For many citizens of Acadiana, water is more than a utility or even simply a natural element—it's a way of life. So it's easy to see why Jeanerette Museum is excited to host Water/Ways, a traveling exhibition from the Smithsonian via its Museum on Main Street Program. The exhibition examines water's importance on various levels of our lives, from environmental to social to political and so much in between.
“This topic is so perfect for Louisiana,” said Gail Garcia of the Jeanerette Museum. “Everything about water here is vital to who we are today, to who we've always been. It's our cultural and historical intersection.”
In addition to the exhibit, which will contain a plethora of multimedia and interactive displays and kiosks geared towards all ages, there will be a whole suite of complementary programming throughout St. Mary and Iberia parishes. These events, which will be held throughout the run of the exhibition, focus on the theme of water through how it relates to Acadiana. Naturally, there's no shortage of topics, or ways to express them. From movie screenings to author talks to an art exhibit by L'Acadian Art Guild, there's plenty for everyone to take in no matter what your interest. There's even a celebration on World Water Day (April 22), featuring a line-up of songs mentioning—you guessed it—water!
One of the Water/Ways-adjacent projects Gail Garcia is most excited about is the crowd-sourced oral history and poetry project. The Jeanerette Museum is calling on local (or local-descended) folks of all ages to contribute their water-related stories and poems from the area, from family immigrations to tales of the sugar mills to funny fishing stories. It's fun, it's fascinating, and it helps people keep in touch with their histories on a personal level. If you've got a story of your own flowing through your mind, a form will be available on the website soon to contribute.
The Water/Ways exhibition will be open at the Jeanerette Museum from February 24 until April 6. The exhibition itself, as well as the complementary events, are completely free and open to the public.
