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WATER + IMAGINATION

Riveropolis creates sculpture and furniture featuring elevated waterways and fantastical landscapes, bringing the magic of running water to schools, museums and public places.

PLAY RIVERS CREATE COMMUNITY

A perspective informed by 25 years of play testing Rivers by Gregory Gavin

A special quality flowing water is that it links parts of the environment it moves through connecting the activities of those who play along its course. A boat created and launched at the top of the river can float down to pass a under bridge created by a different participant downstream. This kind of spontaneous, relational play presents opportunities for participants - particularly children - to negotiate with each other and develop self regulation. If they can get they're hands into water most children and many will spend untold hours experimenting with buoyancy, currents, gravity, eddies, waterfalls, boatbuilding ... totally refuting the myth of young children having short attention spans! Engaged children can give their caregivers have the opportunity to catch their breath, socialize and perhaps get creative themselves. ​The metaphor of the stream is unique in its capacity to spark the narrative imagination. With the addition of tiny figures, animals, boats and architectural elements, the play creek becomes a miniature river world. Guiding your tiny figure upstream, downstream or across the river to another land can take on epic meaning. A running water environment is more than an object, idea or principle, it is a dynamic system with results and consequences. Interaction is inspired by the phenomena of water instead of in response to direction from a teacher or facilitator. By its very nature it's educational without being academic.

WATER PLAY MAGIC

Water can inspire endless solo investigations or inspire community play. Even adults have trouble keeping their hands out of the water.

A BOLD VISION FOR THE FUTURE OF RIVEROPOLIS

We're looking for space in the Bay Area to develop a flagship location—a hybrid
community maker space, product testing studio, and cafe. If you have any leads, get in touch!

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