Petoskey District Library to Host Women & Water: Woven Portraits from Around the World Textile Exhibit
The Petoskey District Library (PDL) invites the community to the opening celebration of Women and Water: Woven Portraits from Around the World on Thursday, August 27 at 5:30pm, marking the arrival of a powerful traveling exhibition that honors women who protect, study, and advocate for water around the globe.
The opening celebration will begin with a land acknowledgment, followed by a presentation from Anishinaabe educator and consultant Amanda Weinert, a citizen of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa with Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa ancestry. Weinert will share the Anishinaabe teachings on the sacredness of water and its importance as the source of life.
The program will also feature a brief introduction to the upcoming Water is Life Festival by Jannan Cornstalk, remarks from Petoskey District Library Director Valerie Meyerson, and a presentation by exhibition artist Mary E. Burns, who will discuss the inspiration behind Women and Water, and the stories of the women represented in her work.
Created by artist Mary E. Burns, the exhibit features 29 handwoven jacquard portraits celebrating scientists, activists, educators, artists, and Indigenous water protectors from more than 20 countries. Through intricate textile art, the exhibition explores the universal importance of water and the women whose work helps sustain and protect this essential resource.
The exhibition will be on display on the Petoskey District Library's second floor from August 27 through October 15, 2026. Throughout its run, the library will offer docent-led tours, related programs, book displays, and community conversations that explore themes of water, environmental stewardship, Indigenous knowledge, and women's leadership.
"This exhibition invites us to see water not only as a resource, but as something deeply connected to culture, community, and life," said Library Director Valerie Meyerson. "We are honored to bring this inspiring collection to Petoskey and to partner with local organizations to create meaningful opportunities for learning and dialogue."
The opening celebration and exhibition are free and open to the public. Community members of all ages are encouraged to attend and experience this unique collection of woven portraits while learning about the global and local importance of protecting water.
For more information about the exhibition and other library events, please call 231-758-3100 or visit our Event Calendar. The library’s hours are Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Friday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.