BRATTLEBORO — Vermont Performance Lab and the Connecticut River Conservancy are joining forces to produce The Confluence Paddle on Friday, May 25.
The paddle is part of The Confluence Project, a new collaborative effort that brings arts, youth, community groups, and educational institutions to the table to help create a deeper civic dialogue around water and watersheds.
The Confluence Paddle will take place at the confluence of the West and Connecticut rivers. Community members are invited to join the festivities on land or water by the Marina Restaurant at 28 Spring St.
The paddle begins at 7:30 p.m. and will incorporate handmade lanterns created by community members with Middlebury artist Gowri Savoor at workshops, as well as simpler luminaries that will be distributed to registered paddlers during the event.
Community members may participate in the paddle on May 25 by bringing their own boats and PFDs to launch from the Marina Restaurant, or they may rent a canoe or kayak for $20 from the Vermont Canoe Touring Center to use for the evening festivities. While the paddling event is free, organizers request that all participants register in order to anticipate volunteer needs.
In a news release, Vermont Performance Lab's Director Sara Coffey said, “We are delighted to be working with such an imaginative and accomplished artist as Gowri Savoor and a strong community partner as the Connecticut River Conservancy to produce the first Confluence Paddle and build a deeper engagement and understanding of our watershed and our shared responsibility to protect one of our most important public assets - our rivers.”
“Connecticut River Conservancy is so pleased to be partnering with the Vermont Performance Lab in this event to light up our waterways,” added River Steward Kathy Urffer. The Confluence Project is spearheaded by VPL and Windham Regional Commission and includes in-school artist residencies and a suite of public programs made possible with the collaboration of many community partners.