Water

Land is a hot commodity. Wars have been fought over it. Societies built around it. And people take out mortgages to pay for it. But perhaps the more crucial commodity is water. Water supports entire ecosystems. It continually shapes the land, creating continents, mountains, and valleys. And if we don't protect our freshwater resources, we will not survive. Americans are consuming more water each year; in 2005 the average American drank nearly twice as much as she did in 1997. This Friday marks the opening of "Water," a nationally touring exhibition that explores the world of water, from public consumption to environment to how its availability affects various cultures. Visitors will enter through a giant fog curtain where they will find a variety of hands-on activities. There's the water sculpture, where people can touch water in its three forms: solid, liquid, and gas. One area will recreate the Cambodian fishing village on Tonle Sap, the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia. Science on a Sphere is an impressive, six-foot hovering Earth that sparkles with moving images of the planet shot from space. It will definitely give you something to think about the next time you drink from a fountain, take a shower, or get caught in the rain.
Jan. 30-April 26, 2009