'Keepers of the Waters (Chengdu)’ is a series of art events directed by Betsy Damon that took place along the Funan River (part of Jin River) in Chengdu city, Sichuan province, China, from 29 July—14 August, 1995. With the assistance of artist Dai Guangyu and anthropologist Zhu Xiaofeng, a group of artists from Beijing, Chengdu, Tibet, and the United States were brought together to raise awareness about water protection through installation and performance artworks. In 1998, as a result of ‘Keepers of the Waters (Chengdu)’, an inner city ecological park focused on water purification, entitled Living Water Garden, was completed.

‘Keepers of the Waters’ takes its name from a non-profit organisation founded in 1991 by Betsy Damon, an US-based environmental artist/activist. This non-profit organisation assists communities to restore, preserve, and create living water systems in urban environments.

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1995 Keepers of the Waters (Chengdu) 水的保衛者(成都)
Collections

1995 Keepers of the Waters (Chengdu) 水的保衛者(成都)

BetsyDamon_cover
Betsy Damon Archive: Keepers of the Waters (Chengdu and Lhasa) 貝特西達蒙檔案:水的保衛者(成都與拉薩)
Collections

Betsy Damon Archive: Keepers of the Waters (Chengdu and Lhasa) 貝特西達蒙檔案:水的保衛者(成都與拉薩)

Washing River
Washing River
1 Image

Washing River

洗河
YIN Xiuzhen, 尹秀珍

Weighing the River
Weighing the River
1 Image

Weighing the River

稱河
YIN Xiuzhen, 尹秀珍

Weighing the River (Detail)
Weighing the River (Detail)
1 Image

Weighing the River (Detail)

稱河(細節)
YIN Xiuzhen, 尹秀珍

Washing River
Washing River
1 Image

Washing River

洗河
YIN Xiuzhen, 尹秀珍

Washing River
Washing River
1 Image

Washing River

洗河
YIN Xiuzhen, 尹秀珍

Washing River
Washing River
1 Image

Washing River

洗河
YIN Xiuzhen, 尹秀珍

Symbol of National Culture and Water
Symbol of National Culture and Water
1 Image

Symbol of National Culture and Water

民族文化的象徵與水
1995

Meeting with Participants of Keepers of the Waters
Meeting with Participants of Keepers of the Waters (Set of 14 Photographs)
14 Images

Meeting with Participants of Keepers of the Waters (Set of 14 Photographs)

On site only
Arts and Artists: Special Program on Keepers of the Waters
1 Multimedia

Arts and Artists: Special Program on Keepers of the Waters

美術星空:水的保衛者專題片

Living Water Environment
Living Water Environment
1 Image

Living Water Environment

生命水
1995

Living Water Environment
Living Water Environment
1 Image

Living Water Environment

生命水
1995

The Water Propaganda Board
Long-Abandoned Water Standards
1 Image

Long-Abandoned Water Standards

擱置已久的水指標
1995

CD.03_02
Long-Abandoned Water Standards
1 Image

Long-Abandoned Water Standards

擱置已久的水指標
1995

The Water Propaganda Board
Long-Abandoned Water Standards
1 Image

Long-Abandoned Water Standards

擱置已久的水指標
1995

The Water Propaganda Board
Long-Abandoned Water Standards
1 Image

Long-Abandoned Water Standards

擱置已久的水指標
1995

The Water Propaganda Board
Long-Abandoned Water Standards
1 Image

Long-Abandoned Water Standards

擱置已久的水指標
1995

The Water Propaganda Board
Long-Abandoned Water Standards
1 Image

Long-Abandoned Water Standards

擱置已久的水指標
1995

The Water Propaganda Board
Long-Abandoned Water Standards
1 Image

Long-Abandoned Water Standards

擱置已久的水指標
1995

The Water Propaganda Board
The Water Propaganda Board
1 Image

The Water Propaganda Board

宣傳欄
1995

The Water Propaganda Board
The Water Propaganda Board
1 Image

The Water Propaganda Board

宣傳欄
1995

The Water Propaganda Board
The Water Propaganda Board
1 Image

The Water Propaganda Board

宣傳欄
1995

The Water Propaganda Board
The Water Propaganda Board
1 Image

The Water Propaganda Board

宣傳欄
1995

The Water Propaganda Board
The Water Propaganda Board
1 Image

The Water Propaganda Board

宣傳欄
1995

Black and White
Black and White (Preparation)
1 Image

Black and White (Preparation)

