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iLAND -interdisciplanary Laboratory for Art Nature and Dance supports Jennifer Monson‘s Mahomet Aquifer Project, a series of public dance performances, panel discussions, and workshops held throughout east central Illinois from October 10^th to October 18^th.

The Mahomet Aquifer Project, a multi-year project, is meant to inform and engage the communities that depend on the aquifer mainly—though not entirely—through dance performances.  Monson will direct and organize conversations between performers and scientists to imbue dancers’ movements with an understanding of the forces and flows on the aquifer – forces ranging from geography and hydrology, to economics and history. Using this research as a guide, Monson, in collaboration with the group, will choreograph a series of vignettes which will be performed in outdoor spaces in Urbana, Champaign and Mahomet.

Besides performances, the project will also include a series of movement and science workshops for students at Wiley Elementary School in Urbana with George Roadcap and Jennifer Monson.  For interested adults, a panel discussion called “Moving Perspectives – approaches to understanding water through geology, environment, art and economy” will take place at 7:00 p.m. on October 13 at the Urbana Free Library.  Panelists for the discussion include George Roadcap, of the Illinois Water Survey, Cecily Smith, from Prairie Rivers Network, Brett Bloom, an artist and activist, Brigit Kelly, a poet, and Jennifer Monson.

The Mahomet Aquifer Project is supported in part from funds from the National Endowment for the Arts, The Urbana Arts Grants Program.