Betsy Damon is an internationally-recognized artist whose public work and living systems, such as the Living Water Garden, have received widespread acclaim. She directs Keepers of the Waters, a non-profit focused on ecological planning, advocacy and education. Damon was a semi-finalist for the Buckminster Fuller Award and a finalist for the Stockholm Water Prize and the Guggenheim Fellowship. Damon has lectured widely in the U.S., Europe and China. She’s been a visiting artist at countless colleges and universities. Documentation of her work in China has been archived at the Asia Art Archive, while the Annenberg Foundation and Metabolic Studios are focused on digitizing Damon’s expansive art practice.
EDUCATION
MFA Columbia University | New York, NY | 1966
BA Skidmore College | Saratoga Springs, NY | 1963
PROJECTS & ARTWORKS
Author, Water Talks
With Foreword by Jane Goodall | SteinerBooks | New York, NY | 2022
A radical book, part memoir part how-to manual, written to empower people to take charge of their waters.
Director, Keepers of the Waters
keepersofthewaters.org | 1991-present
Keepers of the Waters is a nonprofit that empowers communities to take back their waters. Keepers currently works with governments, students, and citizens on projects in 5 countries. Our networks exchange solutions and collaborate to restore earth’s living systems.
Principles of Water
New York, NY | 2019
Sumi ink and charcoal flatwork reveals the invisible movements of water, along with some of water’s visual manifestations. Published in Public Art Dialogue in 2020.
Director, Living Waters of Larimer
Larimer, PA | 2012-16
This community-based project repurposes rainwater to assist with economic and sustainable development.
Public Art Project • wetlands enhancement
Chinook Bend Nat. Area • Carnation, WA | 2007-09
Spirals of Life sculpture
Hope and Healing Center • Memphis, TN | 2006-09
Olympic Forest Park
Beijing, China | 2002-06
Worked with Tsing Hua Design Company to design this plant-based water purification park.
Sounds of Water • multi-functional water feature
Turtle Bay Arboretum • Redding, CA | 2002-04
Beijing Bureau of Hydraulic Research & Engineering
Beijing, China | 2001-03
Designer & Director, Living Water Garden
Chengdu, China | 1998
Designed a 6-acre park which uses bio-remediation, acration and constructed wetlands to clean river water. The project also contains an environmental education center, as well as sculptural elements.
Keepers: Citizens' Rights & Responsibilities
Minnesota | 1991-92
Collaborated with the Humphrey Institute for Public Affairs, the Minnesota Extension Service, and the Water Resource Research Center to mobilize art, science, and citizens around a community’s water.
EXHIBITIONS
Passages: Rites and Rituals
Solo Show | Eckert Gallery, University of Millersville • Millersville, PA | Spring 2024
Featuring documentation of eight performance pieces
BIOS: emBODIED enVIRONMENTS
Riverside Art Center • Chongqing, China | Spring 2024
Rivers Flow / Artists Connect
Hudson River Museum | Winter 2024
Our Mother The Mountain
La MaMa Galleria • NYC | Fall 2022
The Difference We’ve Made: New Work by Women Artists of the 70s
Carter Burden Gallery • NYC | Fall 2022
Rewinding Internationalism
Van Abbemuseum • Eindhoven, NL | 2022
Connecting the Drops
Stony Brook University • Stony Brook, NY | 2022
Betsy Damon - Passages: Rites & Rituals
Solo exhibition of Damon’s eight radical outdoor performance practice (1976-86), as well as recreation of Listen, Respect, Revere. Curated by Monika Fabijanska.
La MaMa Galleria • NYC | 2021
EVA International
Ireland’s Biennial • Limerick, IE | 2021
Art & Ecology
Stony Brook University • Stony Brook, NY | 2021
ecofeminism(s)
Thomas Erben Gallery • NYC | 2020
The Penumbral Age
Museum of Modern Art Warsaw • Poland | 2020
Keepers of the Waters: Chengdu & Lhasa
Taipei Biennial | 2019
Keepers of the Waters: Chengdu & Lhasa
Asia Art Archive in America • NYC | 2018
Feminist, and...