瀑布(籌備)
1995

Black and White
Black and White
1 Image

Black and White

瀑布
1995

Black and White
Black and White
1 Image

Black and White

瀑布
1995

Black and White
Black and White (Preparation)
1 Image

Black and White (Preparation)

瀑布(籌備)
1995

Dragon Boat
Dragon Boat (Preparation)
1 Image

Dragon Boat (Preparation)

龍舟(籌備)
1995

Dragon Boat
Dragon Boat (Preparation)
1 Image

Dragon Boat (Preparation)

龍舟(籌備)
1995

When Will Jin River Have Fish and Shrimp - Calling of Ducks
When Will Jin River Have Fish and Shrimp—Calling of Ducks
1 Image

When Will Jin River Have Fish and Shrimp—Calling of Ducks

錦江河里何時有魚蝦—鴨們的呼喚
1995

When Will Jin River Have Fish and Shrimp - Calling of Ducks
When Will Jin River Have Fish and Shrimp—Calling of Ducks
1 Image

When Will Jin River Have Fish and Shrimp—Calling of Ducks

錦江河里何時有魚蝦—鴨們的呼喚
1995

When Will Jin River Have Fish and Shrimp - Calling of Ducks
When Will Jin River Have Fish and Shrimp—Calling of Ducks
1 Image

When Will Jin River Have Fish and Shrimp—Calling of Ducks

錦江河里何時有魚蝦—鴨們的呼喚
1995

When Will Jin River Have Fish and Shrimp - Calling of Ducks
When Will Jin River Have Fish and Shrimp—Calling of Ducks
1 Image

When Will Jin River Have Fish and Shrimp—Calling of Ducks

錦江河里何時有魚蝦—鴨們的呼喚
1995

When Will Jin River Have Fish and Shrimp - Calling of Ducks
When Will Jin River Have Fish and Shrimp—Calling of Ducks
1 Image

When Will Jin River Have Fish and Shrimp—Calling of Ducks

錦江河里何時有魚蝦—鴨們的呼喚
1995

When Will Jin River Have Fish and Shrimp - Calling of Ducks
When Will Jin River Have Fish and Shrimp—Calling of Ducks
1 Image

When Will Jin River Have Fish and Shrimp—Calling of Ducks

錦江河里何時有魚蝦—鴨們的呼喚
1995

When Will Jin River Have Fish and Shrimp - Calling of Ducks
When Will Jin River Have Fish and Shrimp—Calling of Ducks
1 Image

When Will Jin River Have Fish and Shrimp—Calling of Ducks

錦江河里何時有魚蝦—鴨們的呼喚
1995

The River
The River (Partial)
1 Image

The River (Partial)

河(局部)
1995

When Will Jin River Have Fish and Shrimp - Calling of Ducks
When Will Jin River Have Fish and Shrimp—Calling of Ducks
1 Image

When Will Jin River Have Fish and Shrimp—Calling of Ducks

錦江河里何時有魚蝦—鴨們的呼喚
1995

When Will Jin River Have Fish and Shrimp - Calling of Ducks
When Will Jin River Have Fish and Shrimp—Calling of Ducks
1 Image

When Will Jin River Have Fish and Shrimp—Calling of Ducks

錦江河里何時有魚蝦—鴨們的呼喚
1995

When Will Jin River Have Fish and Shrimp - Calling of Ducks
When Will Jin River Have Fish and Shrimp—Calling of Ducks
1 Image

