Water Justice Mural
Location
982 N. Fort Valley Road
Flagstaff, Arizona 86001
Completed in 2018, the Water Justice Mural is a collaborative public artwork celebrating the importance of water to people, wildlife, ecosystems, and communities throughout the Colorado Plateau. Its central message, Water Is Life, emphasizes that water is essential to all living things and that protecting this precious resource is a shared responsibility.
The mural grew from students' exploration of environmental challenges, cultural perspectives, and the relationship between people and water. By transforming their ideas into a large-scale public painting, the students created a visual statement about the past, present, and future of water justice.
Located along Fort Valley Road in Flagstaff, the mural invites viewers to consider where their water comes from, who depends on it, and why its protection matters to future generations.
About the Artwork
About the Artists
The Water Justice Mural, also known as Water Is Life, was created in 2018 through a collaboration involving more than 60 student artists from Flagstaff High School. The project brought together the Grand Canyon Trust, Mural Mice Universal, the Beehive Design Collective, and Grand Canyon Spirits to empower young people to express their perspectives on water, environmental protection, and social justice.
Eleven Flagstaff High School art students participated in a five-day creative workshop at Kane Ranch near the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Organized through the Grand Canyon Trust’s Youth Leadership Program and facilitated with the Beehive Design Collective, the workshop encouraged students to explore the history, current challenges, and future of water justice on the Colorado Plateau.
The mural demonstrates how young artists can collaborate to raise awareness, inspire conversations, and advocate for positive change in their communities.
Themes and Significance
- Water Is Life: Water sustains people, plants, animals, and entire ecosystems. The mural reminds viewers that protecting water is essential to maintaining healthy communities and environments.
- Environmental Justice: The artwork encourages reflection on the importance of fair access to clean, safe water and the responsibility to protect water resources for everyone.
- Youth Voices and Leadership: Created by more than 60 students, the mural demonstrates that young people can contribute meaningful ideas, influence public conversations, and inspire community action.
- Connection to Place: By focusing on water issues across the Colorado Plateau, the mural encourages viewers to recognize the relationship between Flagstaff's natural environment, its communities, and the larger regional watershed.
- Art as Advocacy: The mural illustrates how public art can do more than beautify a neighborhood. It can communicate important messages, raise awareness of environmental challenges, and encourage people to become involved in shaping their community's future.
Questions for Elementary School Families
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Questions for Secondary School Families
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Extension Activity
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