Unveiling Hidden Waters: A Celebration of Art, Ecology, and Community

Authored by: Ronnie Pessetto

April 11, 2025 was one of those days that just felt special. The sun was out, the energy was high, and people from all over came together to celebrate something we’ve been working toward for a long time. The unveiling of Hidden Waters wasn’t just about an art installation. It was about reconnecting with Salt Lake City’s buried streams, honoring the stories beneath our feet, and creating something beautiful and meaningful in the process.

Ronnie Pessetto, our new Executive Director, welcomed everyone and spoke about what this moment means for Seven Canyons Trust. Hidden Waters is a perfect example of what we call cultural daylighting. Cultural Daylighting is using art and storytelling to bring attention to the creeks that still flow underground. While we continue to work toward physically uncovering these waterways, cultural projects like this are a powerful way to keep them alive in our collective memory.

The installation features the work of eight incredible local artists whose pieces invite us to think differently about the land and water around us, particularly along North Temple in Salt Lake City. Their art brings voice to places that are often overlooked and reminds us that water has always been part of our community’s story.

More than 50 people came to the event — more than double what we had hoped for. We saw neighbors, nonprofit partners, city leaders, donors, artists, and friends from outside Salt Lake all show up to support this project. It was a reminder that this work speaks to a lot of different people for a lot of different reasons.

We are especially grateful to the Crocker Catalyst Foundation, Willard Eccles Foundation, and Utah Humanities for funding this work. And a huge thank you to The Blocks Art District via the Co-Create Program for being such a thoughtful partner and funder. Your support helped us bring this vision to life.

After the opening remarks, we made our way to City Creek Park and then walked along North Temple to experience the artwork firsthand. Each stop on the walk included time to hear directly from the artists about their work and how it connects to water, place, and community. It was moving, insightful, and a great way to experience the project together.

If you missed the event or want to dive deeper into the story behind Hidden Waters, this KSL article is a great place to start. If you would like to view the unveiling program and read the artist statements, click here.

And if you haven’t yet, go take the walk yourself. The art is up along North Temple and is waiting to be discovered. Let it remind you that our city is full of hidden beauty and stories worth uncovering.

Thanks for being part of this with us.. Let’s keep the momentum going! Cheers!