BOARD VOTED TO CANCEL CORONA VIRUS CONCERNS
DFC-AAS: April 8 – Jay Cravath
Lecture Opportunity:
Dr. Jay Cravath, an Arizona Humanities speaker, presents Rivers of Dreams: Stories and Music of Arizona's Waterways. Arizona’s rivers were first lush green ribbons of life flowing through a desert landscape. They became sustaining paths, first for indigenous explorers, and later for immigrants leaving wagon tracks and settlements. On the Salt River, the Hohokam built vast canals to direct water for irrigation. The first citizens of Phoenix used these same trenches. The Mohave tribes ruled the Colorado—that great western Nile, then gave way to the paddle boats of European explorers. The Gila provided sustenance for the Pima and passage for such brave adventurers as Father Garces and Olive Oatman. As Arizona’s only “National Wild and Scenic River,” the Verde is home to over 50 endangered species. Dr. Cravath intricately weaves narrative, history, music, and images to tell this remarkable story.
Dr. Jay Craváth is a composer, writer and scholar in the field of music, humanities and Indigenous studies. He is recently retired as Cultural Director for The Chemehuevi Indian Tribe. Dr. Craváth has been on the Arizona Humanities Speakers Bureau since 1992. With a Ph.D. in humanities education, he enjoys crafting programs from these interests into discussions that include stories, musical performance, and media. Dr. Craváth’s goal is to create engaging learning experiences—“scholarship with a zing!” Last year, he released an album of original music entitled “Songs for Ancient Days.” You can hear his band, Dr J and the Botanicals, on his website www.jaycravath.com and around the valley. Therein, you will also find his original documentaries, poetry, essays, and serialized novel: The Wisdom of Blood.
The public may attend an Arizona Archaeology Society – Desert Foothills Chapter meeting at no charge, except for the holiday party in December. The AAS-DFC meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month, September through May.
Reception and socialization at 7:00 pm, program begins approximately 7:30 pm.