Mattress Factory • Pittsburgh, PA | 2012
Workshop at the University of Dayton
ArtStreet Gallery • Dayton, OH | 2009
Environmental Murals with Chinese artists
Shanghai Changning Children's Palace | 2001
Expanding Environments
Brunnier Art Museum • Ames, IA | 1998
A Memory of Clean Water
Blue Star Gallery • San Antonio, TX | 1991
Artemsia Gallery • Chicago, IL | 1989
Wooster College • Wooster, OH | 1988
MoMA PS1 • NYC | 1987
Everhart Museum • Scranton, PA | 1987
University of Wisconsin–Madison | 1987
Danforth Museum • Framingham, MA | 1986
Homage to Rivers
Aspen Biennial Invitational • Aspen, CO | 1990
Healing the Waters
Mississippi Music Festival • St. Cloud, MN | 1989
Special Projects
MoMA PS1 • NYC | 1987
Stones & Stars
SOHO20 • NYC | 1986
Stone Maps & Dreams
SOHO20 • NYC | 1984
The Wild Art Show
MoMA PS1 • NYC | 1982
Female Mysteries
St. John the Divine • NYC | 1978
Ritual Images: Masks & Maypoles
14 Sculptors Gallery • NYC | 1977
Changes
St. Catherine College • St. Paul, MN | 1976
In Memory
The Women’s Building • LA | 1975
PERFORMANCES
Listen, Respect, Revere (reperformance)
La MaMa Galleria • NYC | 2021
Keepers of the Waters Chengdu & Lhasa
Chengdu, China 1995-96
Shrine for Everywoman
SOHO20 • NYC | 1988
UN World Conference on Women • Nairobi | 1985
UN World Conference on Women • Copenhagen | 1980
Meditation with Stones for the Survival of the Planet
Traveling exhibition | 1983-89
SOHO20 • NYC | 1984
Association of Mental Health Professionals | 1983
Carleton College • Ottawa, CA | 1982
Franklin Furnace • NYC | 1982
Williams College • Williamstown, MA | 1982
Listen, Respect, Revere
Brecht Forum • NYC | 1986
Painted Bride • Philadelphia, PA | 1986
A Rape Memory
Great American Lesbian Art Show • LA | 1981-83
Meditations on Knives
Johnson Museum • Ithaca, NY | 1981
Williams College • Williamstown, MA | 1981
San Francisco Art Institute | 1981
What Do You Think About Knives?
Washington Project on the Arts | 1981
A.I.R. Gallery • NYC | 1980
The Women’s Building • Los Angeles | 1980
University of Rhode Island | 1980
Ohio State University | 1980
Blind Beggar Woman
Streets of Manhattan | 1979-81
Glyptotek Museum • Copenhagen | 1980
Franklin Furnace • NYC | 1980
80 Langdon Street • San Francisco | 1980
7000 Year Old Woman
De Appel • Amsterdam | 1979
Streets of Manhattan | 1976-79
Cayman Gallery • NYC | 1977
Skidmore College | 1977
LECTURES
Infrastructure, Water, and the Americas
Stony Brook University | 2020
Speaker, Stroom Den Haag
The Hague, the Netherlands | 2019
Plenary Speaker, International Wetlands Conference
Changshu, China | 2016
Penny Stamps Speaker Series
University of Michigan 2011
Other host institutions and cities include: Global Network of Water Museums • Strom Museum, Netherlands Centre for Contemporary Art and the Natural World, Stroud, UK • Art Gene, Barrows, UK • Dayton, OH • University of Wisconsin Milwaukee Peck School of the Arts • Tsinghua University • Carnegie Mellon University • Peking University • Asian Development Bank • Harvard • MIT • Xeriscape Conference • Beppu, Japan • Conference on ecology with engineers and a Qi Gong master, Chengdu, China
ECOLOGICAL & SUSTAINABLE DESIGN
Keepers of the Waters, Founder & Director
keepersofthewaters.org | 1991-present
Keepers of the Waters is an artist-directed nonprofit that actively promotes living water systems. Keepers currently works with governments, students, and citizens on projects in 5 countries. Our networks collaborate to encourage each other and exchange solutions.
reSources: Saving Living Systems
Sichuan, China | 2007-present
Mapping of water systems in Western Sichuan.
Misc. Consultations & Partnerships
United States, China | 1990-present
Duluth, MN 1998 • Portland, OR 1998 • St. Louis, MO 2000 • Dallas, TX 2004 • Trinity Lakes Project in Dallas, TX 2007 • CH2M Hill • WRT
Consultations with cities in China: Nanning, Beihai, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Shenzhen
PUBLICATIONS
Nature-based solutions for living systems: connectivity, complexity, community
Nature-Based Solutions • Elsevier Journal | 2024
Water Talks
Steiner Books • Anthroposophic Press | 2022
Public Art Visions and Possibilities
Companion to Art in the Public Realm • Routledge Press | 2020
Revealing Water
Public Art Dialogue | 2020
Remembering the Source
Water, Water Everywhere • baksun books & arts | 2014
25 Years on Water
Women Eco Artists Dialog | 2013
The Living Water Garden
EarthLight | 2013
Keepers of the Waters
water|kraft • Kent State University | 2010
Foreword
Water 0.03% • SINOSPHERE | 2003
A Living Water Garden in Chengdu
WaterWorks • PKI EcoPublishing | 1996
7000 Year Old Woman
HERESIES, Vol. 3 | 1978
Female Creativity
Glad Day Press | 1973
WORKSHOPS & ORGANIZATIONS
Workshops, Leader
U.S., Europe, China | 1970-present
Most recent examples include Our Life, Our River (St. Louis, MO 2024), Mapping Your Waters and Becoming a Water-Conscious Community.
