River Deep, Mountain High

This spring’s “Architecture Through Film” series will focus on how rivers shape our cities and ourselves. The five films, ranging from critical documentaries to classic American cinema, provide an opportunity to examine how filmmakers portray rivers while also providing a backdrop for discussing our own relationships with waterways.

The films will be screened at Amherst College, and discussion will follow each film. KRA’s Andy Grogan and Hampshire College’s Thom Long will act as moderators. The series is sponsored by Western Massachusetts AIA and the Five College Architectural Studies Program. The complete schedule and location is available here.

The idea for this spring’s series emerged from a grant that the Five Colleges were awarded for their “Riverscaping” study. “Riverscaping” is a partnership with citizens, artists, and community leaders in Hamburg, Germany, an area that shares similar environmental and historical qualities with Massachusetts’ Pioneer Valley. Participants will explore ways to reconnect with rivers as a means to improve the environment and communities. More information is available at riverscaping.org.