, bringing people on foot and bike to enjoy University Avenue which was closed to car traffic from Hamline to Marion Streets.

Here's the basics: 

What: River-Wash at Little Mekong Exhibit 

When: Starting September 15 through November 15, 2013, open anytime 

Where: In Little Mekong Business and Cultural District  along University Avenue between Mackubin and Galtier Streets 

Summary: “River-Wash at Little Mekong” engages the people behind storefronts with the stormwater below the street —connecting Little Mekong to the Mississippi River. Participating business owners display a poster in their storefront showing an encounter where they mark a watering can and water-paint the sidewalk to answer two questions: "What do you want to flow in to this place?" and "What do you want to wash away?" Then, washing the sidewalk, their hopes and concerns flow into the storm drain, to water trees and be carried by the  river, a healing symbol. In turn, the human role in river health is expressed by marking storm drains with the St. Paul stormwater stencil. Artist, Jonee Kulman Brigham of Full Spring Studio, collaborated with Friends of the Mississippi River, Asian Economic Development Association, and the City of St. Paul. The project is supported by Irrigate. More businesses to come in September. See river-wash.blogspot.com

Painting the (Open) Street

Katie Clower, Friends of the Mississippi River,

having just painted the first application

of the new City of St.Paul storm drain stencil

on the north side of University Ave. near Western.

Katie Clower, Youth and Community
Engagement Coordinator for Friends of the Mississippi River is a River-Wash collaborator and the very first person to paint the brand new St. Paul stormwater stencil at University Avenue. The stenciling can't normally occur on such a busy street, but the street closure of University Ave. for St. Paul Open Streets today provided an opportunity to bring the river stewardship message to a very public place as part of the River-Wash project.

After the sun started drying the rain-dampened streets, it was a festive atmosphere for stenciling as Open Streets was setting up. River-Wash Collaborators Va-Megn Thoj, Executive Director of AEDA (Asian Economic Development Association) and AEDA intern & volunteer Mai Vang, were also there, letting visitors know about Little Mekong as shown in the pictures below.

Celebrating Little Mekong at Open Streets
River-Wash Collaborators Mai Vang, AEDA volunteer at left
Va-Megn Thoj, AEDA Executive Director second to left.

River-Wash at Little Mekong Collaborators
at the final stencil of the morning
Left to right:

Jonee Kulman Brigham, Full Spring Studio
Katie Clower, Friends of the Mississippi River
Mai Vang, intern and volunteer for
Asian Economic Development Association (AEDA)
(Collaborator Va-Megn Thoj,
AEDA Executive Director, not shown.) 

First set of posters delivered

Seven "River-Washes" have been done this week and the posters of this first group of business owners were delivered today in time for St. Paul Open Streets tomorrow.
See the People tab of this website for the locations. Here's a preview of one of the posters:

First Two River-Washes

The first two River-Washes for the project were held at Thai Cafe and Ha Tien Grocery Store today. More to come on the "People" tab of this website, but here are some photos so far. Thank you Yuwadee, Thomas, and Ne for participating! Next step: creating the posters...

Thai Cafe owner, Yuwadee Lor and friend/translator Thomas Ku writing what she'd like to flow in to this place: Hope, Faith, Happiness and Growth.

Answering with water: "What would you like to wash away?"

Yuwadee washing away "Grief."

Ha Tien Grocery owner, Ne Dao expressing her desire for "safety" to flow into this place.

Ne filling the watering can

Ne washing away "Crime."