Water is Life

"Tucked around a corner at the heart of Arizona State University’s downtown Phoenix campus lies an intricate, significant mural.

“Water Is Life”, the tenth mural in the international Water Writes project, sits at the south-facing wall of the Valley Youth Theatre at First and Filmore streets. Together, the 12 Water Writes murals highlight the scarcity of water, making the Phoenix desert landscape a perfect place for one of the mural installations.

The Phoenix mural was created by multiple artists, setting it apart from many of the other artworks that occupy the city. Local communities played a huge role in constructing “Water Is Life”, making it something that the city can be proud of, simply because they created it together. Fifteen local Arizona artists outlined the main features of the mural, and an army of 75 volunteers contributed to filling it in with paint. The result: a 2,466-square-foot mural.

The artwork features fruits, vegetables, and plants, and focuses on how they all depend on water. “Water Is Life” demonstrates exactly what its title would suggest; that water is crucial for all life, especially human life. The center of the mural is occupied by a naked, pregnant woman, carrying twins. The woman represents Mother Earth, and the identical twins in her belly depict the choice between good and evil, according to The Arizona Republic. The artists chose to include the twins as a reminder to the city that the choices we make have an impact on future generations.

Despite the mural being part of an international project, the art itself is rich with Arizona history and culture. Each of the fruits and vegetables that line the bottom of the mural are native to the state, as are the animals and plants. The mountains in the background are made up of textile patterns, ones that are specific and important to Arizona’s Native American communities.

Contrasting with the ways water helps human life, the mural also represents ways humans are misusing water, such as coal mining operations. The artwork calls to attention the disastrous effects of being careless with water, especially in a climate as scarce as a desert.

The area surrounding the mural was also created to match the message of the artwork. Traditional Arizona plants occupy the areas between sitting benches and the mural, showcasing flowers and cacti among the desert landscape.

“Water Is Life” has become a point of pride for the city of Phoenix, and can be seen by students and downtown dwellers alike at all times of the day." -Katy Anderson, for Medium.com