We Are All Water

RSVP to We Are All Water Reception on March 9th (6-8pm)
Utah Cultural Celebration Center

We Are All Water

Youth-In-Custody students worked with STEMCAP to think creatively about water as a unifying element.

Students were encouraged to reflect on water as a finite resource that connects all living things. Students considered the various water issues here in Utah and how the impact of individuals on collective waterways affects whole communities.

STEMCAP workshops focusing on drought, climate change, pollution, and the drying of the Great Salt Lake (GSL) informed the artwork, tasking students to reflect on the importance of water as a shared and vital resource.

Project Information

Project Proposal

Poster for Utah Cultural Celebration Center Reception and Show

Poster for Day-Riverside Library Show

Day-Riverside Library Reception Booklet

Virtual Gallery

Salt Lake Valley Youth Center: Jordan River, Miles 1-36

Segment 1

This Portrait is about The Jordan River and water. I hope people should be aware [of] the water and all the loss of water and all the ppl that work with water will lose their Job and we will lose all the food they make that we need and all the water we need to Drink, Shower, Cook, Swim in and all the fish that will be in danger and if you're like me I love fish and love fishing so plz think of all the water. -Xaviar

Segment 2

-Zyian

Segment 3

We should save the water. We are running out. Without water we die our pets. If we lose more water there is going to be less rain. -Ruben

Segment 4

We are all water. Each of the colors in my cutout of an area of the jordan river represents the different types of pollution that takes place in the river that we should each notice. The self-portrait is a representation of my identity and how I am not only a person but a person within the community. The earth on the face taking place of where the eye should be is metaphorical imagery for how we should see the world in its entirety, and not take it for granted, and realize the effects we have on our planet The fish and plants represent the ecosystems that suffer if we do not make changes, and try to come up with ways to minimize the damage or fix things to prevent more harm. Each of us is responsible for the damage and pollution of each of our communities rivers and lakes. We can’t reverse the damage, but we can make change so we don’t cause more. Hopefully, this gives you something to think about on the individual changes you can make. We can each make a difference. -Rylee

Segment 5

This is my portrait and I chose this because I went with the flow like water. I think we as a community should worry and help the water conservation. To be able to go into the future and live happy. -Daniel M.

Segment 6

-Sobrizna

Segment 7

I did my portrait like this to show things about myself. I picked that color for my river because I liked it, it has a very cool and interesting pattern. -Amy

Segment 8

[My portrait has] things that I’m good at. The colors represent good and evil. The Great Salt Lake is drying up. Save our Ozone Layer. -Shylo

Segment 9

This is me and the river. Why I choose black, red, and orange is because it shows my day how I was when or while I made it, Black meant to me when I’m depressed. -Makaila

Segment 10

-Khloe

Segment 11

I used blue and green cuz they my favorite color. -Mia

Segment 12

I chose to draw myself like this because I think that people really don’t care about how they are polluting the earth. Well guess what? Now is the time to start caring. SAVE THE WATER! I used these different colors because it describes how the earth and the water on the earth is being polluted. The green is for how nice the earth and water looked before the trash and dirty things that were dumped into the water which represents the brown. The Jordan river is added to my picture because it just shows that we need to save our water. -Mckenzie

Segment 13

I am a dreamer. I used my face & colors to represent my emotions. I wrote around me my values. The space represents my mind & how I use my imagination & my brain to dream & hope. & the water on top is a representation of it in my lives. I swim so water means a lot to me. Use water wisely, it is our life line. -Arianna

Segment 14

This is my self Portrait. I used my favorite colors and colors of the earth, on the other side of the portrait is the things in my life that I care about and people that I love and things I like to do. The marbled-paper represents a part of the Jordan River. I chose the colors blue and purple because the river is colorful and unique just like the river even though the river can be nasty. I want to let people know that we should not be littering at all! And that we shouldn’t take advantage of water. -Taylor

Segment 15

-Destiny

Segment 16

My portrait is the Boy in the tank with fish. The Boy is the part of the colors connection with a part of colors that is intense. What I think is that the colors in my drawing are the part of my life and the river is a part of the drawing. I want people to think that is a good, happy drawing I did. -Kashawn

Segment 17

[My portrait has] things I like. I used blue for my glasses because I have blue glasses. I put the Raiders symbol because I like the raiders even though we aren’t doing too good at the moment. I put the symbol of one of my favorite clothing brands. These things on here are things I like. We need water in order to function properly. -A. R.

