Preparation continues for decorative boat parade

Alexandria Searls, executive director of the Lewis and Clark Exploratory Center, puts the finishing touches on her organization’s entry into the decorated boat parade that is part of FLOW: the Rivanna River Art Festival.

The parade — known as the Flowtilla —  begins at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 30 at the boat launch at Darden Towe Park.

Searls said the entry from Lewis and Clark is called the Photo Boat and will contain pictures from underneath the surface of the Rivanna. The center has been conducting workshops to train people how to take photographs that reflect the view from the bottom of the river.

“For me it’s about getting to know the river and knowing what it’s like underneath,” Searls said. “The boat itself is going to be a display of those pictures.”

Searls said the boat is made from a single sheet of plywood to demonstrate sustainable building techniques.

The FLOW festival will also feature art installations, music and performance art throughout the day.