When Will Jin River Have Fish and Shrimp—Calling of Ducks

錦江河里何時有魚蝦—鴨們的呼喚
1995

When Will Jin River Have Fish and Shrimp - Calling of Ducks
When Will Jin River Have Fish and Shrimp—Calling of Ducks
1 Image

When Will Jin River Have Fish and Shrimp—Calling of Ducks

錦江河里何時有魚蝦—鴨們的呼喚
1995

When Will Jin River Have Fish and Shrimp - Calling of Ducks
When Will Jin River Have Fish and Shrimp—Calling of Ducks
1 Image

When Will Jin River Have Fish and Shrimp—Calling of Ducks

錦江河里何時有魚蝦—鴨們的呼喚
1995

When Will Jin River Have Fish and Shrimp - Calling of Ducks
When Will Jin River Have Fish and Shrimp—Calling of Ducks
1 Image

When Will Jin River Have Fish and Shrimp—Calling of Ducks

錦江河里何時有魚蝦—鴨們的呼喚
1995

When Will Jin River Have Fish and Shrimp - Calling of Ducks
When Will Jin River Have Fish and Shrimp—Calling of Ducks
1 Image

When Will Jin River Have Fish and Shrimp—Calling of Ducks

錦江河里何時有魚蝦—鴨們的呼喚
1995

When Will Jin River Have Fish and Shrimp - Calling of Ducks
When Will Jin River Have Fish and Shrimp—Calling of Ducks
1 Image

When Will Jin River Have Fish and Shrimp—Calling of Ducks

錦江河里何時有魚蝦—鴨們的呼喚
1995

When Will Jin River Have Fish and Shrimp - Calling of Ducks
When Will Jin River Have Fish and Shrimp—Calling of Ducks
1 Image

When Will Jin River Have Fish and Shrimp—Calling of Ducks

錦江河里何時有魚蝦—鴨們的呼喚
1995

When Will Jin River Have Fish and Shrimp - Calling of Ducks
When Will Jin River Have Fish and Shrimp—Calling of Ducks
1 Image

When Will Jin River Have Fish and Shrimp—Calling of Ducks

錦江河里何時有魚蝦—鴨們的呼喚
1995

When Will Jin River Have Fish and Shrimp - Calling of Ducks
When Will Jin River Have Fish and Shrimp—Calling of Ducks
1 Image

When Will Jin River Have Fish and Shrimp—Calling of Ducks

錦江河里何時有魚蝦—鴨們的呼喚
1995

The River
The River (Partial)
1 Image

The River (Partial)

河(局部)
1995

The River
The River (Partial)
1 Image

The River (Partial)

河(局部)
1995

The River
The River (Preparation)
1 Image

The River (Preparation)

河(籌備)
1995

The River
The River (Partial)
1 Image

The River (Partial)

河(局部)
1995

The River
The River
1 Image

The River


1995

The River
The River
1 Image

The River


1995

Rain Pavilion
Rain Pavilion (Partial)
1 Image

Rain Pavilion (Partial)

雨亭(局部)
1995

Rain Pavilion
Rain Pavilion
1 Image

Rain Pavilion

雨亭
1995

Rain Pavilion
Rain Pavilion (Partial)
1 Image

Rain Pavilion (Partial)

雨亭(局部)
1995

Rain Pavilion
Rain Pavilion (Partial)
1 Image

Rain Pavilion (Partial)

雨亭(局部)
1995

Rain Pavilion
Rain Pavilion (Partial)
1 Image

Rain Pavilion (Partial)

雨亭(局部)
1995

Heavenly Water
Heavenly Water
1 Image

Heavenly Water

天水
1995

Heavenly Water
Heavenly Water (Partial)
1 Image

Heavenly Water (Partial)

