10th Annual Gila River Festival Celebrating America's First Wilderness River
Southwest's Premier Nature Festival, September 18 – 21, 2014
The Gila River inspires a variety of artwork: photos, paintings, films, music, and more. To showcase this work, the 10th Annual Gila River Festival features several events.
On Friday, September 19, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm, there will be an opening reception of Michael Berman's Gila photos, "Gila Rising," at Western New Mexico University's McCray Gallery. Guggenheim fellow Berman was recognized with the Governor's Award for his photography, on exhibit in Santa Fe's Roundhouse. Michael Berman gives a presentation about his work at 7:00 pm in WNMU's Parotti Building. Following his talk is "Gila Immersion," a series of large outdoor projections of Gila films and images by WNMU Professor of New Media Peter Bill and his students. Refreshments will be provided, and Little Toad Creek Brewery will host a cash bar with custom Gila River libations. These events are free and open to the public.
There are many opportunities to visit several ongoing exhibits throughout the festival. Downtown Silver City storefronts will show photos of the Gila River, "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly." Along the upper Gila, New Mexico's last free-flowing river, beauty abounds. But this lovely ribbon of green fades to brown in Arizona, where most of the water is removed from the river. This exhibit features starkly contrasting photos of the Gila River's lush riparian zone in New Mexico, and its potential future as a dewatered stream if a Gila River diversion comes to pass.
In keeping with festival tradition, the Silver City Art Association hosts a Gila River Art Walk on September 18-20 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, and on September 21 from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. Art galleries will show local artists' multi-media work, inspired by the Gila's beauty.
The San Vicente Artists hosts their annual juried art show at the Artists' Lair Gallery in the old Elks Building. The opening is on September 19 at 5:00-7:00 pm, and the show is open September 20 from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm and September 21 from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm.
The Silver City Museum features exhibits on the Gila Wilderness Area, which turns 90 this year. The nation's first wilderness designation, its protection was furthered secured by the passage of the Wilderness Act, commemorating its 50th anniversary in 2014. "Wilderness" is an exhibit of photography by renowned artists Michael Berman, Jay Hemphill, and Anthony Howell. The "Gila Wild" exhibit explores the passage of the Wilderness Act. The museum is open Tuesday thru Friday from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm, and on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. There is a requested donation of $3 at the door.
The 10th annual Gila River Festival – Celebrating America's First Wilderness River – September 18 - 21, commemorates two momentous wilderness milestones: the Wilderness Act's 50th anniversary, and the Gila Wilderness Area's 90th anniversary. As America's first wilderness river, the Gila's verdant thread of life weaves through these celebrations.
One of the Southwest's premier nature festivals, the Gila River Festival attracts an audience of nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts eager to learn about and experience the Gila's natural wonders. Festival attendees will enjoy a variety of expert-guided field trips in the Gila National Forest and along the Gila River, water wheel ceremony, kayaking, wilderness films, Sunday brunch, Gala for the Gila, featuring live music by the Roadrunners, and more.
The full festival schedule is available at www.gilaconservation.org . For more information, contact the Gila Conservation Coalition at 575.538.8078 or info@gilaconservation.org .