No Limits for Women Artists, Founder & Director
New York City | 1980-2000
Feminist Art Studio, Founder & Educator
Cornell University | 1972
GRANTS & AWARDS
Finalist, Guggenheim Fellowship | Guggenheim Foundation | 2023
Finalist, COAL Prize | Coalition for Art and Sustainable Development | 2022
Annual Grant for work with water | Kalliopeia Foundation | 2012-17
Grant for Living Waters of Larimer | Art Place America | 2015
Grant for Living Waters of Larimer | Heinz Foundation | 2014
Semi-Finalist The Buckminster Fuller Institute | 2010
Stockholm Water Prize Semi-Finalist | Stockholm Int’l Water Institute | 2008
Award for Tong Zhou Project | ASLA | 2006
Award for Fuzhou University design | ASLA | 2005
2nd Place for Wen Yu He River Chinese Planning Bureau | 2004
3rd Place for Olympic Forest Park design | Chinese Planning Bureau | 2003
Marion Weber National Award of Merit | Marion Foundation | 2000
Places Award | EDRA | 1999
Jerome Fellowship for Living Water Garden | Jerome Foundation | 1997
Individual Artists Fellowship | Bush Fellowship | 1996
Grant for Keepers Project in China | Flow Fund | 1994
Grant for Keepers of the Waters | Duluth, Jerome Foundation | 1994
Travel Grant to China | Jerome Foundation | 1993
Grant for Keepers of the Waters | Arts Midwest | 1992
Grant for Keepers of the Waters | 3M | 1991
Grant for Workshops for Artists & Scientists | Jerome Foundation | 1991
Aspen Museum Grant for An Homage to Rivers | National Endowment for the Arts | 1991
Mid-Life Career Award | Women's Caucus for Art | 1989
NYFA Fellowship | New York Foundation for the Arts | 1988
Grant for Only One River, a film about aquifers | Threshold Foundation | 1987
Grant for A Memory of Clean Water | Everhart Museum, MA | 1987
Grant for a Women's Troupe Street Events | New York Foundation | 1979
Grant for the Feminist Studio in Ithaca, NY | NY State Council for the Arts | 1973
Grant for collaboration with poet Polly Joan | Poetry Without Walls | 1973
Grant for Hickety-Pickety | CAST | 1972
Grant for the Moving Parallelogram Wall CAST | 1971
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
CSU Summer Arts | Humboldt State University | 1993
Sterling Distinguished Guest Artist | Trinity University | 1993
Water Information Forum | Humphrey School of Public Affairs | 1992
Keepers of the Waters Workshop | Anoka, MN | 1992
Instructor | Re-evaluation Counseling • NYC | 1978-92
Art, Activism, and the Community Workshop Humphrey School of Public Affairs | 1991
Art & Ecology | San Antonio, TX | 1991
Visiting Artist | University of Minnesota | 1990
Visiting Artist | Minneapolis College of Art & Design | 1989-91
Private Instruction | Individuals & Groups • NYC | 1979-88
Distinguished Visiting Artist | Mult-media seminar • University of Arizona | 1988
Lecturer & Consultant | Franklin & Marshall College | 1987-88
Guest Artist | Felician College | 1985
REVIEWS & PRESS
Woman’s Art Journal—forthcoming | 2024
The Pulse with Maiken Scott | WHYY | aired in NYC & Philadelphia | 2022
Review of Betsy Damon: Passages: Rites & Rituals | The New York Times | 2021
Review of Betsy Damon: Passages: Rites & Rituals | The Brooklyn Rail | 2021
Review of Betsy Damon: Passages: Rites & Rituals | Hyperallergic | 2021
Review of Betsy Damon: Passages: Rites & Rituals | STIRworld | 2021
Review of ecofeminism(s) | The Brooklyn Rail | 2020
Review of ecofeminism(s) | The New York Times | 2020
Woman’s Art Journal—For the Blood of Gaia (profile) | Christine Filippone | 2018
Science, Technology, and Utopias | Christine Filippone | 2017
Minding Nature | Humans and Nature | 2017
A People’s Art History of the United States | Nicolas Lampert | 2013
In the Making: Creative Options for Contemporary Art | Linda Weintraub | 2003
Documentary on the Living Water Garden | BBC | 2001
"What Follows" Interview Series: Betsy Damon | University of Colorado, Boulder | 2000
The Living Water Garden | Whole Earth Catalogue | 2000
Living Water Park | ERDA's Places Journal | 2000
Public Art Review: Conversations with the Earth | Margaret Carde | 1998
Expanding Circles: Women, Art and Community | Betty Brown | 1996
Power of Feminist Art: The American Movement | Norma Broude & Mary D. Garrard | 1996
Sculpting with the Environment | Baile Oaks | 1995
A Natural Order | Hudson River Museum | 1990
Revered Earth | Center for Contemporary Arts Santa Fe | 1990
Review: A Memory of Clean Water | Elinor Gadon | 1987
Reviews of video art | The New York Times | 1987