天水(局部)
1995

Heavenly Water
Heavenly Water (Partial)
1 Image

Heavenly Water (Partial)

天水(局部)
1995

Yellow Basins
Yellow Basins
1 Image

Yellow Basins

府南河洗臉一日大放送
1995

A Piece of the Sky
A Piece of the Sky
1 Image

A Piece of the Sky

一片天
1995

A Piece of the Sky
A Piece of the Sky
1 Image

A Piece of the Sky

一片天
1995

A Piece of the Sky
A Piece of the Sky
1 Image

A Piece of the Sky

一片天
1995

A Piece of the Sky
A Piece of the Sky
1 Image

A Piece of the Sky

一片天
1995

Reflecting the River
Weighing River (Preparation)
1 Image

Weighing River (Preparation)

秤河(籌備)
1995

Reflecting the River
Weighing River (Preparation)
1 Image

Weighing River (Preparation)

秤河(籌備)
1995

Washing River
Washing River
1 Image

Washing River

洗河
1995

Reflecting the River
Weighing River (Preparation)
1 Image

Weighing River (Preparation)

秤河(籌備)
1995

Reflecting the River
Weighing River
1 Image

Weighing River

秤河
1995

Reflecting the River
Weighing River (Partial)
1 Image

Weighing River (Partial)

秤河(局部)
1995

Reflecting the River
Weighing River (Preparation)
1 Image

Weighing River (Preparation)

秤河(籌備)
1995

Washing the River
Washing River
1 Image

Washing River

洗河
1995

Washing River
Washing River
1 Image

Washing River

洗河
1995

Washing River
Washing River
1 Image

Washing River

洗河
1995

Washing River
Washing River
1 Image

Washing River

洗河
1995

Washing River
Washing River
1 Image

Washing River

洗河
1995

Washing River
Washing River
1 Image

Washing River

洗河
1995

Washing River
Washing River
1 Image

Washing River

洗河
1995

When Will Fish Come
When Will There be Fish (Preparation)
1 Image

When Will There be Fish (Preparation)

這裡何時有魚(籌備)
1995

When Will Fish Come
When Will There be Fish
1 Image

When Will There be Fish

這裡何時有魚
1995

When Will Fish Come
When Will There be Fish
1 Image

When Will There be Fish

這裡何時有魚
1995

When Will Fish Come
When Will There be Fish
1 Image

When Will There be Fish

這裡何時有魚
1995

When Will Fish Come
When Will There be Fish (Partial)
1 Image

When Will There be Fish (Partial)

這裡何時有魚(局部)
1995

When Will Fish Come
When Will There be Fish
1 Image

When Will There be Fish

這裡何時有魚
1995

When Will Fish Come
When Will There be Fish
1 Image

When Will There be Fish

這裡何時有魚
1995

When Will Fish Come
When Will There be Fish
1 Image

When Will There be Fish

這裡何時有魚
1995

When Will Fish Come
When Will There be Fish
1 Image

When Will There be Fish

這裡何時有魚
1995

When Will Fish Come
When Will There be Fish (Preparation)
1 Image

When Will There be Fish (Preparation)

這裡何時有魚(籌備)
1995

Living Water Garden
Construction of Living Water Garden (Set of 5 Photographs)
5 Images

Construction of Living Water Garden (Set of 5 Photographs)

建設活水公園(5張相片)

Keepers of the Waters Parade
Keepers of the Waters Parade (Set of 3 Photographs)
3 Images

Keepers of the Waters Parade (Set of 3 Photographs)

Water Quality Testing
Water Quality Testing (Set of 13 Photographs)
13 Images

Water Quality Testing (Set of 13 Photographs)

Documentation of Keepers of the Waters (Chengdu)
Documentation of Keepers of the Waters (Chengdu) (Set of 8 Photographs)
8 Images

Documentation of Keepers of the Waters (Chengdu) (Set of 8 Photographs)

