River of Choices

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• River of Choices

Passion and Vision A place to connect the past,
the present and the future
The Confluence Project, with Maya Lins
inspiration, Chief Sniders passion, and She Who
Watches vision, brings an art installation that
stands as a beacon for choices to students and
families at Chinook Elementary in Vancouver,
Washington
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• River of Choices

• Ancient Path granite pancake river rock
• Indian Path desert wind Indian feather stone
• Lewis and Clark Path brick into Okalahoma
  chestnut rock
• Now River three-river mixed rock stepping
  stones
• Future Path milled grey pattern stone

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• River of Choices

Plan after plan after plan until it looked just
right
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• River of Choices

• Cedar Tree
• Timeline (1776-2006)
• Celebration Podium
• 800 Stepping Stones

800 tuna cans Collected in only five days Filled
with concrete Stamped with kids thoughts - the
past, the present, the future If we could
somehow get 800 tuna cans, every kid at Chinook
could own a little piece of River.
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• River of Choices

• Compass Island
• North
• East
• South
• West
• Up
• Down
• Within

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• River of Choices

She Who Watches Shes about as big as my
mom. All we have is her eyes scratched into the
basalt rock. She stands watching over River of
Choices. Im glad we got Her!
Picture from Basalt Rock above Columbia River
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• River of Choices

Chinook Library Mountain of information Lewis
and Clark, Indian cultures, people today, future
choices Interactive exhibits Confluence Project,
Lewis and Clark Commemoration
Lewis Clark Trading Box
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• River of Choices

• Public Artwork - Confluence Project
• Maya Lin - inspiration
• Chief Snider - passion
• Lillian Pitt vision
• Patrick Melroy design

• Project Plans
• Friends of Library - books displays
• Art Consultant element authenticity
• Vancouver Schools architect plans
• Education Specialists interpretive signs

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• River of Choices

• Project Construction
• Students, Families digging
• Chinook Art Students concrete stepping stones
• Teachers, Students, Families tuna can project
• Vancouver Schools excavation
• Stone Mason Crews - laying paths

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River of Choices

• Project Material
• Keith Ferderer - island
• Student Council - stepping stones
• Families - chess, hopscotch, sundial
• PTSA - She Who Watches
• Vancouver Foundation podium
• Beaches Restaurant - timeline
• Chinook Elementary tuna cans
• Confluence Project interpretive signs,
• rock, cedar tree

16,895.00
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• River of Choices

Blending cultures, people, choices, rivers,
communities, ideas, and feelings into a place of
reflection, celebration, and hope for generations
of Chinook families
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• River of Choices

A river winds its way through a
stepping-stone bed lined with boulders and rocks
from the mountains. The river forms an undulating
pool of life, sometimes still, sometimes teeming
with energy, eye-catching, changing, always
interesting. A principal sings with
his students. A soccer team gathers after a
difficult game. A father picks up his daughter
after school. A family talks. A dance class
practices for the program about Native Americans.
A class debates our environment. A counselor
talks with a sobbing child. Jump Rope for Heart
awards are given out. An elderly walker rests
before the journey home. The school choir
serenades the stars.
Chinook Community uses River of Choices.
Chinook Elementary is participating in Confluence
Project in the Schools, an educational initiative
in conjunction with the Confluence Project, which
features artworks by Maya Lin at seven historic
sites along the Columbia River Basin.
http//www.vansd.org/ http//www.confluenceprojec
t.org School theme song Dont Laugh at Me by
Steve Seskin, Allen Shamblin. 2005-2006