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Living River: The Promise of the Mighty Colorado

In partnership with the Tomlinson Library and with support from Braided River, we're welcoming Dave Showalter's photography exhibit: Living River. This 20-piece visual journey encapsulates the resilience of the Colorado River and its keepers, illustrating how we can create an enduring watershed. This exhibit is free and open to the public!

When Can I First Visit?
June 15th

Free Parking Until August 16th

Last Time I Can Visit?
Dec. 2026

Paid Parking From Aug. 17th - Dec. 2026

Where Can I Find The Exhibit?

The Living River Exhibit will be on display on the Tomlinson Library's Second Floor. For those visiting the exhibit, parking is free from June 15th through July 31st in lot CP6 and from June 15th through August 16th in lot CP11. You can use the map to the left as a reference guide! After August 17th, paid parking is available in lot CP11.

View The Full Map!

6 items (select below to browse)

  • Late summer monsoon storms flowing from Mexico bring welcome late summer relief and life-giving rain. Here, in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, a double rainbow forms over the Painted Wall after a night of heavy rain. Taken at the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park in Colorado.
  • A passing storm’s curtain of rain is illuminated by the setting sun over floodplain farms in this south-facing view of the upper Gila River valley. The Upper Gila is the only free flowing river remaining in the American Southwest. Taken at the Upper Gila River Valley in Arizona.

  • “Gazing across countless mountain summits atop 13,294-foot James Peak on the Continental Divide on the last day of winter, I realized that this was all of the water we would have until the following spring.” — Dave Showalter

    In this view, snow on the right-hand (east) slope serves Denver and the South Platte River, and snow on the left (west) side flows to the Fraser and Colorado Rivers. Taken at James Peak Wilderness in Colorado.

  • A steady drumbeat and light chanting emanated from the teepee through the night when elders of the five tribe Bears Ear coalition held a ceremony at the 2018 Utah Diné Bikeyah Bears Ears Summer Gathering, united in efforts to conserve their cultural landscape. Taken in Utah.
  • The Colorado River stretches out in a commanding view from Nankoweep granary, where ancestral Puebloan people stored seeds for the coming planting season. Pumpkin, corn, and other crops were grown in the floodplain along the river, where foundations of ancient habitation tell a rich story. Taken at the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona.
  • In the headwaters in Rocky Mountain National Park, the mighty Colorado gains flow from melting snowpack. From here, the great river will make a 1,450 mile journey to the Gulf of California in Mexico. Taken at the Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado.

Coming This Fall: A Panel Featuring Dave Showalter

Mark your calendar for evening panel discussion on October 8th featuring Dave Showalter and several of the river keepers highlighted in his book, Living River. This free community event will take place at the University Center with additional details coming soon!

Special Thanks

We want to thank the Colorado Basin Roundtable for helping bring Dave Showalter's work to Colorado Mesa University. Funding from their Public Education, Participation, & Outreach (PEPO) grant program supported the shipment of this exhibit!