Stories Carried by Water
Honoring Voices, Lands, and Lifeways Through Art, Story, and Water
Water carries our stories.
Art helps us listen.
About the
Project
Water shapes everything—our ecosystems, our food systems, and our cultural traditions. Yet the knowledge, histories, and lived experiences tied to water are often fragmented or unheard.
Stories Carried by Water creates space for these voices to come together.
Through film, live performance, and community engagement, the project invites audiences to experience water not just as a resource—but as a relationship.
What We Do
Film as Foundation
Building on the award-winning film Illusion of Abundance, we use storytelling to illuminate ecological challenges facing the Great Salt Lake and beyond. Screenings and conversations create shared understanding and spark dialogue.
Art + Agriculture
We connect artists directly with farmers and Indigenous growers to explore the relationship between water, land, and food. Together, they exchange knowledge, share stories, and co-create new works grounded in lived experience—bringing communities onto the land through public events and performances.
Artist Incubator
We support artists as changemakers. Through mentorship, research, and collaboration, a cohort of multidisciplinary artists develops new work rooted in water, agriculture, and cultural knowledge—transforming insight into creative expression.
Why It Matters
Water is at the center of some of our most urgent challenges—and our greatest opportunities for connection.
- Farmers and Indigenous communities hold essential knowledge
- Communities need accessible ways to engage with complex issues
- Art creates emotional connection that leads to action
This project turns information into experience—so people don’t just understand these issues, they feel them.
Impact
Stories Carried by Water will:
- Amplify diverse voices and cultural perspectives
- Strengthen relationships between communities and agriculture
- Support independent artists and creative innovation
- Increase public awareness of water, land, and sustainability
Through film documentation and public programming, the project extends its reach beyond Utah—sharing stories that resonate across communities.
Creators of this inaugural project:
Jessica Wiarda
Jessica Wiarda, Hopi/Tewa is an artist and Founder of Honovi Design. She is also an illustrator, muralist, and graphic designer. Jessica honors her heritage and empowers future Indigenous Artists.
Darren Parry
Darren Parry, Former Chairman of the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation, educator, advocate, author, steward of Indigenous values, Indigenous gardener.
Stephanie Garcia
Cari & Thayne Tagge
Get Involved
Support the Project
Your support helps bring artists, farmers, and communities together to create meaningful, lasting impact.