Segment 18

This is a portrait with things that I need or love. I used all different kinds of colors [to represent me]. It just shows that we all need water and are all connected through it as well. I just want people to see who I am and what I live. -Joseph

Segment 19

This is a portrait of what I Love. I put a baseball and things I Love to do like bmx. The water is going through the heart because I like it that way. Think about family and things you love to do. -Tyson

Segment 20

[My portrait] shows who I am in many ways. The symbols I used are showing I love music. The flag of Mexico is on there because I’m proud of my Mexican side. The flow and cycle of life. Being apart of the river is like a connection to the rest. Treat our rivers and water better and people as well. -Angel

Segment 21

This portrait is called life It has thing[s] that mean a lot to me ‘n represent[s] who I am as a person and in life. -Christian

Segment 22

In my portrait I put words that I think represent me, I put flowers because they are my favorite thing to draw, and last but not least I put mountains and trees because they are so beautiful to look at. I used the color blue a lot because blue is my favorite color, I drew leaves because fall is one of the seasons I love, And I put a quote on my paper to give me hope and to whoever reads it 🖤. I think the Jordan River adds a little - water maybe that connects to the mountains in my drawing and maybe the water is like the “dreams” [like my quote] showing that they will always be there for me to catch. I want people to think about how water - is very Important to our environment and that it is most Important to always try and help to clean up trash you see outside/near the river. -Yesenia

Segment 23

This is me. I used pipes for my name. I used as many colors as I can. -Zach

Segment 24

Smile through it all. I am always smiling on the inside. The button[s] mean that I don’t really have my eyes. The river doesn’t represent anything. I just want people to see [my portrait]. -Rowdy

Segment 25

Hold your head high. I used my home state as A symbol. [The river represents] A long journey. [I want people to think about] How life will always flow on. -Daniel

Segment 26

This Drawing is Dedicated to Day of the Dead, my Loved ones. I used colors like red, Yellow, Purple, Green, and Black. I used these colors for my people to see light. Other symbols and drawings are Dedicated to my people and my flag. We all need [water] to survive, we Depend on it. [I want people to think about] Culture, Water, Love, Style -Kevin

Segment 27

This is a portrait of what goes in my head. and of what I like. The only color I used was black. I used words to describe what I like and a symbol to show God. I don’t have any connection with Jordan River. Really just want [people] to see and tell them not to give up. -Izaak

Segment 28

(An introduction to your portrait) I was bored and could think of nothing else to write. (How the different elements express part of your identity) I didn’t have any of that in my portrait (How the marbled paper added to your portrait (or not)) I don’t think it added much to my piece. Take care of the water we have. -Nathan A.

Segment 29

My portrait is things that are important to me. I used the U for Utah and then Loyalty, family, friends, and my last name. Water gives us all life. I want people to see the things that mean something to me and that they are supposed to look like tattoos. -A. Haro

Segment 30

I express myself by drawing where I was born and where I’m from. Salt Lake City, Glendale. -Brady

Segment 31

[My portrait has] Things I like. [I used] my favorite colors. I’m made of water 🙂 We need water to survive so don’t waste it 🙂 -Stevo

Segment 32

[My portrait has] Things I like. I used all of the things [I] liked to do. I think [the marbled paper] adds beauty. I would like it if people could think of ways to save water. -Andrew W.

Segment 33

[My portrait has] some of the games I like. Each game has their main color. [My connection to water is that] in order to play games I must be hydrated and we need water to survive. We must conserve to preserve. -Jeff

Segment 34

My Portrait consists of some of my values which are Love, Faith, Courage, and Inner Peace. It also has my head with an afro ‘cause I’m African American. I added a prayer in arabic and lots of colors. The marbled paper segment of the Jordan River symbolizes for me the very long journey of life. I want people to be more considerate of water and preserve it because not everyone has the luxuries that water provides. -Dalmar

Segment 35

[My portrait has] a Regular Awesome Dude that Loves Music [I used] Music Notes ‘Cause He Loves Music. [My connection to water is that] I Drink Water [I want people to think about my] Nice Hair Line -Jimmy G.

Segment 36

This portrait is filled with things that bring me joy - Family, art, beekeeping, cooking, nature, reading - to name a few. Water is a common unifying element which brings us together and gives us life. -Cathleen (teacher)

We Are All Water

RSVP to We Are All Water Reception on March 9th (6-8pm) Utah Cultural Celebration Center

We Are All Water

Project Information

Project Proposal

Poster for Utah Cultural Celebration Center Reception and Show

Poster for Day-Riverside Library Show

Day-Riverside Library Reception Booklet

Virtual Gallery

Salt Lake Valley Youth Center: Jordan River, Miles 1-36

Segment 1

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Segment 3

Segment 4

Segment 5

Segment 6

Segment 7

Segment 8

Segment 9

Segment 10

Segment 11

Segment 12

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Segment 20

Segment 21

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Segment 25

Segment 26

Segment 27

Segment 28

Segment 29

Segment 30

Segment 31

Segment 32

Segment 33

Segment 34

Segment 35

Segment 36

RSVP to We Are All Water Reception on March 9th (6-8pm)
Utah Cultural Celebration Center