Local, environmentally themed art projects, ranging from performances to photographs to sculptures, are recipients of this year's EcoART grants, according to a press release.
This is the fourth year for the program and 16 art projects are receiving support.
“Our EcoART program helps us creatively connect citizens with their environment, encourage environmental responsibility and promote sustainable ways to live and work,” Mayor Jim Gray said. “Public art is an invaluable educational opportunity to reach the public in non-traditional ways.”
Grants are available to nonprofit groups, schools and individual artists within Fayette County. Applicants were encouraged to submit proposals for funds up to $5,000 in grants to finance their arts projects addressing environmental issues. This year, $67,000 was awarded through the program whose goal is to educate the public on issues ranging from energy conservation, waste reduction, water quality, recycling and litter. Applicants were encouraged to submit proposals that included participation of youth, senior citizens, people with disabilities and low-to-moderate income neighborhoods.
The recipients of the 2012 EcoART grants are:
● Transit Past: Town Branch Waterway Sculpture: Andrew Light – Visual artists address water related issues confronting the historic waterway.
● We are Water: Art at the Cathedral – Performing and visual artists address water quality and conservation awareness.
● Environmental Awareness Month: Carnegie Center for Literacy & Learning - Visual artists address recycling and composting via workshops and environmental writing classes.
● From Trash to Treasure – Visual artists address waste reduction via street sculptures.
● Multi-panel Mosaic: Diane Kahlo - Visual artist addresses sustainability via visual art exhibit using recyclable plastic bottles and containers.
● Gallery installation and Educational Series: Institute 193 – Visual artist addresses cultural and environmental issues via educational workshops and gallery installation.
● Heap it On Project: Lexington Children’s Theatre – Visual and literary artists address waste reduction and sustainability via theatrical performance.
● Cardboard Creations: Living Arts & Science Center – Visual artists work with children addressing reusing, repurposing, and recycling via interactive exhibit and workshops.
● Cane Run: A Vital Waterway: Luis Guida - Visual and literary artists address water quality via video segments, and social media.
● Upcycling/Recycling Unwanted Material: Morton Middle School - Visual artists address upcycling via introduction of new trend to create individualized items.
● Watershed Photography: Nori Hall - Photographer address inextricable link to watersheds via photography exhibition.
● Paper Dolls: American Heroines: Sonja Brooks - Visual artist addresses waste related to consumption via gallery installation
● Bluegrass Wild: Stephen Moore - Photographer address awareness to natural history and ecology via digital photography exhibition and workshops.
● Bagtastic: Tonya Vance - Visual artists address plastic bag recycling via demonstration and workshop.
● Outdoor Sculpture Project: The Learning Center - Youth and professional artists address interaction of plants and wildlife via a sculpture design and native plants.
● gARTening Project: University of Kentucky Research Foundation - Visual and literary artists address sustainability via afterschool program involving designing, creating and installing work of art on the grounds of Williams Wells Brown School.