Our first theme was known as "The Water Project." Together with In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre of Minneapolis, we developed a year-long project to inspire stewardship of our public local water and to promote a broader understanding of regional, national and international water issues. We also refurbished a local drinking fountain in Winona as a public art initiative—one that was enacted and celebrated along with the public educational component of the year. The resulting bronze otters public drinking fountain at the lake serves as an emblematic manifestation of a community committed to the honor, protection, and celebration of clean water as central to the health and wealth of our city.

Browse the contents of 2008-2009 Theme: Our Drinking Fountains, Our Water: