Origins & Purpose

The concept grew out of a collaborative visioning session focused on reimagining the Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center’s visitor experience. Designers, artists, builders, performers, and community makers came together to re-activate the site, considering how the architecture and hidden histories could serve water education and public engagement.

The performance aimed to awaken curiosity about water: how it shapes culture, environment, and shared space. The goal was not just spectacle, but emotional connection, reflection, and inspiration toward stewardship of our watersheds.

Over 200 people attended, even amid snowfall, underscoring how people respond to immersive, meaningful design.

Visual & Sensory Approach

  • Projection onto historic stone and architectural surfaces.

  • Sound and acoustics tuned to space: echo, resonance, subtle textures.

  • Lighting that reveals and dramatizes built forms, shadows, and angles.

  • Costume, movement, and atmosphere that engage attendees not just as spectators but as part of the experience.

Tributaries Cast and Crew:

Composed and conducted by Craig Hendrix. Produced by Craig Hendrix, Will Blair, Brook Blair. Featuring Andrew Marsh, April Harkanson, and Jesse Moore. Orchestra: Sarah Gulish, Adam Hershberger, Glen DeGeorge, Bryan Rogers, David Fishkin, Joseph Getz, Will Blair, and Brooke Blair. Photos by Kate Devlin. Lighting and sound by Terreyl Kirton. Audio recording by Gregg Cornish. Videography by Justin Clowes, Jake Robbins, and Joseph Amsel. Costume design by Melissa D’Agostino. Stage Manager: Jasmine Kojouri.

TRIBUTARIES: A MODERN CANTATA

site specific production of Tributaries, a Modern Cantata: Written and directed by Craig Hendrix, founder of The Agave Opera Company. December 2014. 

Tributaries was a one-night live performance held in the historic Kelly Pool at the Fairmount Water Works. The event transformed this once-forgotten space into a vivid stage with a live orchestra, three vocalists, immersive lighting, projection, acoustic design, custom art installations, and digital media. Architectural elements, hidden corners, and interior archways were woven into the performance to deepen connection with the space and its stories.

Why It Matters

Tributaries exemplifies Habithèque’s strength in turning architecture and history into immersive stories. By repurposing a neglected pool, this project offered:

  • A visceral, sensory experience that invites reflection on water’s place in the built environment.

  • Opportunities for people to engage with hidden or overlooked spaces of history.

  • A model for how performance, design, and environmental storytelling can combine to spark awareness and caring for watersheds.