The Chicago River holds and weaves together a prism of stories. Wherever you touch it, you touch layers and layers of history, ecology, culture, and art. The goal of this project is to gather folks from different communities to experience the river in this holographic way, as a holder of memory, as a storyteller.

Watershed creates socially-engaged art experiences that deepen the relationship between the community and the Chicago River. We ran our first pilot programs in summer of 2025, which consisted of two kayak experiences and one shoreline walk. During Watershed events, participants engage with and learn from community activists, artists, historians, and ecologists about that specific site and the narratives it holds. The experiences are interactive and include creating art and engaging in community science. We hope that participants will build community, share their own stories, and leave with a richer understanding of the ways the river connects all things.

Watershed: Ways of Knowing the Chicago River is collaboration between Natasha Mijares and Teresa Dzieglewicz.