On site only
Society Family Women (Sichuan TV Station Program)
1 Multimedia

Society Family Women (Sichuan TV Station Program)

社會 家庭 女人(四川有線電視台節目)

vlcsnap-2019-05-10-12h05m36s602
Documentary Fragment: Keepers of the Waters - Chengdu, China 1995
1 Multimedia

Documentary Fragment: Keepers of the Waters - Chengdu, China 1995

vlcsnap-2019-05-10-13h06m43s329
Raw Footage I: Keepers of the Waters - Chengdu, China 1995
1 Multimedia

Raw Footage I: Keepers of the Waters - Chengdu, China 1995

On site only
Communication and Cooperation
1 Multimedia

Communication and Cooperation

vlcsnap-2019-05-10-12h54m27s893
Living Water, the Origin of Life
1 Multimedia

Living Water, the Origin of Life

活水,生命之源
1998

vlcsnap-2019-05-10-12h57m51s112
Raw Footage II: Keepers of the Waters - Chengdu, China 1995
1 Multimedia

Raw Footage II: Keepers of the Waters - Chengdu, China 1995

converted_cover_pdf
Interview with Beth Grossman
1 Document

Interview with Beth Grossman

converted_cover_pdf
Interview with Dai Guangyu
1 Document

Interview with Dai Guangyu

converted_cover_pdf
Interview with Betsy Damon
1 Document

Interview with Betsy Damon

converted_cover_pdf
Interview with Yin Xiuzhen
1 Document

Interview with Yin Xiuzhen

converted_cover_pdf
Interview with Song Dong
1 Document

Interview with Song Dong

On site only
Compilation of Chengdu TV Station Interviews
1 Multimedia

Compilation of Chengdu TV Station Interviews

成都電視台採訪合集

39.03_03
Wang Peng (Set of 3 Photographs)
3 Images

Wang Peng (Set of 3 Photographs)

42.18_01
Xiao Lu, Xing Fei, Yang Yanping, and Yin Xiuzhen (Set of 20 Photographs)
20 Images

Xiao Lu, Xing Fei, Yang Yanping, and Yin Xiuzhen (Set of 20 Photographs)

Dreams for a Pure River
Dreams for a Pure River
1 Image

Dreams for a Pure River

清潔水的夢想
1995

Event Poster
Chinese-American Silk-washing Performance in Jin River — Poster
1 Image

Chinese-American Silk-washing Performance in Jin River — Poster

中美合作錦江洗絲綢表演 — 海報

Dreams for a Pure River
Dreams for a Pure River
1 Image

Dreams for a Pure River

清潔水的夢想
1995

Dreams for a Pure River
Dreams for a Pure River
1 Image

Dreams for a Pure River

清潔水的夢想
1995

Dreams for a Pure River
Dreams for a Pure River
1 Image

Dreams for a Pure River

清潔水的夢想
1995

CD.02_05
Dreams for a Pure River
1 Image

Dreams for a Pure River

清潔水的夢想
1995

CD.02_06
Dreams for a Pure River
1 Image

Dreams for a Pure River

清潔水的夢想
1995

CD.02_07
Dreams for a Pure River
1 Image

Dreams for a Pure River

清潔水的夢想
1995

CD.02_08
Dreams for a Pure River
1 Image

Dreams for a Pure River

清潔水的夢想
1995

CD.02_09
Dreams for a Pure River
1 Image

Dreams for a Pure River

清潔水的夢想
1995

Dreams for a Pure River
Dreams for a Pure River
1 Image

Dreams for a Pure River

清潔水的夢想
1995

Dreams for a Pure River
Dreams for a Pure River
1 Image

Dreams for a Pure River

清潔水的夢想
1995

CD.02_11
Dreams for a Pure River
1 Image

Dreams for a Pure River

清潔水的夢想
1995

Washing Silk
Washing Silk by Jin River
1 Image

Washing Silk by Jin River

錦江河畔可浣紗
1995

Washing River
Washing River
1 Image

Washing River

洗河
1995

Washing Silk
Washing Silk by Jin River
1 Image

Washing Silk by Jin River

錦江河畔可浣紗
1995

Washing Silk
Washing Silk by Jin River
1 Image

Washing Silk by Jin River

錦江河畔可浣紗
1995

Washing Silk
Washing Silk by Jin River
1 Image

Washing Silk by Jin River

錦江河畔可浣紗
1995

Washing Silk
Washing Silk by Jin River
1 Image

Washing Silk by Jin River

錦江河畔可浣紗
1995

Washing Silk
Washing Silk by Jin River
1 Image

Washing Silk by Jin River

錦江河畔可浣紗
1995

Washing Silk
Washing Silk by Jin River
1 Image

Washing Silk by Jin River

錦江河畔可浣紗
1995

Washing Silk
Washing Silk by Jin River
1 Image

Washing Silk by Jin River

錦江河畔可浣紗
1995

Washing Silk
Washing Silk by Jin River
1 Image

Washing Silk by Jin River

錦江河畔可浣紗
1995

Washing Silk
Washing Silk by Jin River
1 Image

Washing Silk by Jin River

錦江河畔可浣紗
1995

Washing Silk
Washing Silk by Jin River
1 Image

Washing Silk by Jin River

錦江河畔可浣紗
1995

Washing Silk
Washing Silk by Jin River
1 Image

Washing Silk by Jin River

錦江河畔可浣紗
1995

Washing Silk
Washing Silk by Jin River
1 Image

Washing Silk by Jin River

錦江河畔可浣紗
1995

Washing Silk
Washing Silk by Jin River
1 Image

Washing Silk by Jin River

錦江河畔可浣紗
1995

Washing Silk
Washing Silk by Jin River
1 Image

Washing Silk by Jin River

錦江河畔可浣紗
1995

Washing Silk
Washing Silk by Jin River
1 Image

Washing Silk by Jin River

錦江河畔可浣紗
1995

Washing Silk
Washing Silk by Jin River
1 Image

Washing Silk by Jin River

錦江河畔可浣紗
1995

Washing Silk
Washing Silk by Jin River
1 Image

Washing Silk by Jin River

錦江河畔可浣紗
1995

Washing Silk
Washing Silk by Jin River
1 Image

Washing Silk by Jin River

錦江河畔可浣紗
1995

Washing Silk
Washing Silk by Jin River
1 Image

Washing Silk by Jin River

錦江河畔可浣紗
1995

Participating Artists in Keepers of the Waters (Chengdu)
Participating Artists in Keepers of the Waters (Chengdu) (Set of 34 Photographs)
34 Images

Participating Artists in Keepers of the Waters (Chengdu) (Set of 34 Photographs)

Keepers of the Waters
Keepers of the Waters
1 Image

Keepers of the Waters

水的保衛者

proposal documentation001
Proposal of Yin Xiaofeng
1 Document

Proposal of Yin Xiaofeng

尹曉峰提案

proposal documentation003
Proposal of Wang Peng
1 Document

Proposal of Wang Peng

王蓬提案

proposal documentation018
Proposal of Zeng Xun
1 Document

Proposal of Zeng Xun

曾循提案

proposal documentation006
Proposal of Silk Washing
1 Document

Proposal of Silk Washing

錦江河畔洗絲綢提案

proposal documentation008
Proposal of He Qichao
1 Document

Proposal of He Qichao

何啟超提案

proposal documentation030
Proposal of Liu Chengying
1 Document

Proposal of Liu Chengying

劉成英提案

proposal documentation021
Proposal of Living Water Environment
1 Document

Proposal of Living Water Environment

生命水提案

proposal documentation019
Proposals of Ang Sang
1 Document

Proposals of Ang Sang

昂桑提案